THREE friends from West Wales have just returned from 11 days walking through the West Bank of Palestine.

Kate Sherringer, from Glandwr, north Pembrokeshire, and Hwyel and Christine Davies, from Carmarthenshire with very little walking experience between them, signed up with the Amos Trust last spring to walk the 100 miles from Jenin to Jordan.

“It was definitely a challenge, and one we began to feel slightly apprehensive about as the time drew closer,” said Kate,

“The reason that this particular walk caught my eye was because it starts in the village of Rummanah, which is the 'twin' for West Wales Friends of Palestine group (part of the UK Twinning Network).

“I've never done a lot of walking, but it seemed like a good challenge to set myself in my seventies. I've been interested in issues around Israel and Palestine for a while, and this is my fourth visit there. We'd visited Rummanah a few years ago, met some of the villagers and raised money to help build a canopy for their kindergarten.

“The walk followed the first half of the Abraham Trail, walking an average of 12 km a day, and staying overnight in local homes or small guest houses. The terrain was mainly cross country, following the markers set up by the Siraj Centre, and led by experienced local guides.

“We passed through many villages, where crowds of children ran out to shout a welcome and be amused by the sight of such a crowd of elderly people, walking for fun in the full heat of the day.”

As the trail continued south through the Jordan Valley, the temperature rose and the landscape changed from stony and green to very rocky, sandy and mountainous, with deep ravines.

“Desert walking is not like a walk in West Wales, but this walk through the Holy Land proved to be an eye-opener in many ways,” said Kate.

“Seeing the reality of daily life for the Palestinians, constrained as they are by the Israeli occupation, is uncomfortable at best for outsiders like us.

“During the walk we stayed with families who had to conserve every drop of water, because so much is taken for the use of the people living in the Israeli, met young men who have no freedom of movement and have never been able to visit the sea, heard from Bedouin shepherds who are afraid to wander their traditional lands because of aggressive settlers and seen with our own eyes the super highways, open only to Israeli inhabitants of the increasing number of settlements.

“We returned to Wales with our boots full of Palestinian dust and our hearts full of the need for justice and equality in this wonderful land. It was a challenge and an experience that we’ll not forget in a hurry.”

Any groups interested in hearing Kate talk about her adventure can contact her at katesherri@hotmal.co.uk