Ten-sixty-six is the date burned into the memory of every schoolchild of my generation – the date of the Battle of Hastings and the last successful invasion of England by William of Normandy.
We were all taught how Harold Godwinson, newly crowned King of England, rushed north to defeat the invading army of his brother Tostig and Harold Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in September 1066. Then, on hearing that William had landed in Kent, he had to rush south again to meet his destiny, and that of England, at the Battle of Hastings on October 14.
So the first question to be asked of this nonetheless informative and historically rich guidebook is why 1066 Harold’s Way doesn’t start at the Stamford Bridge battlefield near York and end at Hastings? (Apparently, the author did discuss the route from Stamford Bridge but found it difficult to establish a clear route on rights-of-way).
So this 100-mile, 10-day route instead follows what could have been Harold’s route from Westminster Abbey to Senlac Hill, east to Rochester and then due south roughly following the old Roman Road through Maidstone, Bodiam and Battle.
The route is described in the author’s usual meticulous detail, but it is the regular “Reflections” and the occasional excerpts from The Saxon Times, an imaginary newspaper from the period, which sets this apart as an entertaining and enlightening read, whether you do the walk or not.
Roly Smith
By 0utdoor Writers and Photographers Guild Autumn 2022
WALKING CAPITAL TO COAST: 1066 HAROLD’S WAY
From History Walks, Talks and Books
MORE THAN JUST FOOTSTEPS ON A PATH
For more information visit: www.1066haroldsway.co.uk
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