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REVIEW BY RP
Most people see the British footpath for its immediate purpose: a means of getting from A to B (seldom achieved without also acquiring muddy shoes and the occasional nettle-sting). Not so for Tom King, who has spent 30 years contemplating the origins, histories, and quirks of such pathways. The result is Footpaths: a British history, a succinct book filled with the lore and law of British footpaths. Tracing their history, from winding trackways trodden by ancient animals, to the rigid rules of the 10,000 miles of road laid down following the Roman Conquest, to the seemingly endless feuds fought over rights of way over hundreds of years, the book is full to the brim with fascinating facts that will make any walk in the countryside more interesting. Aside from small errors, such as the misnaming of the Antonine Wall, this is a well-researched book that will find a happy home in the pocket of country walkers.
Footpaths: A British history
Tom King
Amberley (£14.39)
ISBN 978-1398117440
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