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A keen walker is mapping a way for you to foot it around the North Shore. Valerie Schuler reports.

Pack your sun-hats, walking boots and plenty of water. If Margaret Scrymgeour has her way you'll soon be travelling the entire perimeter of the North Shore on foot.

The pensioner is busy mapping walkways across North Shore City, with the aim of connecting them  to create a giant  loop.

"People already know some of these walkways exist, but nobody actually writes them down,'' says the grandmother of two.

"One person usually leads the walk. The rest walk, yak away, and don't take note of where they're going.''

The idea for the project - named Walk Around the Shore - came about after Mrs Scrymgeour heard of something similar in Christchurch.

"`I thought perhaps I could do the same here. I really just want to see if it's possible. It's about the satisfaction and challenge.''

Over the past few weeks, Mrs Scrymgeour and her husband, Dave, have clocked up plenty of kilometres; from Long Bay to Devonport, Devonport to Takapuna, Northcote to Birkenhead Wharf, Albany Creek. You name it, Mrs Scrymgeour has done more than walk it. She has mapped it meticulously and written instructions.

"The real test is when I send friends off with the instructions and see if they can find their way,'' she says.

For those areas without established tracks, Mrs Scrymgeour will devise her own. She has mapped about 16 walks so far, some of which are featured on the North Harbour Sport website.

But there will be challenges. Parts of Albany and Greenhithe don't have footpaths. Getting from Chatswood across to Beachhaven is difficult because sections of the land are owned by the Ministry of Defence. Getting from Glenfield across to Albany is also problematic. If anyone has any ideas, feedback is welcome.

Mrs Scrymgeour has been fond of walking all her life. She founded the Mairangi Walking Group about 20 years ago and recently joined Living Streets Aotearoa's North Shore group. Earlier this year she received a Harbour Sport Community Excellence Award  for her efforts.

The fit pensioner, who will spend her Christmas holiday walking, plans to have her loop walk mapped out in the new year. If the walkway proves feasible, Mrs Scrymgeour will look at producing brochures.

More info: www.harboursport.co.nz, click on Getting Active, then Walking Groups/Tracks, or see: www.livingstreets.org.nz