This week we have conversations about the IML – the International Marching League, and a feature on an annual long-distance walk from March in Cambridgeshire, to Cambridge, called the March March March.
IML
The IML (International Marching League) Walking Association is a non-political, non-profit organisation that promotes walking and international cooperation and friendship.
The IML, which consists of the European region and Pan-Pacific region, promotes international multi-day non-competitive walking events in each of the member countries.
IML walkers must walk a minimum of two days at an event, and cover at least 20km on each day, to earn a stamp in their IML passport. There are a variety of awards available for attending walks in different countries.
Events take place throughout the year. In 2025, the organisation added Ottawa, Canada, as a member, and also introduced a new award, the Universal Walker, which is given only to those who have completed all IML walks on the calendar.
March March March
In 1979, a group of Cambridge University students came up with the idea of a walk from the Cambridgeshire town of March back to Cambridge. A March march.
What made it more special, was the idea to do this in the month of March, turning the idea into the March March March.
That first event attracted five walkers, led by Jonathan Partington, who has since completed 23 walks. While there have been a few missing years, the event continues to grow, with the 2025 version attracting 43 walkers, including current organiser Colin Bell, who is approaching Partington’s record, with 19 completions. The 2025 edition also saw another record broken, that of the oldest person – a 64-year-old – to complete the almost 30-mile hike.
We had a chat with Partington and Bell about the history of the unusual annual long-distance walk.
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