From the splendor of the Pennines and the Lake District to the drama of the Dorset coast; from the canals of the Midlands to wildest Scotland, this book is an attempt to explain a passion for walking and the delights it can bring.

Culled from Stuart Maconie’s monthly column in Country Walking, it’s full of the beautiful places, magical moments and wonderful characters he has encountered on his travels. It discusses such intrepid adventures as taking on the famous “Wainwright” fells of the Lake District, walking Hadrian’s Wall with colleague Mark Radcliffe, and why the most important things to carry in a rucksack are a transistor radio and a small bottle of red wine.

Praise for Stuart Maconie

“Maconie makes a jovial, self-deprecating narrator. Sharp and funny.” —The Guardian

“He is as funny as Bryson and as wise as Orwell.” —The Observer

“Stuart Maconie is the best thing to come out of Wigan since the A58 to Bolton.” —Peter Kay

“An heir to Alan Bennett . . . stirring and rather wonderful.” —The Sunday Times

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‘I loved this memoir’ – Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path

‘A whole new way of looking at a familiar landscape’ – Neil Ansell, author of The Last Wilderness

‘Delightful’ – Country Life

An old map. A lost pilgrimage route. A journey in search of our walking heritage.

When Henry VIII banned pilgrimage in 1538, he ended not only a centuries-old tradition of walking as an act of faith, but a valuable chance to discover the joy of walking as an escape from the burdens of everyday life.

Much was lost when these journeys faded from our collective memory, but clues to our past remain. On an antique map in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, a faint red line threading through towns and villages between Southampton and Canterbury suggests a significant, though long-forgotten, road. Renamed the Old Way, medieval pilgrims are thought to have travelled this route to reach the celebrated shrine of Thomas Becket.

Described as England’s Camino, this long-distance footpath carves through one of the nation’s most iconic landscapes – one that links prehistoric earthworks, abandoned monasteries, Saxon churches, ruined castles and historic seaports.

Over four seasons, travel writer Gail Simmons walks the Old Way to rediscover what a long journey on foot offers us today. In the age of the car, what does it mean to embrace ‘slow travel’? Why does being a woman walking alone still feel like a radical act? In an age when walking connects the nation, can we now reclaim pilgrimage as a secular act?

Winding 240 miles between the chalk hills and shifting seascapes of the south coast, Gail ventures deep into our past, exploring this lost path and telling a story of kings and knights, peasants and pilgrims, of ancient folklore and modern politics. Blending history, anthropology, etymology and geology, Gail’s walk along the Old Way reveals the rich natural and cultural heritage found on our own doorstep.

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An irreverent celebration of the great Australian barbecue, this superb collection of recipes shows you how to make the most of this enduring tradition.

The Great Aussie Barbie Cookbook covers al the basics of cooking on a barbie and a bit more, and is full of ideas for delicious dishes to suit any occasion, whether it be for a family gathering, a special celebration or just a regular Monday night meal. Using the best fresh produce available, the recipes are uncomplicated and unfussy, and work every time. There are new takes on some old favourites, from steak sandwiches to an upmarket surf ‘n’ turf, as well as a respectful nod to recent arrivals on the barbecue scene, such as Thai beef salad and paella. And it’s not just the main courses that get attention. Kim Terakes, a hopeless foodie by any definition, shows you how to frame the perfect steak with tasty starters, healthy salads and absolutely irresistible desserts.

Rediscover the fun of outdoor cooking and learn a few barbecuing tricks that will make you a legend in your own neighbourhood. The Great Aussie Barbie Cookbook is a must for anyone who has ever prodded a sausage over a flame and dreamed of something more.

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