Belief Beneath Your Feet

As the new year approaches, many of us look for ways to feel more connected: to place, to people and to purpose. Walking offers a simple way to do just that. It clears the mind, strengthens the body, and opens the door to learning.

After a year spent exploring the deep-rooted world of trees, local walking community Rural Strides turns its attention in 2026 to another thread that binds people and place belief. The new programme of walks, Legacy of Belief, invites walkers to explore how faith in all its forms, has shaped the landscape and traditions of the western end of the South Downs National Park.

Run by qualified walk leader and local knowledge forager Malinka van der Gaauw, Rural Strides walks are about bringing curious people together. Theres no membership, no pressure and no sermons, except perhaps a little gentle preaching about the beauty of the local landscape!

The Legacy of Belief walks will take many forms. Some walks will follow ancient pilgrimage routes, trodden by generations of travellers in search of meaning or solace. Others will lead to striking village churches. Therell be celebrations of seasonal festivals that mark the turning of the year and exploration of pre-Christian beliefs tied to relics still found in the countryside. Some walks will invite quiet reflection; others will bring to life the people and stories that kept faith alive through the centuries. As poet John Betjeman once wrote, church crawling is the richest of pleasures; it leads you to the remotest and quietest country. 

Whether you are drawn by architecture, history, or simply the calm rhythm of walking through timeless scenery, theres a walk for you. So, why not begin 2026 by stretching your legs and your curiosity? Join Malinka and the Rural Strides community to discover the living legacy of belief that still shapes, and sustains, the Western Weald.

For details of upcoming walks, visit www.ruralstrides.co.uk or sign up for the monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new walks.