Overview

Britain’s footpaths and bridleways form a gossamer web over the face of the land. These tiny byways, marked by their lines of stiles and fingerposts, are a uniquely distinctive feature of the British landscape. Legally, they are part of the King’s Highways network, enjoying the same status as a motorway. Old as the hills, constantly fought over, cheekily penetrating to some of the most private of places, these thin strips of grass and mud have for centuries aroused high passions as well as delight. The nation’s quiet country walkways have a tumultuous history. The result of more than thirty years of research, this book tells the full story of Britain’s ‘rights of way system’, a prosaic term for a unique and priceless national legacy like no other.

Full Product Details

9781398117440

Table of Contents

Reviews

'What Mr King has done with his extraordinarily well-researched and readable book is to convey that if you understand the history of the footpath, you will understand much of the social history of rural Britain.' -- Country Life Magazine, September 2024 'His passion for the topic ensures that Footpaths: A British History is not only informative but also an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the hidden stories of Britain’s landscape.' -- Country Squire, September 2024

Author Information

Raised in Essex, Tom King read English at Oxford, where his career in print got off to an exhilarating start as gossip editor of the student magazine Isis. His professional (i.e. paid) journalism has included roles as editor, sub-editor, crime reporter, travel writer, business editor, gossip columnist, leader writer, political correspondent and film and theatre reviewer, all culminating in 17 years as chief features writer for the Newsquest Essex group of newspapers. Now retired from full-time journalism, he lives in the Essex countryside with his wife, fellow-journalist Sally. Apart from long distance walking (a passion that emerged aged 1-and-a-bit, before he could actually walk) and writing, Tom’s enthusiasms embrace tree planting, raising basset hounds, and outdoor theatre going, though not all three simultaneously.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available