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Author/Editor Maria Anna Furman
On 24 September 2026, Karolina and Adam plan to leave Warrington for Kraków. They aim to walk around 2,000 kilometres in three months to join their son at the Christmas Eve dinner table. Their “Home to Home” project grew out of longing, a love of walking and an experience that changed the couple’s lives. We can support them along the way by sharing a kilometre, offering a warm cup of tea or providing a safe place to stay.
At the heart of this journey is Kajetan. He grew up in Warrington and now lives in Kraków. The project’s name connects two places in the family’s history: their son’s childhood home and his current home in Poland. Before the idea of walking across Europe emerged, however, Karolina had to regain the strength to cover much shorter distances.
On 11 June 2018, she woke up in hospital. As she recalls, her life depended on hours. Two days later, she underwent surgery to remove a cyst located in the lower part of her brain. After returning home, she asked herself: what next? Just weeks before her fortieth birthday, she felt she had been given the chance to write a new chapter in her life.
On the Galeria Szlaków website, she explains that initially even walking from her room to the kitchen was a challenge. Even a short walk required effort; she felt weak and dizzy. Those first steps were painful, but gradually she could walk further. Each additional kilometre brought joy and helped restore her belief in her own abilities.
Both Karolina and Adam have long felt a close connection to nature. Walking together lets them enjoy open spaces, peace, and each other’s company. “We are walking towards ourselves” is how Karolina describes discovering that the journey also helps them understand their own needs. Among fields, forests and mountains, they both feel free to be themselves, away from the pressure of everyday expectations.
They have already completed the Sandstone Trail, Limestone Way and the Coast to Coast walk across England, as well as walking among the fells described by Alfred Wainwright. They have followed the Leeds & Liverpool, Llangollen and Lancaster canals, explored rivers and walked around the island of Anglesey. In 2023, they began walking around Great Britain. According to their project information, they have now covered approximately 8,500 kilometres of this route in stages.
Their blog reveals the everyday experiences behind the numbers. Overgrown passages, paths that disappear, mud, and fatigue. They also find the wonder of beautiful landscapes and encounters with kind people. Karolina describes situations where plans have to change, and Adam looks for alternative routes. Walking teaches them patience and how to make decisions with safety in mind.
The idea for “Home to Home” emerged after an unusual name-day gift. Karolina wanted to walk one hundred kilometres with Adam. Instead of flowers, she chose a bouquet of kilometres. They set off at six in the morning on 4 July and finished at two the following morning. Two days later, she began thinking about their next adventure.
She was thinking of Kajetan, whom she had not seen for almost a year. Then came a dream: to leave home and walk all the way to her son. At first, the idea seemed logistically impossible. Over time, the question of whether to go gave way to how to organise it. Longing gave them a direction, and curiosity helped them begin preparing.
Their planned journey includes France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. Despite their experience, this will be their first time walking for three months with backpacks carrying everything they need for such a long journey. It will also be their first time exploring walking trails outside Great Britain. Ahead lie unfamiliar places, autumn rain, cold weather and increasingly short days.
In these conditions, the chance to warm up, dry their clothes and rest properly can make a real difference. That is why we encourage you to follow the Galeria Szlaków Facebook page, where they will share their progress, daily challenges and current needs. You can also discover their story and previous journeys on www.galeriaszlakow.pl
Do you live near their route? You could invite them for tea or a warm meal, or offer a safe place to stay overnight. Contact Karolina and Adam, let them know your town or village and explain what help you can offer. Arranging the details in advance will allow them to fit the visit into their journey. What feels like a simple gesture to a host can mean a great deal to tired travellers.
You can join them for a kilometre or two. Karolina and Adam will welcome your company, a conversation and the chance to share part of the journey. It is best to arrange a meeting beforehand, taking their pace and daily plans into account. If you live far away, share their updates with friends or a local community group. The information might reach someone who is in a position to help.
Karolina has chosen to share this journey so others might find inspiration to change their own lives. For her and Adam, the goal remains personal: to reach their son and spend Christmas together.
Follow Galeria Szlaków and respond to their needs. A simple invitation for tea could become part of an extraordinary journey from home to home.
Author/Editor Maria Anna Furman
