mimsickle's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.25
janedallaway's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable walk from Dorset to Norfolk on a route I’d never heard of.
kingjason's review
4.0
Here is a list of my interests;
Walking
History
Nature
Birds
Archaeology
Insulting people.
Music
Books.
Hugh Thomson in one book manages to tick each of those items. I really enjoyed this, One day I'd love to walk the Icknield Way and it would be even better if Hugh Thomson was there walking with you, he is so knowledgeable the 400miles would soon whiz by.
I have never really seen the point going abroad for a holiday when we have so much in the UK to explore and if you go walking it won't cost you much to do that. The one thing that does stop me is I'm not sure if you can just pop up a tent wherever you like in England, I think it is allowed in Scotland though. Hugh tends to imply in this book that it isn't allowed as he often finds a secluded spot to sleep/hide. I also hadn't realised just how much stuff is around me to see, Alfred's Tower isn't too far away and sounds like an impressive place to check out, I never knew about Woodhenge and that's even closer.
The writing is easy to read, at times it almost feels like your listening instead of reading, the pencil drawings Hugh has done probably help with that. He is also a very funny guy, quite opinionated which I loved, I think he probably upsets a lot of the people who read this... if fact he has included a rejection letter at the end of the book where the rejector lists everybody he manages to insult. Had me chuckling, a really good letter.
A wonderful book that has inspired me to check out some of the areas nearby that I didn't know about.
Walking
History
Nature
Birds
Archaeology
Insulting people.
Music
Books.
Hugh Thomson in one book manages to tick each of those items. I really enjoyed this, One day I'd love to walk the Icknield Way and it would be even better if Hugh Thomson was there walking with you, he is so knowledgeable the 400miles would soon whiz by.
I have never really seen the point going abroad for a holiday when we have so much in the UK to explore and if you go walking it won't cost you much to do that. The one thing that does stop me is I'm not sure if you can just pop up a tent wherever you like in England, I think it is allowed in Scotland though. Hugh tends to imply in this book that it isn't allowed as he often finds a secluded spot to sleep/hide. I also hadn't realised just how much stuff is around me to see, Alfred's Tower isn't too far away and sounds like an impressive place to check out, I never knew about Woodhenge and that's even closer.
The writing is easy to read, at times it almost feels like your listening instead of reading, the pencil drawings Hugh has done probably help with that. He is also a very funny guy, quite opinionated which I loved, I think he probably upsets a lot of the people who read this... if fact he has included a rejection letter at the end of the book where the rejector lists everybody he manages to insult. Had me chuckling, a really good letter.
A wonderful book that has inspired me to check out some of the areas nearby that I didn't know about.
cathrynsymons's review
5.0
There's a growing genre of books about travelling slowly through England, and this is a lovely example. The author starts the Ickneild Way somewhere near Chesil Beach in Dorset, and meanders to the North Sea, and the coast at Hunstanton, visiting friends, pubs and archaeological sites along the way. Makes me want to get out and walk!
halfmanhalfbook's review
4.0
Thomson undertakes a walk along the route of the Ichnield Way, an ancient path probably around 3000 - 5000 years old in parts.
He starts in Abbotsbury in Dorset, at the far end of the Fleet, and crosses Dorset and Wiltshire continually passing hill forts, barrows, mound, stone circles and other glimpses of prehistoric and bronze age life in this country. The journey takes him across the country to Norfolk where he end his walk at the place where Seahenge was excavated from.
I quite enjoyed it, as it combined some of my favourite subjects, history and travel, and the writing is effortless to read. He also looks back at his life, following a painful divorce, and of friends past, and journeys traveled. I think that took a little away from the essence of the book, but still glad I have read it.
He starts in Abbotsbury in Dorset, at the far end of the Fleet, and crosses Dorset and Wiltshire continually passing hill forts, barrows, mound, stone circles and other glimpses of prehistoric and bronze age life in this country. The journey takes him across the country to Norfolk where he end his walk at the place where Seahenge was excavated from.
I quite enjoyed it, as it combined some of my favourite subjects, history and travel, and the writing is effortless to read. He also looks back at his life, following a painful divorce, and of friends past, and journeys traveled. I think that took a little away from the essence of the book, but still glad I have read it.
More...