Ms Kimbell hopes to walk the course

Julia Kimbell, 40, from Peterborough, will walk the course accompanied by two guides for the charity Deafblind UK.

Ms Kimbell, a keen walker, hopes her efforts will raise awareness of the UK's 24,000 deafblind people.

She said: "For most people, going for a walk or going shopping is something they take for granted - they just put on their shoes and walk out the door.

"But for someone who is profoundly deaf and blind like me, this is not possible."

Cross-country walks

Ms Kimbell, who gradually lost her sight and hearing as she was growing up, takes a guide wherever she goes - including on her long walks.

"We aren't talking about sedate plods along nice flat pavements either.

"We're talking cross-country walks, with stiles to scramble over and long grass to get my feet caught in.

"That's what I call heaven."