Sometimes a walk starts off rather badly. Too many turn up, too few turn up, it pours down, the wind whistles down your jacket or it gives someone earache.   People are dismayed if the walk is too long, others are dismayed if it is too short.   Some do not want to hold everyone up by walking too slowly and others just want to get on with it as befits their health and stamina.

          On the other hand, just very occasionally a walk goes really well from beginning to end. Soft sunshine and gentle breezes welcome the perfect number who turn out, thoughtful conversations and laughter echo round the woods, we see a deer, badger or fox, the barn owl glides past and the heron flies gracefully overhead. We don’t walk too far, too fast or too slow, we don’t find a bog or electric fence or miss a stile. These walks are rare, but all of them – from the worst to the best – are good for heart, mind, body and soul and the satisfaction, appreciation of nature and sheer joy created is worth every vibram-soled footstep.

Pauline Hukin – Pickering Walks
email pickeringwalks@yahoo.co.uk for a programme.