One foot in front of the other

There are two reasons for doing this – to raise money for two excellent charities, Mind and Parkinson’s UK, and to celebrate our 15th anniversary.

The route will take us from Goring-on-Thames in Oxfordshire to Avebury Down in Wiltshire. We chose this because we wanted to explore some spectacular countryside across two of the key areas that we cover as a buying agency, while looking back on another – the Cotswolds. Nobody on the team has covered the route in its entirety before, while there is a very good pub – the Star Inn in Sparsholt – which forms a natural halfway point where we will rest our weary limbs after the first day of walking. Between us we have bought many country houses and farms within site of our walk, and may spot one or two as we put our country knowledge to good use and play wildlife bingo along the way.

Given the sprightly nature and enthusiasm of the team, along with the contacts we have built up over the years, we thought it made sense to make the most of both by raising money for two very good causes. Many of us have had personal experience of Mind or Parkinson’s UK in one way or another, and the excellent job that they do.

We also felt that 15 years was worth celebrating, during which time Prime Purchase has developed into arguably one of the country’s leading buying agents in London and the country. Three members of the founding team are still on the scene - Rupert Sebag-Montefiore is now our chairman; Justin Marking, our first managing director, is now head of global residential at Savills; while Hugo Thistlethwayte is now head of international residential at Savills. The longevity and consistency which Prime Purchase has enjoyed is one of our many strengths and something to celebrate as we walk along Britain’s oldest road