After 28 years and roughly 50,000 kilometres on foot, a British round-the-world walker is finally within reach of home. Karl Bushby, a 57-year-old former paratrooper from Hull, has received permission from French authorities to swim across the English Channel, the last physical barrier standing between him and the end of his journey.
The target date for the crossing is October 1, 2026, though the exact timing will depend on weather and tidal conditions in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Background of the Goliath Expedition
Bushby set out from Punta Arenas in Chile on November 1, 1998, with a self-imposed rule: no motorised transport of any kind. What he expected to be a twelve-year trek stretched into nearly three decades, disrupted repeatedly by financial crises, the Covid-19 pandemic, visa restrictions and shifting geopolitics.
Along the way, this long-distance walking journey took him across the Darien Gap, over the frozen Bering Strait into Russia, and through Central Asia after the war in Ukraine closed off his original route north. In 2024, he swam more than 170 miles across the Caspian Sea to avoid entering Iran.
By mid-2026, he had crossed back into Europe through Istanbul and made his way through the Balkans and Central Europe toward the French coast, putting the final leg of his around-the-world walk within sight of the white cliffs of England.
Details of the Channel Swim Plan
Bushby’s original hope was to cross using the Channel Tunnel’s service corridor on foot. Eurotunnel refused the request on safety and operational grounds, citing the disruption a multi-day crossing would cause to a critical maintenance facility.
That left swimming as the only option consistent with his own rules for the expedition. French regulations generally restrict Channel swims to departures from the British side, so Bushby’s support team spent several weeks negotiating an exception with French maritime authorities before securing approval in early September 2026.
He plans to complete the swim in stages, resting on a support boat between sessions, similar to the method he used for his Caspian Sea crossing.
Quotes
Describing the last-minute confusion over permissions, Bushby told AFP there had been “some internal confusion,” leaving his team scrambling to confirm the arrangements before the weather window closed.
Impact of the Crossing
For long-distance walking enthusiasts and adventure sports followers worldwide, Bushby’s Channel swim would mark the symbolic close of one of the longest continuous human-powered journeys ever attempted. His expedition has drawn comparisons to earlier transcontinental walks, but the scale and duration of this British round-the-world walker’s route set it apart.
Locally, his return is also personal: his mother, Angela, still lives in the family home in Hull’s Sutton Park area, where she has said she will be waiting for him.
What Happens Next
If the swim goes ahead as planned around October 1, Bushby will still need to walk roughly 400 kilometres north through England to reach Hull. He has set November 1, 2026 — exactly 28 years after he left Chile — as his target date to complete the world walking journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Karl Bushby now in 2026?
As of late September 2026, Karl Bushby is on the northern coast of France near Cap Blanc-Nez, preparing for his English Channel swim. He has already walked through South America, North America, Russia, Central Asia and Europe, and is now waiting for suitable weather to attempt the final water crossing of his journey.
Did a man walk for 27 years?
Yes. Karl Bushby began his round-the-world walk in November 1998 and has continued for 27 to 28 years, making him one of the longest continuous walking expeditions on record. His journey, known as the Goliath Expedition, covers roughly 50,000 kilometres across multiple continents without the use of motorised transport.
Why has Karl Bushby taken so long?
Bushby’s expedition has been repeatedly delayed by real-world obstacles rather than a lack of effort. These include visa and border restrictions, the 2008 financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, war and political tension along his route through Russia and Central Asia, and most recently, negotiations over crossing the English Channel legally and safely.
