In the 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that the qualifications for a good walk are ‘plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humour, good silence and nothing too much…’ These days we walk for many different reasons but many of these comments might still apply.
Rambling has a long and lively history. Chris brings to life characters like Thomas Coyate, ‘The Legge Stretcher of Odcombe’ of the 1600s and more recently the legendary Alfred Wainwright whose walks took him time and time again into the Lake District and beyond. Keen ramblers and hikers began to organise themselves into enthusiastic groups, like the The Polytechnic Rambling Club, that was established in 1885, and in 1935 TheRamblers’ Association was founded to promote rambling and access to the Countryside.
Along the way, the talk looks at landscapes of walking, including the Offa’s Dyke Trail that meanders for 177 miles along the England – Wales border and the wonderfully picturesque Cotswolds Way.
Come and enjoy the history of walking from the comfort of your seat!
