Ramblings

Tennyson Down, Isle of Wight


Listen Later

In this series of Ramblings, Clare Balding revisits some of her favourite walks and walkers. After thirteen years she returns to the Isle of Wight to meet Elizabeth Hutchings who introduced her to the Tennyson Trail.

Elizabeth's late husband, Richard, was the founder of the Farringford Tennyson Society, so it was only fitting that he should have a bench, placed in his memory, under the poet's monument on top of the Down. But when Clare last visited this National Trust site, it was their policy not to have memorial plaques on benches, a disappointment to Elizabeth. But thanks to the likes of Head Ranger Robin Lang, they have reversed their position and now the bench has an inscription, to Richard, carved into the wood.

Although now in her mid eighties and unable to make the steep climb onto the Down, with the help of Robin's four by four, Elizabeth and Clare once again visit the monument , the Down and Richard's seat and discuss the role walking has played in Elizabeth's long and eventful life.

Producer: Lucy Lunt.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

RamblingsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

145 ratings


More shows like Ramblings

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,403 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,843 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,760 Listeners

Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

241 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,828 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,069 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,056 Listeners

Saturday Live by BBC Radio 4

Saturday Live

38 Listeners

Open Country by BBC Radio 4

Open Country

84 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

279 Listeners

The Archers Omnibus by BBC Radio 4

The Archers Omnibus

377 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,008 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

269 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,916 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,074 Listeners

Gardening with the RHS by Royal Horticultural Society

Gardening with the RHS

263 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

108 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

822 Listeners

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast by National Trust

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

103 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

741 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,961 Listeners

A Life More Wild by Canopy & Stars

A Life More Wild

19 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

153 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Productions / Keep It Light Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

321 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

60 Listeners