A KEEN walker who lives in Wotton is to take on the famed Camino de Santiago route in Spain – with hopes of raising £10,000 to split between two charities.

Robert Lambert, 57, of Pitman Place, Wotton-under-Edge, a lover of hiking in the Spanish mountains, is to tackle the 500-mile trek starting on May 1 this year.

He is completing the walk to raise funds for the Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St James, is a pilgrimage from Burgos to the shrine of St James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galacia, North Western Spain.

Mr Lambert was first inspired to take on the challenge after watching the 2010 film The Way, directed by Emilio Esteves and starring Martin Sheen and James Nesbitt, which promotes the spiritual trail.

“I already loved walking, and have spent a lot of time in Spain, but the idea came when I was staying in camp site and they showed The Way, about the Camino de Santiago.

“It really stayed with me after watching it and so I decided to walk the route myself.”

Mr Lambert, who before retiring worked in the army, set off to Spain to begin some training on Tuesday, January 13.

Though he will approach the walk with a great deal of experience it will prove no easy feat.

He said: “Everything I need I have to carry with me, so you really have to look at things and ask yourself if you’re definitely going to need them.

“I’ll be carrying shorts, a sleeping bag, and all the other vital things I’m going to need to get me through.”

Mr Lambert is aiming to complete the hike in the space of five weeks.

The two charities are close to the hearts of Mr Lambert and his partner, who he shares a home with in Wotton.

“We gripe and moan about the simplest things and don’t realise the problems some people are going through," he said.

“We worry about stupid stuff like internet when some people can’t even walk, and sometimes you do need to get some perspective.”

To sponsor Mr Lambert a make a donation towards the Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy visit justgiving.com/Primus-Lambert2. To have your donation go to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity visit www.justgiving.com/Primus-Lambert.