Couple take their pampered pooch on England's longest dog walk as they hike 630 miles and carry their Pomeranian cross Arnie the whole way

A couple and their pampered pooch are enjoying England's longest dog walk.

Wives Rachel Leigh,34,and Jill Pearson,36,are hiking the South West Coast Path - England's longest marked footpath with Pomeranian cross Arnie.

The family are carrying all their supplies for the 630-mile walk on their back - including little Arnie whose legs are usually too tired to walk.

The couple have modified a child carrier for him,covering the leg holes so he can lie down and even adding a special pillow.

They've taken 12 weeks off to do the walk - which they are halfway through - and took on the challenge due to their shared love of the outdoors and as a mental-health boost.

Rachel and Jill set off from Minehead on their epic journey on August 13,four months after they got married

The trio have almost reached the half-way point,at Coverack,Cornwall,and expect to finish their journey at the end of October.

Rachel and Jill,from near Derry,Northern Ireland,usually live in homes they find on Work Away and House Sitters - earning money as yoga teachers and artists,and have a van they sometimes live in.

They saved £6,000 for the trip.

They bonded over a love of the outdoors when they went camping together shortly after they met in 2017.

Rachel said: 'We both feel trapped if we're in houses for a long time. Being outdoors is just where we feel at home.'

Jill carries Arnie,with their tent,sleeping bags,and emergency supplies strapped to the outside,while Rachel carries food,water,and their double airbed in a rucksack.

Shops are in short supply on the route,so they've been up to four days hiking on energy bars,bread,cheese,cold rice,lentils,and porridge.

The three of them are overjoyed when they find a cafe or put serving hot food.

Arnie has become a huge fan of pasties and fish and chips,Rachel said.

One of their highlights was coming across an honesty box containing chocolate bars,bananas,and water.

Rachel said: 'That was pure bliss - we had tears running down are faces while we ate those bananas.'

They take up to two rest days a week and also one night a week in a hotel to recover.

The trio nearly lost their tent over a cliff when Rachel unpegged it and the wind caught it.

She said: 'It was so scary. We were running after it barefoot through nettles and poo,and thankfully we caught it just in time.'

St Ives to Pendeen - called a 'severe' part of the journey - was a tough day for the trio,scrambling over rocks and through mid-calf-deep mud with a sheer cliff edge to one side.

High winds nearly blew away their kit and they weren't able to pitch their tent,and poor Arnie was soaked through as his cover kept blowing off.

Relieved at the end they found a pub to stay in.

'The weather has been the most surprising part of this trip,' said Rachel.

Their favourite place was the Valley of Rocks,near Linton in Devon.