Book featuring Ledbury walks launched at town bookshop

Valerie McLean’s new book Walking Through the Seasons encourages readers to get outside and enjoy a number of walks local to Ledbury.

The book’s launch was hosted by Lindsay Jackson at Ledbury Books and Maps last Saturday (July 22).

“It rained all day and I wondered how it’d go,” said Valerie. “But the readings went really well.

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“We were joined by the poet Lesley Ingram, who has written a poem about John Masefield, and I had family and friends read poems by John Masefield, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and some of the Dymock poets.

“We had wine and sold quite a few books.”

In this lavishly illustrated book, walks local to Ledbury are described alongside local poems from local poets.

There’s a walk for each month of the year, with poems and illustrations related to that area.

One walk features a train ride out to Colwall and a walk back to Ledbury, others include a walk around Dymock and the Ledbury Town Trail.

The book is dedicated to Valerie’s partner, the late Roger Hughes, who was well known for his involvement in local charities and enjoyed walking through the countryside with his dogs before MS took away his mobility.

Valerie first had the idea for Walking Through the Seasons during lockdown but, she says, “I was caring for Roger until the end, so I only really started putting it together in the middle of last year.

“Every month of the year is important to get outside - the benefits are there to see, for your physical health and your mental health.

“The May Hill is on the cover because it is such a presence in the area - wherever you walk you are able to see it.”

Walking through the Seasons is available at local bookshops and from www.valeriemclean.com