Berkhamsted man getting his kicks on Route 1066

Nick Heath on the shingle at Pevensey Bay in East Sussex, where William made landfall 960 years ago

On 2 November Berkhamsted’s Nick Heath left Pevensey Bay in East Sussex to start an epic journey, retracing the steps of William the Conqueror. He is calling this ‘Route 1066’ and will be walking down the hill into Berkhamsted via Castle Fields later this month.

William landed at Pevensey on 28 September 1066, before being victorious at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October, then marching into Kent, on to Southwark (where the Saxons would not let him cross into London on the only bridge available), on to Wallingford and then to Berkhamsted, where he was met by the Saxon Earls and Archbishops, who surrendered to him. It was therefore only when he reached Berkhamsted that William could claim to be King William. He then proceeded down to London and was crowned on Christmas Day.

Nick Heath is undertaking the same journey in just 24 days and doing it all on foot. He is an experienced long-distance walker with his website being letjog.co.uk, which stands for ‘Lands End to John O’Groats’. You can follow Nick’s journey on this site as he makes his way towards Berkhamsted, but mark Sunday 22 November in your diary, as that is the day he will reach the town. This coincides with the Berkhamsted Festival of Light, so make a day of it, support Nick and then head into the town centre to see the lights being switched on. You can, if you wish, walk with him some or all of the way from Great Gaddesden or just help greet him at Berkhamsted Castle. His route is as follows:

  • 12noon: Leave from Great Gaddesden Church (St John the Baptist). Walk via St Margaret’s (Amaravati Bhuddist Temple), over to Nettleden, then up the sunken ‘Roman Lane’ and down to Frithsden (Alford Arms), up again to Berkhamsted Golf Course and Castle Village, then down to the Castle via Castle Fields
  • 2pm: Arrive at Berkhamsted Castle
  • 2.30pm: Meet with Berkhamsted Mayor, Thomas Pedrick, on the stage outside Berkhamsted Civic Centre

Nick is walking to encourage people to support the Castle Fields Appeal to save the beautiful historic fields near Berkhamsted Castle from being developed. These have been acquired by Berkhamsted Castle Trust thanks to a £500,000 loan by a generous benefactor, but this needs to be paid back by September next year.

You can find out more about this appeal and show your appreciation for Nick’s efforts by buying a 3m x 3m square for £39 via letjog.co.uk.

Image: Nick on the shingle at Pevensey Bay in East Sussex, where William made landfall 960 years ago