Pilgrimage to Knepp Castle Estate, Colwall, Herefordshire to Shipley, Sussex
Statistics:
Walker: Rebecca
When: July 1st to July 14th 2018
Pack weight: 2 stone (too heavy)
Distance walked: 140 miles (+++)
No of days: 12 walking, 2 days exploring Knepp
No of Maps: 8 x 1: 50,000 (discarded once used)
No of Blisters: several but blister packs mean they didn’t matter
Weight lost/gained: None
Money spent: £235– including train fare home
Would I do it again: Already planning the next one
This summer I walked, on my own, from Herefordshire to Sussex and I am sure I am the only person to have done this in 400 years, at least in the way I did, using footpaths, carrying my tent and sleeping out. I set out July 1st, late in the afternoon waiting for the day to cool, but it didn’t of course, not for the entire 14 days, hot sun the whole way. I had sorted my route on OS maps, first south over the Cotswolds to the Salisbury Plain, then east to Sussex. The way I planned it was to keep to the 06 Eastings line as best I could always using footpaths. It proved to be a good line; it took me over Cleeve Hill, through the Cotswolds, Chedworth Roman villa, Selbourne Common and Avebury. I then turned east and walked the magical Hampshire countryside and into Sussex, possibly the prettiest county of England.
I camped mostly in newly cut hay fields, they were clean, sweet-smelling and quiet, only rabbits, foxes and the occasional deer for company. I had taken an E reader loaded with books but hardly read, I just lay in my tent and rested, dropping in and out of sleep. Sometimes I was up and off early, sometimes not. I ate when I found food, from a shop, service station, pub or whatever, every day there was something. I had a few nuts and raisins as back up but rarely ate them. I drank only water. All this was good, I didn’t miss comfort or company and I realise this is the change that happens when you walk this way. The things you usually want you find you don’t out here. I wasn’t lonely or scared, my body held out, I was content. I made progress with my spiritual life.
I stayed in one church, Urchfont. The warden happened to be there and I asked. He wasn’t quite happy about it but said yes. I pitched the tent in a tiny place under the clock tower on the N side, very loud bells but I slept through most of them. I had water with me, no loo of course, but I didn’t need one. I was in the middle of a village that was preparing for a fete, many people were out and about, but I was not spotted, it was quiet, I was in the centre of it, but quiet, a good place. That was one of the mornings I woke and left early before six.
On my walk I visited any church en route but only stayed at this one. I was able to fill up with water at Selbourne and one or two others, most of them would have been perfect over night spots for my little tent.
I made it to Knepp in 12 days, a great destination for the end of the adventure. Knepp is a re-wilding estate with wonderful camping set in a huge field with marvellous showers and tea and coffee on tap. The visit to Knepp was very much part of my re-connecting to nature journey. I caught a bus and train home – that took all day, but then, it had taken nearly two weeks to walk there.