THIS summer a group of artists paid homage to Laurie Lee’s epic journey by foot across the Pyrenees with a walk of their own.

At the end of July, seven members of the Walking the Land arts collective followed in the Slad author’s footsteps, over the mountains from Ceret in France to La Agullana in Spain, retracing the route that Laurie took in the 1930’s as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War.

With 2014 marking the centenary of Laurie Lee's birth, this walk is part of the celebrations.

Andy Freedman and Ruth Illingworth who live in the Slad valley were part of the group, along with artists and walkers from Britain and France.

“We followed the route Laurie Lee took at the end of As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning and was a stunning experience,” said Andy.

“The walk was inspiring and memorable because of the landscape, the historical connections and Laurie Lee’s vivid description of the place.”

Kel Portman of Walking the Land was one of the event organisers.

He said: “The walk is the basis for artworks that respond to the people and landscape of the area.

“As well as Laurie Lee’s crossing, this route also became known as the way refuges from Spain fled after the Spanish Civil War.”

New works inspired by the walk are currently being exhibited at the Museum in the Park.

The collection, entitled The Art of Walking, explores the pathways between walking and creativity. It shows until October 5.