I found this description of the exploits of an old time long distance walker in a second hand copy of this book published in 1951 and written by William T Palmer.
In 1754 there was born in Haydon Bridge a person known by the name of Ned Coulson, whose swiftness of foot and eccentricity of character made him quite a local celebrity.
He went fifty miles one stormy winter's night with a message, and returned next morning. On being asked by his master his reason for not going, he replied, "I have been, and here is the return message."
One day, after walking 65 miles, he reached home in time to take a successful part in some athletic sports.
The end of Ned was tragic. The bridge of his village having been taken away by a flood, he walked through the river, took a cold, and died December 1807, aged 54, and was interred at Bellingham.