Verdun and Arras

Written October 2026 For the last three years I’ve gone on a battlefield history tour with friends. In 2024 we went to Ypres, last year we went to Normandy. This year we went a bit further afield and delved into French history with a visit to Verdun. The first serious military history book I ever read was Alistair Horne’s “The Price of Glory”, first published in 1962. I must have been in my early teens, so perhaps a bit of a strange book to choose. Anyway, I have always had an interest in the battle since then but have never...

The Golden Valley Pilgrimage

Written August 2026 I have just completed a four day pilgrimage/walk centred on Hereford Cathedral staying at sanctuary churches. I’ll start with the route and arrangements themselves and then add some overall thoughts. There are two options, a 4-day and a 7-day walk. We took the 4-day route. We were a party of three: I went with my brother and friend. Night 1: we arrived at Hereford Cathedral in the late afternoon, and were stayed in the Old Chapel, a lovely space in the cloisters. We went for a look around and were lucky enough to see the arrival of...