Walks to celebrate Beating the Bounds

Sunday 27th April 2008


Long Preston Parish Council and the Heritage Project joined together
 to encourage parishioners to take part in
the ancient tradition of Beating the Bounds (of the Parish)
There were three accompanied walks.


The full Parish Boundary is about 22 miles in length, with a lot of it fairly inaccessible and not practical to walk in a large group, so all the walks have had to be shortened to a large extent and mostly kept to public footpaths..


Beating the Bounds is an ancient tradition going back over 2000 years.

Click here for further information.



The longest Boundary Walk was approximately 12 miles, and crossed difficult terrain; 11 intrepid walkers, and four dogs, set off on this walk - and returned!


To allow villagers an easier experience of the parish boundary two shorter walks were organised.
The medium length walk of approximately 7 miles was undertaken by a happy band of 19 participants, accompanied by two four-legged walkers.


Mobile refreshments were provided by the specialised support vehicle, ( aka Keith’s Coffee Wagon )
which met the two longer walks at Ebor Gate.
A rapid response emergency rescue vehicle was on standby ( aka Nick’s truck ).

 


The two shorter 3 mile walks set off in the morning with 4 walkers, shown here being seen off by Nick. The morning four got the worst of the rain.


The afternoon group of 10 were luckier, as it had dried up a bit by then.

There was also be a small exhibition in the Village Hall
 to launch the Heritage Project;

with photographs of old Long Preston,

and maps of the old shops and railway sidings,

together with other items of interest.


One of the display boards, showing the old shops in the village.


This exhibition was displayed again on Saturday 3rd May 2008
at the Playing Field Pavilion during the Mayday Celebrations.