Frome historian and archaeologist Adam Stout is today two weeks into his fundraising walk from Yorkshire to Somerset, retracing the steps of an eccentric 18th-century philanthropist who wanted to see if the Glastonbury Thorn bloomed at Christmas.

Adam is following John Jackson's 220-mile walk of 1755 which took place after the calendar was changed to bring Britain into line with Europe. Twelve days were dropped from the year and many people wondered if the thorn would still bloom at Christmas.

At the age of 71, Jackson spent two months walking to Glastonbury, but Adam is on schedule to complete the trek in 19 days, arriving in Glastonbury on Christmas Eve.

Adam left Woodkirk, near Dewsbury, on December 5. Covering 10-12 miles a day, this week he passed through Droitwich, Worcester, Tewkesbury and Gloucester. Today he'll be at Dursley in Gloucestershire, and at the weekend in Bristol.

"It was quite exciting going through Worcester and seeing signposts to Ledbury and Hereford and seeing the Malvern Hills and the River Severn and realising I'd actually come quite a long way. I could feel I was getting home," he said.

Adam has found that what he seems to have most in common with Jackson is mud. "He went through the Severn valley in a very wet winter, and I've been slithering and sliding on the banks of the Severn, trying very hard not to fall in," said Adam.

Roger Saul, founder of the British design label Mulberry, and his wife Monty, owners of Sharpham Park, near Glastonbury, have sent Adam some products from their organic farm. "They said the credit crunch was getting in the way of donations, but they sent me a packet of honey puffs and two packets of spelt biscuits – how about that!" he added.

Adam is raising money for the Pilgrim Reception Centre in Glastonbury. To make a donation, contact the centre on 01458 835572, or email prcadmin@ glastonbury-pilgrim.co.uk

■ The

is not being published next Friday, Boxing Day, so we'll catch up with Adam's exploits on Friday, January 2. A merry Christmas to all

readers.