Walk in their Shoes

Northumberland National Park rangers organise walks in the park throughout the year. Today was one in a series called Walk in their Shoes.

There was a project based in Alnwick that aimed to make recordings of local people talking about their memories of the past. That way the stories and the dialect has been preserved.

Some of these stories are available for both self guided and guided walks. Today’s was at Elsdon. It was perfect walking weather, 15 of us plus two Park Volunteers did a 5 miles walk. The air was very clear so we could see for miles.

My blip is taken from the hills above Elsdon, a delightful, compact village. Brian and Faye came too. Brian and a Jean lived here 40 years ago and they built a bungalow for themselves and their two children.

The best tale today was told by a woman. She and her friend used to walk to Otterburn for the dance. It is 14 miles in one direction. They had one bike, so one would ride for a mile or so then leave the bike and walk on. The second one would pick up the bike and ride to overtake her friend. They went on this way to Otterburn.

They had it all to do in reverse in the early hours.

One morning, they saw the post van and talked to the postman. He offered to take the bike. They thought they would have a lift back home, but he left with only the bike. Apparently he was not allowed to take passengers……!