Your letters, emails & posts
This month: treasure maps, shower curtains and making new trails.
We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, walking from our home in Nidderdale to the first house we shared as a newly married couple, in Ayr, Scotland. My husband Phil drew a line between the two, then planned the route as near to it as possible.
We had wonderful weather, only having to wear our waterproofs once; camped for 15 nights, some on beautiful campsites, and others in fabulous wild locations; had one night in a hotel midway and two 2 at the end; walked 200 miles. I had a few rants during the off-piste sections through thigh-high heather, grass and bog, but soon recovered; it was a privilege to walk through such a diversity of landscapes, so thank you to all those who work hard to maintain our wonderful countryside.
The highlights were the incredulous looks when we told people what we were doing, and the admiration we got ‘at our age’ and for doing something outside the box.
We were filled with a sense of achievement, tinged with sadness, as we walked the last bit of the route along the Ayrshire Coast Path from Dunure. Lots of memories flooded back of our time in Ayr, visiting lots of the places we were now walking through, and it was almost as if life had stood still. The icing on the cake was when we returned to the little cottage we lived in 40 years ago, to be welcomed by the present owner, and shown round their loving renovation of what really was just a bothy when we lived there. When you’re young and in love it, it doesn’t matter, as long as you are together.
I know it’s said all the time, but we need to get out and do things that ‘surprise us with joy’ (CS Lewis) while we can. An utterly wonderful experience. Here’s to the next one.
Patrice Lyth, email