The Hertfordshire Way – Bishop’s Stortford to Hare Street: The one where we got lost – and again and again and again! Leaving Tesco’s Car Park on the outskirts of Bishop’s Stortford we soon found ourselves in the open countryside and came across a sign showing us where the Herts Way had been diverted. We…
Author: Jackie
AN AUTUMN WALK FROM HARLINGTON
As the early morning Autumn mist showed signs of clearing with the promise of a fresh clean day I set out from the Village Centre and soon found myself in the countryside. The ground was steaming as the sun dried the dew and a red kite circled overhead. As with so many of my local…
STAGENHOE AND MINSDEN CHAPEL
How many times this year have I said “This is probably the last sunny day we will have this year – we must get out walking”? This day in early October when T and I took a walk to Stagenhoe, deep in the Hertfordshire countryside, was yet another such day. I once dreamt of visiting New England…
THE PEAK PILGRIMAGE : Eyam
I arrived at my Eyam, the destination of the Peak Pilgrimage during an August afternoon. The last day had involved more hills than I expected and after a quick visit to the church I checked into the superb Eyam Youth Hostel. An hour’s rest on my bunk bed, however re-invigorated me and I walked back down…
THE PEAK PILGRIMAGE: Day 3 – Bakewell to Eyam
Early on an August morn I climbed up from the beautiful town of Bakewell on my final leg of the Peak Pilgrimage. The steepness of the route for the first few miles surprised me and challenged me a little. On reaching the golf course (a difficult one to play, I imagine) I was somewhat confused…
THE PEAK PILGRIMAGE: Bakewell
Nestled alongside the River Wye Bakewell is, of course, best known for its puddings – a very sweet concoction of pastry, jam and almond paste. My memories of it will, however, be of sunflowers, eating a pizza slice whilst watching a croquet match take place on the outskirts of the cricket pitch, a super childrens’…
THE PEAK PILGRIMAGE: Day 2 – Hartington to Bakewell
A 15 and a half mile walk awaited me as I left Hartington Youth Hostel in the early hours on Day 2 of my Peak Pilgrimage walk. I put on a good pace across fields and footpaths to reach Hartington Station a couple of miles outside of the village. The route then followed the well-marked…
THE PEAK PILGRIMAGE: Day 1 – Ilam to Hartington
I read somewhere once that a love of the early morning is a sign of good mental health and if that is the case I must be in a good place as I began my walking on day one of The Peak Pilgrimage before anyone else was about on this early August morn. I had visited…
THE PEAK PILGRIMAGE: Ilam and Ilam Youth Hostel
Ilam Youth Hostel is a gem, a 17th Century Gothic Manor, hidden amongst the Derbyshire dales, alongside the River Dove. I spent the night before my pilgrimage there and was able to explore the building and grounds and partake of tea in the National Trust Tea Rooms! The settlement grew up around the site of…
THE PEAK PILGRIMAGE: Walk from Ashbourne to Ilam
On one of the many blisteringly hot days of Summer 2018 I took the advice in the Peak Pilgrimage Guidebook and walked the five or so miles from Ashbourne to the start of the pilgrimage at Ilam. It proved to be a great decision . It got me back into the habit of walking alone away…
