The Old Ways
"In this exquisitely written book, Robert Macfarlane sets off from his Cambridge, England, home to follow the ancient tracks, holloways, drove roads, and sea paths that crisscross both the British landscape and its waters and territories beyond. The result is an immersive, enthralling exploration of the ghosts and voices that haunt old paths, of the stories our tracks keep and tell, and of pilgrimage and ritual. Told in Macfarlane's distinctive voice, 'The Old Ways' folds together natural history, cartography, geology, archaeology and literature. His walks take him from the chalk downs of England to the bird islands of the Scottish northwest, from Palestine to the sacred landscapes of Spain and the Himalayas. Along the way he crosses paths with walkers of many kinds--wanderers, pilgrims, guides, and artists. Above all this is a book about walking as a journey inward and the subtle ways we are shaped by the landscapes through which we move. Macfarlane discovers that paths offer not just a means of traversing space, but of feeling, knowing, and thinking."--Publisher description.
Stats for nerds
5recommend
6mentions
5people
2016–2024years
100% recommend
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- I'd highly recommend the book "The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot" by Robert Macfarlane in which the writer describes walking the Ridgeway and other walks in the UK and other places. His description of walking the Broomway (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Broomway) is particularly enthralling.
- You may enjoy this book, which it is derived from: The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane
- I can strongly recommend Robert Macfarlane's The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot which has a chapter on the Broomway.
The book was recommended to me here on HN after I happened to mention that I live near an "Old North Road" (for possibly Agricola levels of "Old").
- I've listened to a couple of Robert Macfarlane's books recently after a recommendation from someone on HN - "The Old Ways" and "Landmarks". Both very different to what I usually read but very enjoyable.
I'm now reading Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain - which is every bit as good as Macfarlane suggests. Also planning on reading The Peregrine by J.A. Baker.
A review of the The Living Mountain: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/sep/20/living-mountai...
- recommended for a related read : Robert Macfarlane, "The Old Ways" - a very lyrical book about tramping/hiking/roaming.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/560/56083/the-old-ways/97801...
I also like the wistful poem "Roads" by Edward Thomas:
"On this earth 'tis sure
We men have not made
Anything that doth fade
So soon, so long endure:"
which contains the immortal line "Now All Roads Lead to France":
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57265/roads-56d23a98e...
- A few good reads on walking, purposeless or otherwise:
"A Philosophy of Walking" by Frédéric Gros
"Wanderlust" by Rebecca Soinit
"The Old Ways" by Robert Macfarlane (or really anything by him)
"Walking Home" by Simon Armitage
