Walk East Until I Die

Walk East
Until I Die

A Trek through Irish History and Beyond

The impossible dream becomes a reality for Mike as he sets out alone at the age of 67 to walk the E8 European path. In this engaging book he begins the challenge on Dursey Island, County Cork in the Republic of Ireland and completes this first stage in Dublin City.

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Walk East Until I Die book covers

This fascinating insight into the legendary and mystical land that is Ireland concludes amongst fairies, leprechauns, James Joyce and Guinness in Dublin city.

Utilising an elderly camper van and a push bike Mike shuttles along, experiencing injury, breakdowns and frequent loss of bearings.


About the Author

Mike Pinnock

Profile image of Mike Pinnock, Author

Born near Portsmouth in 1945, Mike Pinnock lived his childhood within the Royal Dockyard. He only managed to escape the confines of its walls entirely on the completion of a marine engineering apprenticeship in 1966.

Until his retirement in 2005 he spent his working life in industry; for the final 32 years employed by Calor Gas Ltd, latterly as a Senior Engineer. During this time he was able to sate a little of his travel bug as he was despatched to locations around the UK, Europe, Argentina, China, Pakistan and Taiwan.

Mike has two children and four grandchildren. He and his partner are both widowed and split their time equally between Spain and the UK.

A Bootneck's Foosteps front cover
A Bootneck’s Footsteps, Mike's first book, was published in 2007 by Woodfield Publishing. In it he journeys around the shores of Britain and beyond by land and sea, uncovering some surprising facts about his Dad's life as a Bootneck (Royal Marine) who sailed on the great warships during the first part of the twentieth century.
Walk East Until I Die front cover
Mike’s second book Walk East Until I Die, published in 2018, is a comprehensive account of his walk across Ireland and an exploration of its history that he discovers along the way. He starts from Dursey Island in County Cork and ends in Dublin, walking along paths that form the E8 European route to Istanbul in Turkey.
Bonn, Germany
The E8 route passes (or will pass) through thirteen countries to end in Istanbul, Turkey, an estimated 4,350 miles. Mike is awaiting publication of sequel to 'Walk East' as he walks along the E8 towards his goal. In September 2022 he reached Gmund on the Czech border in Austria, and in April 2023 will return to continue the walk via the Czech Republic to Vienna.

"Crazy? That’s certainly one word for it. Another is wonderful!…"

Reviewed by author Jim Rees, and featured in Ireland's Own magazine.

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The Walk

  • Stunning, high-resolution photographs

    View the beauty that Mike captured along the way.

  • Follow the journey

    See a step-by-step record of the walk.

  • View maps of the walk

    Keep track of the route along the E8 European Path.

See The Walk in more detail

Walk East

Until I Die

A Trek through Irish History and Beyond