Real stories · Steady, cushioned summer shoes

The cushioned sandals that keep me steady on long walks — and my feet don't ache

My feet used to decide how far I walked — not me. I'm 67, and by halfway round the shops my soles would ache from the hard pavements, and thin-soled sandals left me feeling every kerb and cobble. On uneven ground I'd started to feel just that little bit unsteady, which knocks your confidence more than you'd like to admit.

What I wanted was a summer shoe with proper cushioning underneath and a secure hold on the foot — something I could walk a full morning in and forget about.

Then I found the Jessamine sandals from a British label called York Boutique — chunky sole comfort sandals, and I chose the white, which looks so fresh in summer.

They're a little marvel. The thick, chunky sole soaks up the hard pavement, which is why my soles no longer ache after a morning out, and its wide base keeps me feeling properly steady, even on cobbles. The closed woven toe protects your toes, the straps hold your foot securely, and the velcro fastening means no fiddly buckles — on and adjusted in seconds. I walk further now, simply because nothing hurts.

A thick cushioned sole and a proper hold on my foot. Round the block, round the shops — no aching, no wobbles.

Sandals this supportive, I assumed, would be seventy pounds. But York Boutique sells direct, so they were £34.95 in the summer sale. Money well spent for confident feet.

A friend at the garden centre asked if they were comfortable as they looked — they are. I'd checked before ordering that I could send them back if the fit wasn't right — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free — so trying them felt safe. They come in white, black and gold, in sizes 2 right up to 10/11.

If your feet cut your days short like mine did, do treat yourself to a look. The Jessamine is rated 4.6 out of 5 by more than 300 women, it's £34.95 in the summer sale instead of £70 — half price — and the middle sizes always seem to go first.