I was looking for Newlands Corner, heading east from Guildford’s center city, searching for a trail that might lead to this local beauty spot and its fine views. I thought I might be on the right track when I began heading up a steep road … up and up and up some more.

Before long, the road ended in a well-pathed meadow. It was Pewley Downs. Downs are rolling chalk hills, gentle rises with green fields in the bottom lands, human-scale hills.

Walking along a downs path today I felt the pull of all the souls who’ve walked here through the ages. Isn’t every inch of British landscape imbued with story and history? It felt that way to me today.