Why is walking so important to me.
After working for 39 years for the Police Service in both South Wales and London I was pretty frazzled. My last role held considerable responsibilities managing the computer systems that allowed the Murder Investigation teams - of which there were rather a lot – to investigate serious crime. Along side that I also had in my portfolio the running of the Casualty Bureau for the London area and sometimes the UK, for major disasters and incidents with high mortality. Sleeping in the stationery cupboard became second nature rather than travelling the hour and a half home and back again. Long hours and high stress began to take its toll. The Universe then took over……. Circumstances overtook me, so I sold my house, sold my mum’s house and we bought a house together in the beautiful Brecon Beacons as mum was poorly, sadly she passed away in 2019. I was still working in London, travelling up on a Monday morning and returning home on the weekend. I gave up work to help care for mum in 2019 and would spend hours walking on my own - my “little bit of sanity” as I called it. Just being out in the hills was therapy for the soul helping me to come to terms with what I had experienced whilst working and mum’s illness. It doesn’t take long to realise how insignificant we really are and walking instilled in me a huge life lesson. The great outdoors gives you a great big dose of get over yourself. Who can’t fail to be in awe when you are standing on a mountain top looking out over the wilderness of the mountains, there’s not a soul in sight and the only sound you can hear are the birds calling. The fact that they’ve been there for thousands of years carved by wind, water, ice volcanic eruptions. Magical. Just being in the moment. We are here for the shortest of times - the countryside we are blessed to have will be here for many years to come. I met Alan Ward who was offering introductions to navigation courses at the Beacons Visitor Centre so thought I’d go along. It was on that one day course that I met Helen who was observing. Alan recommended I sign up for the HML training and at each part of the training Helen was there, always willing to support and advise. That’s where my love for the hills and walking really expanded. I was now able to walk with confidence off the beaten track searching for piles of stones or spot heights and contours to mention just a few. What’s not to love??? Helen invited me to join her walking group and at first, I was a little apprehensive, I was used to walking on my own. But the camaraderie and fun I’ve experienced on her walks and trips away has been amazing. Likeminded people who enjoy the outdoors, walking and usually talking nonsense. Helen’s walks are pretty much guaranteed to have some fascinating features be it forts, iron works, random meeting points, half lunches and often rain, but nothing stops her from giving her best every time. Great times, great memories with many more to come.
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This page tells of people who have found Bryn Walking and want to share their story, in their own words, of how walking and the outdoors has made a difference to their lives.
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November 2023
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