Hundreds of thousands of miles of paths reach into, and connect, communities across England and Wales. More than just a practical way for us to walk, ride and cycle around, they are an inheritance from the past, revealing how our ancestors interacted with and shaped their landscapes. But thousands of miles are still missing from our maps.
Exploring the deep history of these pathways, Jack Cornish uncovers how this millennia-old network was created and has evolved - from prehistoric trackways to the modern creation of towns - reflecting the contours of the past and the changing fortunes of society.
Discover the rich history of Britain's millennia-old network of pathways, and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again. . .
'An essential read for those who love walking' Jackie Morris, author of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells
'Cornish's book delves back in history and is written with a sense of urgency' Mail on Sunday
'[Cornish's] passion for walking, natural beauty and the abundant history of these old ways shines through' Times
-
Hundreds of thousands of miles of ancient paths crisscross our land. Whether Iron Age footsteps or Anglo-Saxon mercenary trails, Railway Age tracks or Home Army defences, they reveal a hidden story.
Jack Cornish has spent years walking and recording these forgotten routes and The Lost Paths is his history of the people who created and walked these ways.
From sheep drovers to Cornish miners to workhouse wanderers, this tale of the land beneath our feet brings our past to life and puts its future squarely in our hands.
-
PRAISE FOR THE LOST PATHS
'A rallying cry to reclaim lost routes and preserve this precious resource for future generations' Walk Magazine
'Fascinating' Country Walking
'A celebration of an ancient network and a rallying cry to reclaim what has been lost and preserve it for future generations' The Best of UK
'[A] fascinating history of path-making and path-taking . . . our guide excels at historic story-telling . . . Cornish's celebration of our grand wealth of history ways, and the different motivations for walking over the centuries, is a worthy clarion call for us to keep treading paths - so we don't lose our way . . . ' The Oldie
'A lively account of millennia of movement, and a call to action to preserve an endangered heritage' Inkcap Journal
