Opportunities
Roly Smith book reviews freely on foot on only eight per cent of their countryside, when just one per cent of the population own 50 per cent of the country, and where common land has been reduced to just three per cent of the total.
Incorrigible trespasser Bainbridge directs his eagle, forensic eye at why the British were – and still are – denied responsible access to so much of their own country. And he graphically shows how events through history have led to the countryside being the preserve of the few rather than the many.
He claims that we should no longer think of ourselves as trespassers but become, echoing his title( which he first came up with as an alternative to trespassers some 50 years ago), what he dubs“ Free Roamers”, claiming back the land that has been stolen from us. And he suggests the revival of the Ramblers’ former annual Forbidden Britain day as a positive step to persuade the politicians and lawmakers give us the same rights of access enjoyed by our cousins in Scotland.
In an always entertaining and readable narrative, he tells stories of how we lost our rights to the land from Scotland to the south coast, and from the Lake District to Dartmoor, and how, by campaigning, we could get it back. Among these are the fights to regain the right to roam over Winter Hill in Lancashire, Kinder Scout in the Peak District, Latrigg Fell in the Lake District, and the more recent battles at Vixen Tor on Dartmoor.
This is an impassioned cri de coeur from one of our leading access campaigners for the people of Britain to join him in becoming Free Roamers, to take back our ancient freedoms and be able to explore the entirety of our countryside.
Eleanor: A 200-mile Walk in Search of England’ s Lost Queen
Alice Loxton Macmillan, £ 22( hb)
As far as I know, up to now there’ s no
‘ Eleanor’ s Way’ following the 180-mile journey taken in 1290 by Queen Eleanor of Castile’ s funeral procession from her deathbed at Harby in Lincolnshire to Westminster Abbey in London. But the publication of popular historian Loxton’ s epic but always fascinating journey retracing the steps of that journey of 737 years ago, surely merits such a memorial.
Apparently, there’ s a Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride, which takes place every August Bank Holiday in aid of London’ s homeless, but Loxton believes she was the first walker in modern times to complete the 180-mile journey( plus more than a few diversions) on foot.
If you have a recent book that you’ d like us to review here, please get in touch with Roly: roly. smith @ hotmail. com
Eleanor’ s heartbroken husband, King Edward 1, famously commissioned 12 ornate Gothic stone crosses to be erected at the stopping places where the funeral cortege rested overnight on their journey across England. Of these, only three of the 13th century originals – at Geddington, Hardingstone( now part of Northampton) and Waltham Cross – remain today, while others have been reconstructed( as at Stamford and Charing Cross in London). As the author explains, this is not a classic walking guidebook, neither is it an historical biography of Eleanor, although we learn much about the life of this intelligent but often-overlooked queen. In addition to the often muddy, midwinter walk it is, says Loxton,“ a tapestry of( her) life and its legacy” conducted by an historian who admits from the start that she is not a serious walker –“ more a rambler from pub to pub.” Along the way, starting in the company of her Mum and later with assorted friends, and she comes across many reminders of Eleanor’ s final journey, from the tiled walls of a London tube station, a statue in a shopping centre, an enormous mural on a house, to even a roundabout which is somewhat romantically named the“ Queen Eleanor Interchange.” But essentially, this is a delightful and fascinating journey through the English countryside, enlivened by Loxton’ s keen historian’ s eye and her unbounded enthusiasm to impart her deep-seated love of the past to the reader. In this, she succeeds brilliantly.
Opportunities
Committee Secretary Do you think you’ re fairly organised? Would you like to be more involved and contribute to the beating heart of the OWPG- the Committee? An opportunity exists to take on the role as OWPG Secretary. If you’ d like to express an interest, please email Josephine at chair @ owpg. org. uk.
OWPG Treasurer Our long-serving Treasurer Gordon is reluctantly stepping down in October. Good with numbers? Keen to see your membership fees spent well? It could be YOU! Again, if you’ d like to express an interest, please email Josephine at chair @ owpg. org. uk.
Have more fun- join us on the Committee!
‘ Then & now’- share yours!
What changes have been prominent or poignant in your outdoor adventures over the years?
It might be access, opportunity, equipment, or clothing. Perhaps it’ s introspective- how have you changed?
Keep it positive, and submit yours to editor @ owpg. org. uk
600 words & 2-4 images
Spring 2026 OUTDOOR FOCUS 5