Man walking to every city in the UK

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Adam FergusImage source, Harry Parkhill/BBC
Image caption,

Adam Fergus recently visited the cathedral city of Lincoln as part of his challenge

A man is attempting to walk to every city in the UK dressed in traditional Scottish Highlander wear.

Adam Fergus, who is originally from Grantham in Lincolnshire, wants to complete the challenge to understand more about cities.

He described the kilt he was wearing as being similar to the one worn by actor Mel Gibson in the 1995 film Braveheart.

Mr Fergus, who grew up in Scotland, said the outfit gave him a "not from this century vibe".

Image source, Harry Parkhill/BBC
Image caption,

Mr Fergus said the people he had met on his journey had been very supportive

The 25-year-old has already walked more than 2,300 miles (3,700km) between cities in Scotland and Northern Ireland, he said.

He is now snaking his way across England and in to Wales.

Mr Fergus told BBC Radio Lincolnshire although the challenge had been exhausting, the response from the people he had met was positive.

"At first they stare at you and think 'what is this guy doing?'" he said.

"But then once they catch a glimpse of the sign [that explains I am walking to every city] then all of a sudden their whole demeanour changes, and they're very positive and supporting," he said.

Mr Fergus said one of his motivations for the challenge was his fascination with what makes a city.

He said he "didn't realise" that what could define a city was "so complicated".

Image source, ED SYKES/Action Images/Reuters
Image caption,

A view of Lincoln Cathedral from the city centre

City status in the UK can be associated with having a cathedral or a university, a particular form of local government, or a large population.

UK city status can formally be granted by the monarch, external, on the advice of ministers.

However Mr Fergus said there were anomalies in the system.

"They can be called ceremonial cities but they're still not cities. There are also places which call themselves cities which aren't cities. It's very convoluted," he said.

Image source, Harry Parkhill/BBC
Image caption,

To mark his visits, Mr Fergus is collecting a library card from the places he visits

After visiting the cathedral city of Lincoln recently, Mr Fergus is making his way to Bangor in North Wales, via the Pennines and then Snowdonia.

He will then head east on what he said will be his seventh of 11 journeys from coast to coast.

"There's 52 cities in England so there's lots of zig and zagging," he added.

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