Introducing Isle Walk Purbeck, my ‘Shadow-site’
In his book ‘The Old Ways’ Robert McFarlane explains that ‘shadow sites’ are low-lying features in a landscape that become visible when seen from above, especially when lit by the ‘slant-light of dawn, dusk or winter’.
For the last 10 years, my dog, a curly golden retriever, Mr Shadow, has accompanied me and my family on walks and runs on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, where we live. Throughout the pandemic and lockdowns of 2020 Mr Shadow and I traced, tracked and trailed many paths in this Jurassic Coast landscape. When Mr Shadow passed away in September 2020, I wanted to honour his companionship and capture the joy he brought by establishing my own ‘Shadow-site’, partly in his memory and partly in tribute to what I learnt from our walking - that it can benefit both the mind and the body. I have continued to walk ‘in his shadow’ and reflect on how walking has not only improved my physical health, but made me feel great as well.
As my time with Mr Shadow left an ‘imprint’ of the landscape of the life we shared, I hope that others will enjoy tracing our walks and relish the benefits for body and mind. By thinking “I’ll walk Purbeck” I hope you will discover how walking in this impressive landscape can benefit your health and help you feel great about being outside.
