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SOCIALLY DISTANT HISTORIC WALKS – SMALL GROUPS - SOCIALLY DISTANCING
Join our popular guide - writer, historian and broadcaster Julian Humphrys, as we set out on three walks around some fascinating historic battlefields and the lovely scenery of the countryside surrounding them.
WALK 1:The Battle of Cheriton. (Hampshire)
SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2020 - £25 PER PERSON
An attractive walk through the beautiful countryside of the Hampshire Downs near Winchester. The battle fought there in March 1644 was one of Parliament’s first major victories in the English Civil War and it ended Royalist hopes of an advance through the South of England. Cheriton was also a poignant example of the tragedy of civil war as the commanders of the two armies, the Royalist Ralph Hopton and the Roundhead William Waller, had been close friends for decades. The Royalists got off to a good start when they captured the tactically important Cheriton wood but their subsequent attacks were poorly co-ordinated and they were eventually forced to retreat. Cheriton is a remarkably unchanged battlefield and this guided walk around its woods, hedgerows, footpaths and sunken lanes will take us to the very heart of the action and bring the dramatic events that took place there 375 years ago vividly to life.
Time: 1.15pm – c4.00pm
Distance (miles): 4
Difficulty: Moderate (one hill)
Meet: War Memorial, Cheriton B3046, 3 miles south of New Alresford, Hants
Parking: On street in village near War Memorial
Refreshments: Pub in Cheriton. Pubs, cafes and public toilets in New Alresford
WALK 2:The Battle of Hastings (East Sussex) – SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2020
£25 PER PERSON IF ENGLISH HERITAGE MEMBER
£38 PER PERSON IF NON-MEMBER
This guided exploration of the site of perhaps the best-known battle (and date) in English history gives you the chance to stand on the very spot where our island’s history was changed forever. William of Normandy’s victory over Harold Godwinson at Hastings on 14 October 1066 had far-reaching effects - on domestic society and politics, on England’s relationship with Europe, even on the English language. Julian has studied the battle of Hastings in depth and as well as telling you why and how it was fought, he will discuss the debate about where the fighting actually happened and take you to some key spots that aren’t normally explored by visitors to the battlefield. The walk will conclude with a tour of the spectacular remains of Battle Abbey which was founded by William the Conqueror on the site where Harold is believed to have fallen.
Time: 1:00pm -3.30pm
Distance (miles): 2 ½
Difficulty: Moderate (two stiles )
Meet: Outside Battle Abbey Gatehouse, Battle, East Sussex
Parking: Public car park adjacent to Battle Abbey
Refreshments: Numerous pubs and cafes in Battle High Street Toilets and refreshments available on-site at end of walk.
WALK 3: Towton (North Yorkshire)
MONDAY 19th OCTOBER 2020
£25 PER PERSON
Towton is one of the most atmospheric battlefields in Britain. Often called the bloodiest battle on English soil, Towton was fought in March 1461 during the Wars of the Roses and saw the crushing defeat of Henry VI’s Lancastrian army by Edward IV’s Yorkists. Fought in a blinding snowstorm, the battle hung in the balance for hours until the arrival of reinforcements under the Duke of Norfolk turned the tide in the Yorkists’ favour. We’ll explore the battlefield itself, including the infamous Bloody Meadow before descending to the banks of the River Cock, now a peaceful stream, then a raging torrent where the retreating Lancastrians were cut down in droves. This fascinating and thought-provoking walk will reveal the tactics, the weapons, the protagonists and the brutal reality of warfare during the Wars of the Roses.
Time: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Distance (miles): 4
Difficulty: Moderate (One hill)
Meet: Rockingham Arms pub car park, Towton near Tadcaster, N Yorks, LS24 9PB
Parking: Pub Car Park (if eating) otherwise on street in adjacent road.
Refreshments: Rockingham Arms pub (booking essential), numerous pubs and cafes in Tadcaster.
TO BOOK:
CALL BROOKLAND TRAVEL ON 01305 259467 (OFFICE HOURS 1000 – 1600, MONDAY TO FRIDAY). Answer phone outside of these hours
OR EMAIL: info@brooklandtravel.com
www.brooklandtravel.com
Brookland Travel was established in 1999. Escorted garden tours, history tours and cultural breaks exploring our built and natural English heritage.
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