Man Carries 36kg Postbox across England to get Britain talking about loneliness

A man from Weymouth has begun an extraordinary 650-mile walk across England carrying a 36kg cast-iron postbox on his back – with a simple invitation for strangers along the way: come and walk with me, and let’s talk.

Stu Skinner MBE, 45, set off from Carlisle on Monday 21 September and plans to reach Portland Bill in Dorset at around 20 December.

His journey will take him through communities including Newcastle, Ripon, Leeds, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Gloucester and Bristol, with people invited to join him for anything from half an hour to an entire section.

But behind the unusual sight of a man carrying a postbox is a serious message about loneliness, human connection and the importance of sometimes allowing other people to help carry the load.

Stu has experienced periods of isolation, disconnection and loneliness himself and understands the effect these feelings can have on mental wellbeing. His experiences ultimately led him to establish Head Outside, the charity for which he hopes to raise £20,000 during the challenge.

“In 2024 after a moment of loneliness, looming eviction, and a lot of uncertainty, I bid on a postbox at a charity auction, it was a mad thing to do but it also acted as a catalyst – here was this symbol of communication and connection, how was I going to use this to raise awareness for Head Outside. I’ve not looked back since,” said Stu.

Learning To Let Others Carry The Weight

Just days into the challenge, the walk has already demonstrated the very message Stu hopes to share.

After farmer Andy allowed him to sleep in his barn near Hadrian’s Wall, he saw how cold and tired Stu had become. The following morning, Andy insisted on putting the heavy postbox in his Land Rover while Stu continued walking and recovered.

For Stu, initially accepting that help was difficult.

“I initially felt as though I was cheating,” said Stu. “Then I realised that accepting somebody’s help was exactly what this challenge represents. Loneliness can feel like carrying something unbearably heavy on your own. Sometimes we need to let another person carry part of that weight.”

The encounter provided a powerful reminder that asking for – and accepting – support can be as important as offering it.

And it is far from the only act of kindness Stu has encountered.

On his first morning in Carlisle, 84-year-old Nils spotted the postbox and spontaneously gave Stu a two-hour guided walk around the city.

Later, at the community-run Samson Inn, local regulars spoke about the ways they tackle loneliness within their community, while the winners of a pub quiz donated their prize money to Head Outside.

“The postbox is a ridiculous but surprisingly effective conversation starter,” Stu explained. “People see it, laugh and ask what on earth I am doing. That creates an opening to talk about something which can otherwise feel difficult or uncomfortable.”

Walking And Talking For Better Wellbeing

The idea of using the postbox to encourage conversations about loneliness is not new.

It previously accompanied Stu on his Postcards from the Peaks challenge, during which he carried it to the highest point in all 15 UK National Parks.

More than 250 people joined him on those walks and over 1,000 handwritten postcards were sent to people experiencing loneliness.

Stu was subsequently awarded an MBE for services to mental health.

The issue he is highlighting affects millions of people. Around 7% of adults in Great Britain – approximately 3.8 million people – report feeling lonely “often or always”.

Loneliness can also affect people in very different circumstances. Someone can live alone and feel well connected to others, while another person may be surrounded by colleagues, friends or family yet still experience a profound sense of isolation.

Stu hopes his latest journey will encourage people to connect in one of the simplest ways possible: walking alongside one another.

Anyone is welcome to join Stu, whether for 30 minutes, a few miles or a longer section of the route. No hiking experience is required, and the route has deliberately been planned to pass through towns and cities so that as many people as possible can take part.

Updates on Stu’s location and details of where people can meet him are being shared through Instagram and Facebook.

“You do not have to climb a mountain or share your deepest feelings,” he added. “Just come and walk, chat and enjoy the feeling of someone walking beside you. We may feel alone, but we do not have to carry everything alone.”

Raising £20,000 To Help People Reconnect

The challenge is aiming to raise £20,000 for Head Outside, enabling the charity to continue running expeditions and community activities that help people spend time in nature, build connections and feel less alone.

For Stu, however, the journey is about more than the distance covered or the weight on his back. Every person who stops to ask about the postbox, walks alongside him or offers a helping hand creates another opportunity for connection.

And as his experience near Hadrian’s Wall demonstrated, sometimes supporting our wellbeing is not about becoming strong enough to carry everything ourselves. It can also mean recognising when it is time to let somebody else share the weight.

Donations to Head Outside can be made via JustGiving.