by Malinka van der Gaauw | May 26, 2026 | General
At the end of April, I spent three days church-crawling around the Cotswolds. Not on foot for once, but by car, covering roughly 150 miles through villages, narrow lanes and quiet corners you’d be unlikely to stumble across by chance. It was full-on, but utterly... 
by Malinka van der Gaauw | Apr 18, 2026 | General
If you visited the British Library’s Secret Maps exhibition earlier this year, you will have discovered the many forms that maps can take and the wide range of ideas they can convey. In fact, back in 1996, the academic J. H Andrews attempted to define the word map and... 
by Malinka van der Gaauw | Feb 19, 2026 | Churches, General
I’m sure you have noticed how differently one church can feel to another. Some are dark and weighty, others tall and full of light. In some, your eye is drawn straight to the windows; in others, it’s the height of the interior or the richness of the stonework... 
by Malinka van der Gaauw | Jan 7, 2026 | General
Many of our most desirable hotels are in beautiful historic buildings, yet a night’s stay in one often comes with a steep price tag. In contrast, our churches are equally remarkable historic buildings, built by skilled medieval craftsmen, that offer a heritage... 
by Malinka van der Gaauw | Nov 12, 2025 | General
Each year, some Rural Strides’ Open Walks follow a shared theme. In 2026, that theme will be Legacy of Belief – a chance to explore how faith and ritual have shaped both our landscape and the lives of past generations. Belief leaves its mark in many ways. You can see... 
by Malinka van der Gaauw | Oct 23, 2024 | General, Walk & Talk
I lead a walk called the Flint Stones. Cartoon fans will be disappointed to learn that Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty don’t put in an appearance, instead the star of the ‘show’ is the rock flint. Here in the Western Weald it is impossible to go for a walk without...