This book tells the true story of a couple who in 2010 set out on a long walk through Britain which led to a second unplanned internal journey. The physical walk took them from John O'Groats to Land's End, the two iconic end markers of the British mainland. Rather than follow the road, the author created a path designed to remain wherever possible in the countryside. They carried backpacks along a circuitous route that included some of the great British footpaths, the Great Glen Way, West Highland Way, Pennine Way, Offa's Dyke, South West Coast Path and myriad other often obscure rights of way. In all, the walk took 139 days and covered 1,740 miles (2,801kms), more than double the distance of the most direct route. By the time the author returned home he found his world had changed forever.
The book is an inspiring account of what started out as a purely frivolous idea by an otherwise normal couple to wander and wonder across the land. By the end their adventure had become a far greater quest than they ever could have imagined. Written as a personal narrative based upon the extensive daily journal he kept, the book gives a sense of the immediacy of the conditions, history and people encountered, and the impact on the couple's relationship. The wonder they experienced in the natural environment and joy in exchanges with their fellow humans are described in sharp contrast to the extreme physical challenges that brought them both to breakdowns and a near death experience.
On 5th November the walk ended, but when the couple returned home, the author found himself confronted by a different world. He had successfully negotiated all manner of physical, emotional and logistical challenges to reach Land's End, only to arrive back in Australia and find himself completely lost. While candidly sharing much of his personal story during the book, the author then reveals the stark sense of dislocation he felt on his return and the difficulties he had to negotiate to find a new life path that made sense. In time he realised the walk had revealed a deeper understanding of the Earth and his place within the web of life it supports. After a career spanning 25 years in global corporations as a finance director and CEO, the change was as confronting as it was illuminating.
At times humorous, wistful and questioning, the book brings the British countryside to life and reflects on the history and personal endeavour of some of its people. It is an inspiring insight into human potential and has been written to have broad appeal. (Update Jan 2018 - Immediate reaction from readers consistently describes the reading experience as "a compelling adventure I couldn't put down" and "a real page turner".)
