Kirstie completes 26 mile Cathedral walk to raise money for Dornakal

Year 7 pupil Kirstie has raised over £500 for the Dornakal English Medium Diocesan School after completing a 26 mile sponsored walk with her parents in August.

Kirstie and her parents, Josephine Murray and Ken Philcox, initially decided to walk the Clarendon Way from Salisbury Cathedral to Winchester Cathedral as a family challenge, but when friends asked if they were doing it to raise money they saw an opportunity to help the Dornakal school, which King’s has supported for 14 years. The school needs money for books and equipment and to help fund places for children from disadvantaged families, who would otherwise be unable to attend school.

Kirstie’s Mum had the idea for the challenge after reading an account of the main character walking the Clarendon Way between the two cathedrals in Tracy Chevalier novel’s A Single Thread. The family began training by walking in the countryside near their home in Stroud at weekends earlier this year and gradually increased the distance up until the walk itself.

The family drove to Winchester on Sunday 22 August, where they parked their car and visited the cathedral. Kirstie commented: “There are many kings buried there, and a lot of art such as paintings, but Gloucester cathedral feels more welcoming. Also the organ in Winchester cathedral is a lot smaller, and not as impressive as Gloucester’s.”

The family travelled to Salisbury by train, where they stayed overnight before beginning the walk on Monday morning from Salisbury cathedral; they plan to visit at a later date, as Kirstie’s grandparents live nearby.

The Clarendon Way is a pilgrim route and the path was marked with bishop mitre’s symbols. It passes through the Clarendon Park estate, where Kirstie and family saw the ruins of the 12^th century royal residence Clarendon Palace, in a field of llamas! The family walked through woodland, past fields of corn and through the Wiltshire villages of Pitton, West Winterslow and Middle Winterslow, with their pretty churches and cottages, stopping for a picnic lunch and a welcome break at a playground with a fantastic see-saw/roundabout which went round as well as (very high) up and down.

After arriving in Broughton, Hampshire, and seeing the beautifully clear River Test, the first 13 miles of the walk ended in the village of Houghton. Kirstie and family then walked a couple more miles to reach their Air B and B. Added to the couple of miles they walked to Stockbridge for a delicious dinner, and then back to the B and B, they actually walked 18 miles that day!

Day two started early, with the route going through some beautiful Hampshire countryside including woods, fields and wild flower meadows. The family spotted a deer, hare, and fish and an egret in the Test river. There was quite a lot of uphill walking between King’s Somborne and West Wood, but the spectacular views made it worthwhile, and there was a fantastic backdrop for another picnic lunch.

The weather on both days was warm but not too hot, especially as the route was often sheltered by trees.

A home-grown cucumber became the walk’s unofficial mascot – you can see it in the photos of Winchester cathedral - when Kirstie picked one up from a box being given away outside a house.

The family was relieved to get their first glimpse of Winchester Cathedral. The Clarendon Way winds its way through fields and woods around the outskirts of the city before crossing water meadows, passing Winchester College, the Bishop’s palace and a house in which Jane Austen lived. Finally arriving at the cathedral, Kirstie and her parents enjoyed a very welcome drink and cake at the Refectory café before walking uphill back to the car to drive home to Gloucestershire.

Kirstie’s parents said: “We’re really proud of Kirstie for walking such a long distance –without complaining! It should certainly stand her in good stead for doing D of E expeditions in the future. We’re so grateful to all the people who have generously sponsored us. The money will help give more children in Dornakal access to education.”

Kirstie said: “It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but I liked the food and the views!”

If you would like to sponsor Kirstie and her family, there is still time. You can do so via this link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kirstiejosephineken?fbclid=IwAR3F909-Onr7MbqYGW4e6sypaBXT2ibgCB62aLIcHi425L9LY5pP-eq_lT0