The Gentle Art of Tramping

Sunshine, a four legged companion and a wander-spirit - two walking routes for you to enjoy.

This week my four legged tramping companion returned with sunshine in tow. We took to the hills in search of ourselves and some new swim spots. Here are two routes we thought you might enjoy the next time you find yourself this way.

First, a little reminder:

You can join our Radiating Heart session tonight (and every Sunday night for that matter) at 8:30pm via Zoom. It’s free and everyone is welcome.

This time next week we’ll be starting our next four week Sunday Unwinding Club - ‘Natural Luminosity’. It’s all about coming into rhythm with the light, bright, aliveness outside and finding balance in our emotional worlds. It would be wonderful to see you there. I’ve offered accessible flexible pricing and you’ll have access to all the content and recorded sessions after the course.

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Following the brook to the river - Walk 1:

“The morning swim is such an embellishment of the open-air life that many are tempted to plan their whole expedition with that in view.”

- Stephen Graham, The Gentle Art of Tramping

Venford brook

Slip down from the moors to speak with the trees as you follow Venford’s tumbling brook towards the river. Walk along the woodland path edging the brook and you’ll soon reach the wide river Dart dotted with large sunbathing rocks and cool dipping pools along it’s length.

Here’s a link to the plotted route on an OS map with a detailed descirption.

Before you poo poo a ‘there and back again’ walk, keep in mind that sometimes a small change in perspective is just what we need.

Gus feeling a little sorry for himself after he accidentally plopped into the river and had to rescued.

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A warm sea breeze and the smell of coconuts - Walk 2:

“Nature becomes your teacher, and from her you will learn what is beautiful, who you are, what is your special quest in life and whither you should go.”

- Stephen Graham, The Gentle Art of Tramping

Here you’ll find a link to a walk teetering on the edge of moor and sea, filled with the smell of coconuts and unexpected cake .

Soar Mill cove

Have you ever tentatively bent down among the gorse prickles to smell their yellow flowers? If not, you should - they smell of coconuts!

The flowers are edible too and it turns out there’s lots you can make

• Gorse flower cordial or gorse flower rum - with their almond flavour and coconut smell, you’re on your way to a great botanical cocktail.

• Gorse flower custard tart

• Gorse flower ice-cream

Rice pudding, fudge, wine, pannacotta, the list goes on and on!

I could pretend these photos are blurred for an artistic reason, but really, it's that my phone decided to have a few hours where it refused to focus

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A poem for luminosity

When I Am Among the Trees - Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine

Happy luminous Sunday to you.

Camille