Peter's Path

Hiked part 24/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 15.8 kilometres from Otterlo to Hoenderloo. Walked from Otterlo through De Hoge Veluwe National Park to Hoenderloo. The route crossed pine forest, sandy heath, beech avenues and a marsh boardwalk, with a stop by the Saint Hubertus hunting lodge. Spring leaves were just out and the sun shone all day. Hike report

Hiked part 23/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 19.0 kilometres from Schaarsbergen to Otterlo. A long walk through the Hoge Veluwe National Park, with woods at the start and end and wide open heath in the middle. I saw deer in the heather and a Mouflon grazing on its own. The trail finished in Otterlo, where a small memorial honours the Canadian troops who freed the village in 1945. Hike report

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote A Preface to Paradise Lost. It began as a series of lectures given at Oxford in 1941. Lewis sets out to help readers enjoy and understand Milton’s long poem. He explains what an epic is and why Milton chose that form. He defends Milton’s grand style against those who call it stiff or artificial. Lewis also looks at the Christian ideas in the poem, especially the fall of man, the character of Satan, and the justice of God. The book is short but packed with…

Hiked part 22/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 17.7 kilometres from Hoog Soeren to Garderen. Left Hoog Soeren past thatched farms and a small chapel, then crossed the golf course into beech and pine woods. The route opened onto wide heathland with sandy tracks and scattered pines, before passing a farmhouse with goats and a Christmas tree nursery. Reached Garderen by the old windmill and church, with the streets still dressed in orange bunting for King's Day. Hike report

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote Letters on Living the Faith. This recent collection brings together excerpts from hundreds of his personal letters. Editor David C. Downing has chosen the most helpful parts where Lewis answers real questions from readers. The letters cover prayer, struggles with doubt, how to read the Bible, questions about Narnia, forgiveness, suffering, and how to live the Christian life day by day. Lewis writes with warmth, honesty, and clear thinking. He never talks down…

Hiked part 21/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 11.2 kilometres from Elspeet to Echoput. Left Elspeet along a quiet lane and walked past an old brick farmhouse dated 1788. The route then went through the Gortelsche Bos, with beech and pine woods, sandy heath clearings and bright green larch rides. The stage ended at Echoput under tall beech trees along the cycle path. Hike report

Hiked part 20/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 11.8 kilometres from Garderen to Elspeet. Walked from Garderen past the Canadian war memorial and out onto the open heath of the Elspeterheide. The sky was grey at first but cleared later, and the path crossed a small stream, ran past farmhouses and cherry blossom trees, and passed a Dutch windmill. The stage finished on the village square in Elspeet. Hike report

Hiked part 19/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 13.5 kilometres from Rozendaal to Arnhem. Left Castle Rosendael behind and threaded through beech woods in full spring green before opening onto the heaths and pine forests of De Beekhuizen and Schaarsbergen. A graffiti-covered tunnel ducked under the A12 motorway, then the trail wound past a war memorial and a small brick chapel on its way into Arnhem. The final kilometres drifted through Sonsbeek Park, ponds, a waterfall, a fountain, egrets and…

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote Screwtape Proposes a Toast and Other Pieces. The book brings back the senior devil Screwtape from The Screwtape Letters. In the main title piece Screwtape gives an after-dinner speech at a banquet for young devils who have just finished Tempters’ Training College. He complains that today’s humans make poor material for Hell because they are not great dramatic sinners but small, lukewarm, and mediocre people. He explains how the devils now use the word…

Hiked part 18/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 13.6 kilometres from Rheden to Rozendaal. From Rheden the trail climbs into the Veluwezoom National Park and crosses the rolling heath of the Posbank, with wide panoramas over heather, drifting dunes and scattered pines. After traversing the open grasslands and small heath ponds of the Rozendaalse Veld, it drops through quiet pine and beech forests to finish beside the ponds and outbuildings of Castle Rosendael. Hike report

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote The Weight of Glory. It is a collection of nine essays, most originally delivered as sermons or lectures during the Second World War. The book includes well-known pieces such as “The Weight of Glory,” “Learning in War-Time,” “Why I Am Not a Pacifist,” “The Inner Ring,” “Membership,” “On Forgiveness,” and “A Slip of the Tongue.” Lewis explores how the Christian life is shaped by the reality of heaven and hell, the proper place of culture and education in…

Hiked part 17/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 8.2 kilometres from Dieren to Rheden. At Dieren, the enormous game park is a former hunting area of ​​the House of Orange. At De Steeg there is a large boulder, the Devil's Stone. The Posbank is located in the Veluwezoom National Park with beautiful views over the forest and the IJssel Valley. In August there are flowering heathlands. Hike report

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote Christian Reflections. This is a collection of fourteen essays published after his death and edited by Walter Hooper. The pieces were written between 1939 and 1962 and cover a wide range of topics. Lewis explores how Christianity relates to literature and art, the proper place of culture, the meaning of prayer, the dangers of modern biblical criticism, and what it means to live in light of eternity. Key essays include Christianity and Literature, Christianity…

Hiked part 16/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 19.6 kilometres from Loenen to Dieren. This stage leaves Loenen and crosses quiet pine woods and the open heathland of the Eerbeekse Veld and Terletse Heide, before descending through the mature beech forests on the northern flank of Nationaal Park Veluwezoom. Past the village of Spankeren the trail drops out of the Veluwe hills and follows field paths across the IJssel valley into Dieren. Hike report

Hiked part 15/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 19.9 kilometres from Hoenderloo to Loenen. Woeste Hoeve is renowned for its wildlife overpass above the A50, built to prevent ancient migration routes from being blocked. In Loenen, a shepherd daily drives his sheep flock onto the heathland of the Loenermark in all weather conditions. Hike report

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote Surprised by Joy. It is the story of his early life and his slow conversion to Christianity. Lewis describes his childhood in Ireland, his difficult school days, his time in the army during the First World War, and his years as an atheist and later as a theist at Oxford. He explains the mysterious experience he calls Joy, a deep longing that no earthly thing could satisfy. The book shows how this longing, good books, and honest reason led him step by step…

Hiked part 14/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 17.8 kilometres from Kootwijk to Hoenderloo. This stage takes you through the heart of the Veluwe, straight through beautiful heathlands and sand drifts such as the Hoog Buurlosche Heide and the Kootwijkerzand. Here on February 28, 1928, the legendary words 'Hello Bandung, hello Bandung, can you hear me?' were heard. Hike report

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote Compelling Reason. This book is a collection of many essays on ethics, theology, and clear thinking. The pieces were written between 1940 and 1962. Lewis defends reason and objective values against the confused ideas of his time. Among the essays are Equality, Why I Am Not a Pacifist, Bulverism, First and Second Things, The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment, and Christian Apologetics. Each piece takes on a different modern mistake and shows why it leads…

Hiked part 13/25 of the Veluwe Wander Trail, 15.9 kilometres from Hoog Soeren to Kootwijk. You walk on wide paths through gently sloping forests and along the Asselsche Heide. It is part of the Crown Domains, in the past intended for hunting and forestry. Then you pass the often silent, reflective lake in the Kootwijkerveen. It is located about 40 m above sea level and looks mysterious. Hike report

Why read the book? C.S. Lewis wrote That Hideous Strength. It is the third and final book in his Space Trilogy. The story takes place on Earth. A young couple, Mark and Jane Studdock, get caught in a battle between good and evil. A sinister organisation called the N.I.C.E. wants total control over Britain using science and power. Lewis shows how modern ideas of progress can lead to great evil. The book mixes real life, politics, and the supernatural. Merlin the magician returns to help the…