Long Walks & Pilgrimages [30min]

Over the centuries travelling long distances has been done for various reasons all around the world. Groups of the faithful have made pilgrimages to shrines or holy places such as Canterbury or Mecca. In 1934 Mao Zedong led 86,000 followers 25,000 li to escape the attacks of the Chinese nationalist army. In the Netherlands each year 40,000 people spend four days walking in the Nijmegen marches. Traveller, student of Muslim law, raconteur and novelist Sandi Toksvig is joined by John Ure, author of a new book called Pilgrimage: The Great Adventure of the Middle Ages (Constable and Robinson); Andy McEwen and Ed Jocelyn, co-authors of The Long March: The True Story Behind the Legendary Journey That Made Mao's China (Constable and Robinson); and PC Mike Kinsey from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and a regular participant in the International Nijmegen Four Day Marches. They share anecdotes, historical and contemporary, on ways of passing time, tales told and songs sung as well as useful advice to keep one's feet in good shape.