Night’s alright

Just finished ‘Lights in the darkness’ in CW February. I’ve gone on a night walk a few times before and never enjoyed it but now I’ve read the article I’m going to try it again with a more positive attitude, tuned to the silence, the feeling of the unknown and just the feel of achieving something that I know will mean me getting over my greatest fear of the dark.

Michaela Chapman, Email

I was pleased Nick Hallissey discovered his love of night walking from Scout night hikes [CW February].

As a Scout Leader for more than 30 years I regularly led night hikes, sometimes taking the last train to Box Hill and walking the North Downs Way. We would stop for a ‘midnight feast’ and even some sleep before continuing. Once, we reached Merstham and took an early train to Brighton for a day on the beach. On one hike we watched a magnificent lightning display then had to call our transport early as the subsequent rain was very heavy. Another time I pre-parked a minibus near Lewes and we walked the South Downs Way to end with bacon sandwiches. By day and night I’m sure these walks generated a love of the countryside in many young people.

John Parkin,

Carshalton