Moon walking
At the end of October, British Summer Time comes to an end and the clocks go back. But why curb your walking just because it gets dark earlier? Andrew McCloy grabs a torch and heads out into the night air…
To the uninitiated, the idea of deliberately stepping out into the night may seem a little daunting or absurd. But if you choose your location carefully and heed the weather forecast, you can enjoy a magical, moonlit wander that is a truly unique walking experience. Jeffrey Goddard is a seasoned nocturnal rambler whose first outing was back in the 1980s with Penwith and Kerrier Ramblers in Cornwall. For some years they organised a Midsummer’s Night walk along the ancient Tinners Way from St Ives, finishing with breakfast at a pub in St Just before the coach back to the start.
“It’s best if you have a totally clear, dry night,” he says, “and try to plot a route well away from artificial light. Before long, you will be mesmerised by both the moonlight and the galaxies that stretch across the entire night sky.”
Jeffrey cautions that even if you think you know a route quite well, it all looks and feels very different at night. Walking in the dark sharpens your other senses – especially hearing – so that you begin to notice all kinds of weird and wonderful sounds, he says. “There’s a silence and stillness that is quite extraordinary. However, I would say that if you are of a particularly nervous disposition night-walking may not be for you – there are lots of nocturnal creatures and insects out there that are likely to surprise you!”
Whether it’s badgers or owls, bats or glow-worms, the natural world has a completely different turn out at night, but you will have to tune your ears to detect some of them. One particularly memorable experience is much easier to hear, though: the Dawn Chorus – when songbirds such as blackbirds, robins, wrens, warblers and thrushes take turns to usher in the new day – is at its peak each May and starts as early as 4am.
Practicalities
So what are the main points to bear in mind if you’re going to walk through the night? First, however bright the moon might be shining, your route will look and feel very different in the dark, so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with it beforehand. Walking it during the day will allow you to note any potential problems, whether it be uneven terrain, difficult stiles or navigational issues. Your eyes will lose their night vision for anything up to an hour if you have to keep turning on a strong torch to read a map or find the way, so unless you choose to walk by torchlight, try to memorise your route beforehand.
Second, avoid obvious dangers such as crags or cliffs, and try to steer clear of particularly boggy stretches that might not be evident in the dark. Consider likely escape routes and draw up a routecard, leaving a copy with someone at home so they know where you’re going and when you’re due back. As you would with a daytime walk, aim to finish with suitable refreshment – but this time it’ll be breakfast instead of a pub lunch or supper!
In terms of what to pack, make sure you have plenty of provisions (including a hot drink) and sufficient warm clothing, since the temperature can drop considerably at night at almost any time of year. Even if the forecast is good, overnight dew can make the ground damp, so a lightweight waterproof or sit-mat is a useful item of kit. And every member of your party should have a torch (a head torch is probably the most useful type) but how often you use it is down to you.
Rural or urban?
So if you’ve never tried navigating by the stars or exploring a landscape by the light of the moon, what’s the best arena for a night-time adventure: rural or urban? The countryside is certainly as peaceful and tranquil as it is in daylight but, crucially, you can also escape the light pollution that blights so many built-up areas (see box, far right). In true darkness, a star-studded sky will really come to life – and it will also heighten your other senses to the sounds and smells of the natural world. Since midnight ramblers are not exactly common in the countryside, it’s sensible to avoid going too close to habitation, such as isolated farms and hamlets. And if you are in a group, keep the noise levels low – people tend to become suspicious of anyone outdoors at night.
Of course there are obvious safety factors to consider, such as avoiding cliff edges and other steep drops, as well as wet or dangerous ground. Opt for easy, uncomplicated terrain like open parkland or chalk downs instead of dense woodland. The gentle, grassy slopes of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Chilterns or South Downs are ideal locations, where the chalk paths can even act as a luminous guide in the moonlight. Or try wide, straightforward trails such as the Peddars Way, sections of the Heart of England Way or Cotswold Way. This is one occasion where you don’t need to head for the most remote parts of Britain to enjoy an exciting walk.
Night-walking in an urban setting is inevitably very different to going out into the countryside after dark. It is likely to be wholly or partly illuminated, of course, which makes navigating much easier. But the effects of both artificial light and moonlight can also be extremely atmospheric and enchanting – a riverside stroll through a city at night is often a mesmerising experience. Take common-sense precautions regarding personal safety, such as carrying a mobile phone or personal alarm and research your route in advance. And if you’re at all worried, don’t go unaccompanied.
By using public transport you can create interesting linear routes, and soon you’ll find that midnight walks through city centres, historic squares, graveyards, parks etc, can be fun and full of interest. Indeed, towns and cities often look, sound and feel very different places at night-time when there are fewer people and less traffic about. Inua Ellams organises the so-called Midnight Run in London, which involves groups of people walking across the city in the small hours, enjoying the special feel of a metropolis at sleep.
“Depending where you go, London can be very peaceful at night, offering an incredible sense of space,” he says. “Most city centres are deserted from 8pm and I like the idea of going out and reclaiming the streets.” Inua is planning a Midnight Run in Manchester this autumn and another next year in Glasgow (for more details, email themidnightrun@googlemail.com).
Heaven and earth
If you’re really immersing yourself in the night-time experience and plan to navigate by the stars, you’ll need a clear sky and some basic knowledge of the heavens. To begin with, check the lunar calendar to find the dates of the full moons (the next are on 4 September, 4 October and 2 November). Then get the most accurate and up-to-the-minute weather forecast, because you’ll want a cloudless sky for as long as possible. If all this falls into place and you are standing in the dark gazing up at the firmament, do as explorers of old have done before you and locate Polaris (the North Star). An imaginary line drawn from this star to the nearest point on the horizon shows the direction north. Polaris is located in the constellation called Ursa Minor, but many of us will be more familiar with the likes of the Plough (in Ursa Major), which can act as a useful celestial signpost. Soon you will be plotting Cassiopeia (shaped like the letter ‘W’) as well as easy ones such as Orion’s Belt, and your walk in the dark will become even more rewarding as you hone your astronomical skills. Just remember to look down at the ground occasionally to check where you’re treading.
For more on night-walking, see the Autum 2009 issue of walk
Image: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
