A railway station concourse is a bustling and chaotic place, filled with trains, announcements, screens, lights, and people moving in all directions. It was within this hectic environment that I was asked to imagine a mindful walking weekend in north-east Wales. The purpose of this retreat was to help participants unplug from stressful situations and discover techniques to soothe their senses in everyday life. The group I was with consisted of my friend Cerys, Nicky, who owns her own hospitality business, Claire, who organized the tour, and Belinda Gammon, a mindfulness guide and therapist. We found ourselves high on a hill above the tranquil hamlet of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, where the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Belinda began to speak, her tone slow and calming, comparing our minds to a busy train station. She explained that our thoughts are like trains that constantly pass through, creating noise. We have the choice to jump on any train, not knowing where it will take us, but doing so can leave us feeling lost, confused, and overwhelmed. Mindfulness meditation allows us to observe these trains without boarding any of them.
The metaphor was fitting, considering the chaos we had experienced just the day before when Cerys and I, both mothers raising children of different ages, embarked on our journey from London’s Euston station. We were already feeling overwhelmed from juggling parenthood and work when we received interruptions from nursery staff regarding a toddler’s accident, urgent work messages, and a request from Cerys’s youngest child about his missing bus pass. It was clear that we both needed this escape, regardless of whether or not mindful walking would work for us.
Claire Copeman, the owner of Adventure Tours UK, a socially responsible “B corporation,” began organizing these mindful walking tours during the lockdown. She met us at Chirk station, south of Wrexham, and took us to the West Arms, a 16th-century coaching inn in the Ceiriog Valley. The moment we arrived, we were greeted by Sian, the manager, who made us feel like part of her own family. Despite our stressful journey, we immediately felt more relaxed and began exploring the historic building, which was once a farm in the 1570s and transformed into an inn for drovers resting their livestock before continuing their journey to markets in Oswestry and London. Nowadays, it is a popular spot for locals who come to enjoy locally sourced food and ale from a nearby microbrewery.
The next morning, after Belinda’s explanation of mindfulness using the station analogy, we embarked on a five-mile walk into the foothills of the lesser-known Berwyn Mountains. We began by strolling through farmland and then took a break beside a babbling brook, where Belinda led us in an exercise to observe the busyness of our minds. As we ventured further into an ancient woodland, we laid down on the grass and learned to focus on our breathing through guided meditation. I started to notice small details that I would have missed while walking at my usual pace. I caught the tangy scent of wood sorrel, heard the call of a meadow pipit, and realized how similar the sound of wind in the woods is to waves crashing on a shore.
Belinda guiding the group in an exercise. Photograph: Phoebe Smith
By the time we reached a line of ancient hawthorn trees and stopped for lunch, a serene mood had settled over us. I began to understand that a slower, more mindful walk may cover less ground in terms of distance but provides a richer experience. Belinda then instructed us to focus on the microscopic details of a single leaf before bringing our awareness back to the wider landscape. After spending so much time observing the minute details, where the moss resembled a dense forest, the hills suddenly appeared larger and more expansive than I could have imagined, leaving me in awe. Claire took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of our individual impact on the environment. As part of her commitment to protecting the places we visit, she partnered with Trash Free Trails, a community interest company. Participants have the option to collect any litter they find during their regular walks, sort and record it in an online survey. This data contributes to efforts to combat litter pollution.
We were informed about this initiative just as Belinda asked us to complete the final part of our walk in silence. It was a beautifully effective exercise. As we focused on our breathing, the landscape, and our place within it, we silently collected a significant amount of waste from farms along with cans, food wrappers, and water bottles. Despite the effort, it felt like a pleasurable activity.
Back at the West Arms for our second and final night of freedom, we relished the chance to chat again and reflected on our experience. While not every exercise resonated with us (the half-hour of silent walking was a bit frustrating for two friends eager to chat), we appreciated the opportunity to listen to the sounds and smells around us, allowing us to truly appreciate our surroundings. Belinda had equipped us with tools to cope with the madness of our everyday lives, teaching us that it’s okay, even as mothers juggling childcare and work, to take time for ourselves and not constantly think about our children.
On our last morning, after a satisfying breakfast, Claire took us to a footpath on the outskirts of Moel Famau country park. We hiked uphill to witness the small forest being created by Claire’s company in partnership with local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty wardens. For every guest who books a tour, a birch, oak, wild cherry, hawthorn, or pear tree is planted. So far, Adventure Tours UK has planted 335 trees. It was a rewarding way to conclude our trip, surrounded by flourishing saplings.
As we made our way to the station, my phone began to beep with alerts demanding my attention. But instead of succumbing to the stress, I embraced my inner Belinda and turned off the notifications. I had learned that everything can wait.
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