Ramble On’ tells the story of how country walks were transformed from a
small and often illegal pastime to the most popular recreational
activity in the country.
From the brave band of hikers who scaled
the off-limits peak Kinder Scout in 1932, via the intricate Lake
District guides of Alfred Wainwright, to the resistant landowners
(including the notorious Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, Madonna and Jeremy
Clarkson) who have done their level best (and worst) to keep walkers off
their land this is the definitive history of rambling.
Perfectly
capturing the sense of exhilaration on reaching the summit of a
blustery hill-top path, Ramble On’ is for anyone who has ever pulled on a
pair of walking boots or is partial to the taste of Kendal mintcake.
Critical Praise for ‘Ramble On’:
‘McKay
makes an agreeable tramping companion. For McKay walking is a serious
pleasure, which is as it should be’ Tom Fort, Sunday Telegraph
‘Ramble
On is a fascinating and lovingly written book that gets to the heart of
a pursuit enjoyed by thousands throughout the British Isles every
weekend’ Carl Wilkinson, Financial Times
‘Excellent history of
the pastime … McKay’s gripping story of the struggle is enlivened by
atmospheric descriptions of his own rambles and is rich in anecdote’
John Harding, Daily Mail
‘Sinclair McKay aims to convey the
essence of this story through visits to some of the often inspiring
places in which it has been acted out.’ Guardian
Chronicles the
changing relationship between landowners and roamers, and branches out
into B&B, Wordsworth, Wainright, shifting patterns of class and the
history of walking togs’ Country Life
‘Charming book – part of a history of British walking, part of a memoir of McKay’s wanderings.’ Daily Telegraph
‘Highly
companionable … McKay gives a fascinating account of how walkers have
since the Thirties battled landowners for the right to roam across
Britain. In McKay’s version, walking is a political act and the
Rambler’s Association is an advanced guard of egalitarians.’ Sunday
Telegraph Books of the Year
‘This book should inspire you to don your walking boots and head for the hills’ Choice Magazine, Paperback Book of the Month —
