As 2021 draws to an end, I review four great books about Lakeland or walking: James Rebanks portrays three generations on a Cumbrian fell farm and finds the key to a sustainable future in the teachings of his grandfather. Chris Townsend walks Scotland’s spine. John Bainbridge takes us on furtive forays into Forbidden Britain; and Beth Pipe teams up with Karen Guttridge to blaze a new Lakeland trail, connecting the district’s distilleries.
- English Pastoral by James Rebanks
- Along the Divide by Chris Townsend
- The Compleat Trespasser by John Bainbridge
- Gin, Cake and Rucksacks by Beth Pipe and Karen Guttridge
Along the Divide
Walking the Wild Spine of Scotland
Chris Townsend
2018, Sandstone Press
Immersing ourselves in the outdoors is a form of meditation which allows us to get our thoughts in order… For Chris, it is a chance to reflect on another journey—the one that led him to make his home in the Cairngorms, his own deepening relationship with his adopted country, and its ongoing relationship with the UK.
The spine is the body’s central support structure, connecting all the other parts together. It allows us to stand upright. Indeed, we say someone has “backbone” when we mean they have strength, particularly in the face of adversity. As a seasoned long distance walker, strength in the face of adversity is something Chris Townsend knows all about, especially when the adversity is of the elemental kind; but as an Englishman who has made Scotland his home, how can he get to know his adopted country’s very heart? His answer is to walk its spine, its watershed, the ribbon of wilderness, on one side of which, waters run west, and on the other, they flow east.
What ensues is a deeply engaging adventure through Scotland’s contrasting geographical regions: the Southern Uplands, the Central Lowlands, the Highlands, and the Flow Country. Chris’s writing is so beautifully evocative, it puts us right there in the landscape, sheltering beneath his Trailstar tarp, savouring that early mountain coffee (or the disgusting excuse for it that is the only thing on offer at one remote restocking location). We share his battles with wind and rain, his exhilaration when the cloud lifts and breathtaking views stretch for miles along the spine, his joy at the diverse bird life, and his conflicting feelings about deer—magnificent, majestic creatures, who, through no fault of their own, are over-abundant and doing much environmental harm.
A passionate conservationist, Chris observes with a well-informed eye. The result is a book that is not just romantic, unquestioning nature eulogy, but a thought-provoking examination of environmental damage, some of it going back centuries; and new shoots of hope where rewilding initiatives are taking hold, promoting greater biodiversity.
It is also a book about identity. The walk takes place between the Independence referendum and Brexit referendum. So often, immersing ourselves in the outdoors is a form of meditation which allows us to get our thoughts in order and find a clarity that can be hard to come by in the hubbub of everyday life. For Chris, it is a chance to reflect on another journey—the one that led him to make his home in the Cairngorms, his own deepening relationship with his adopted country, and its ongoing relationship with the UK.
As we approach the end of the walk, Chris’s feelings are mixed: excitement at finishing is tempered with regret that what has become a way of life will soon be over. As readers, our feelings are unequivocal—we don’t want it to end.
Follow Chris’s blog: Chris Townsend Outdoors
Next: The Compleat Trespasser by John Bainbridge
Merry Xmas, George, and much more happy walking in 2022. Stay safe.
Thank you, Martin. A merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year to you too.
Always enjoy your photos and blogs.merry Christmas to you and your family
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too.
Hi. Here’s a good one I read years ago: A Walk Through Britain, by John Hillaby.
I’ll look that out, Neil. Thank you.
These are well-done reviews, George, and you make a persuasive salesman. I naturally gravitate toward gin and cake, of course, but The Compleat Trespasser sounds particularly exciting. Except the part about having a gamekeeper shooting at you (I assume that’s actionable in the UK?) I remember reading about the right to roam when I visited Norway, but it was a short trip and didn’t get much opportunity to take advantage of it. English Pastoral also sounds interesting, particularly because it’s someone who grew up on the land and experienced modern farming practices, rather than someone taking up organic farming as an escape from a corporate or academic career, say, as I’ve read a number of times.
And I’ll take this opportunity to say Happy Holidays! Season’s Greetings! And Best Wishes for the New Year. Thanks for all the great posts, I’ve enjoyed every one of ’em.
Thank you, Robert. You always so generous (and entertaining) with your comments. English Pastoral is an exceptional book, not only for author’s authenticity and experience, but for the sheer quality of the writing.
The Compleat Trespasser is riveting. Being shot at would be actionable, but the author chooses not too. I’ll say no more in case you want to read it.
Happy holidays and the very best for 2022 to you too.
An interesting and eclectic collection George, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thank you, Andrea!