John Hayes is a retired management consultant with degrees from Liverpool University and University College London. Immediately after finishing work in 2011 he embarked on an epic 5,000km trek across Europe, walking from Tarifa in Spain to Budapest. John has written for numerous walking and trekking magazines. John first walked the GR1 in early 2013 and has made two return trips.

When exploring new routes in Spain John enjoys the advice and support of Juan Holgado, whose website JuanHolgado.com is one of best known local sources on Spanish walking. John has walked the Camino dos Faros in Spain twice, in April 2016 (with Christine his wife) and in June 2017.