The Lady Magazine

7 November 2014

It’s remarkable what walking can do. An old school friend of mine started walking last year and found himself, six months later, in Istanbul. Simply by putting one foot in front of the other, he, like Patrick Leigh Fermor before him, had crossed a continent. Of course, many of us don’t have the time, or the energy, to amble across Europe. But a daily yomp – or even stroll – is good for the soul (not to mention the waistline). Perhaps it’s the air, or the time alone, or the fact that the pace of walking echoes the primal rhythm of our hearts, but that’s certainly what much– loved broadcaster and writer Clare Balding discovered when she shrugged off a lifetime of borderline ‘ambulophobia’ to step out into the great British countryside – and discover a whole new path or two. You can read her delightful tale of new friends, the great British weather and hiking boots on page 12. We also have Sir Christopher Ondaatje on the truly extraordinary story of the Caribbean’s two great lady pirates (yes, they really did put the men to shame); an evocative account of how Ronald Blythe’s timeless portrait of rural England, Akenfi eld, became a fi lm 40 years ago; some delicious new recipes from Rick Stein, and the fi rst part of our indispensable Christmas gift guide. And as Britain marks Remembrance Sunday, don’t miss Iraq war veteran Adnan Sarwar’s moving elegy to fallen comrades on page 18. We will remember them.