On my recent holiday in North Wales, I was reminded how joyful it is to walk in company. I often walk alone, and really like to do that too, but walking with others adds something to the experience. A shared joy of being in nature? The shared achievement of a hill climbed or a rain-shower dodged? A helping hand (given or received) when needed. Shared cake or fruit pastilles? It all adds a sense of connection to others, sometimes lacking in the lives we lead.
Walk Wild Wellbeing
Last Sunday I joined Michael (Walk Wild Wellbeing), who is a fellow North Down’s Way Ambassador, with a view to making some connections & spending time with others. It was a really lovely experience, not walking anywhere particularly note-worthy, but enjoying Michael’s folklore tales, flora and fauna knowledge, some mindful moments in nature & some great company.
He mentioned that he was leading a walk in & around Canterbury and was looking for a back-marker, so I have happily volunteered myself for that role and can’t wait to walk with him again. The walk is part of the YHA festival of walking and free to join (book here). It is a family friendly and leisurely-paced walk, starting and ending at Canterbury Youth Hostel, where refreshments will be available on our return. The walk will meander its way through woodlands, orchards, and wild and beautiful Kent countryside, walking via a footpath that intersects a zoo, where it’s very common to be able to view African Elephants and other animals before returning via a section of the North Downs Way.
Hope you can join Michael (& me) for this walk.
Adventure Women UK
In the coming months, I am excited to be leading some walks for Erika who runs Adventure Women UK and the first ones are in a few weeks’ time! All the walks are women-only, very friendly, non-competitive, great fun and often accessible by public transport for a car-free day.
You can find details of all the AW walks & adventures here.
I will be leading this one & this one in September, and this one in October. I would love to have your company!
High Weald walking festival
I am not involved in this as a walk leader, but I will be joining one or two of the walks being offered as part of the High Weald walking festival this year – 13th-21st September.
All the walks are free to join, booking advisable, and varying in length from 1-2 miles to full day walks.
You can find the programme and all the walk details here where you will also find some self-guided walk routes in case you fancy exploring at a later date.