Date: TBC
Start: Borden Wood
Start Time: 09.00
Distance: 5 miles
Terrain: Undulating with a couple of climbs (one steep)
Sign up through Eventbrite HERE
On this walk we will step away from the noise of modern life and into a landscape shaped for reflection. Inner Peace is a gentle journey to Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, one of the most tranquil places in the Western Weald. In the spirit of Buddhist pilgrimage, we will travel to the monastery on foot. Walking in will allow us to fully appreciate its secluded setting — a place wonderfully removed from modern-day distractions.
On arrival, we will be welcomed by a resident monk who will guide us around the monastery, sharing insights into daily life, Buddhist practice, and how the community lives in harmony with nature. We’ll learn how simplicity, silence and attentiveness shape their spiritual life. We will then sit quietly to listen to a chanted blessing before lunch. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy our packed lunches in the monastery’s peaceful cloisters.
The return walk will take us through the monastery’s own woodland, where subtle traces of monastic life can be spotted among the trees. This walk isn’t about religion in a formal sense, it’s about how belief, landscape and stillness come together.
- No dogs please
- Bring lunch
RURAL STRIDES
Rural Strides is passionate about the rich history and cultural landscape of the Western Weald. Through our engaging guided walks, we bring the land to life. We interpret its stories, uncover its heritage, and reveal the character that makes this corner of the South Downs so special. Along the way, we introduce you to inspiring local businesses, each rooted in the community and landscape we share.
Our aim is simple: to create authentic, memorable experiences that connect you with the place and its people. By the end of a Rural Strides walk, you won’t just have explored the Western Weald, you’ll feel like a local.
