fi nally decided, I needed to explore more thoroughly.
The best way, it was clear, was by bicycle, and I took
the decision to start in Dorset at Burton Bradstock near
Bridport and to pedal until I reached Winteringham
among the reeds on the south side of the Humber (I’d
have to miss out on that sliver of oolite limestone north
of the Humber, I decided). And so it was that, a couple of
years ago, I fi lled my bicycle paniers ready for eight days
of exploration and headed off to fi nd the very quietest
back roads I could through the heart of England.
The book has a little geology
as well – just a smattering
I sometimes have to explain to cyclists that the
book is not really about the cycling. My book has other
ambitions. It’s a book about landscape, about why the
countryside looks the way it does.
Clearly we are living at the moment in uncertain
political times when, among other things, the concept
of Englishness is up for debate and when there are
diff erent visions about the sort of country which those
of us who are English want to live in. So my interest is
in exploring whether an understanding of the landscape
has something to help us here.
To accompany the 440 or so miles of my journey,
I delve in the book into a range of subjects which I
hope help to illuminate my theme: I explore aspects
of social history, literature and poetry, land usage and
agriculture, land ownership and, in particular, the
economics of the countryside (ultimately I don’t think
you can understand the nature of the countryside if
you don’t explore the economic purposes that the land
is put to). The book has a little geology as well – just a
smattering.
It’s certainly a diverse place,
this England
A few weeks after fi nishing the bike ride I retraced
my route by car, interviewing a range of people living on
the oolite limestone who, in some way or another, I felt
could contribute to what I was trying to achieve. My list
of interviewees ran from the chief executive of Blenheim
Palace to the head mason at Lincoln Cathedral. I
talked to volunteers running a community-owned
village shop, those running a community agriculture
scheme near Bath, the organisers of a political festival
in Wellingborough and the boss of a major potato
marketing company in Lincolnshire. What they told
What the judges said...
‘An interesting and original
concept, well executed. An
appealing mix of travel writing
and journalistic reportage.’
Judges Mark Whitley, editor
at The Countryman Magazine;
former Guild member, editor
and writer Chris Bagshaw
me is in the book. It’s certainly a diverse place, this
England.
And so the book was completed. When I was fi rst
planning it, I had quite enthusiastic interest in my
synopsis from the editorial side of one of the UK’s
leading publishers. These days though, as we have to
recognise, books are commodities. I couldn’t persuade
their marketing people that a book focused on twenty-
fi ve or so villages and towns from west Dorset to
Lincolnshire was a concept they could sell.
So the book has come out instead as a proud product
of Gritstone Publishing Co-operative, the authors’
co-op which – as I’ve explained in past editions of
Outdoor Focus – unites together fi ve of us who work as
professional outdoor writers and which enables us to
bring our books to market directly.
Thank you, OWPG. I’m delighted to accept the award,
for myself, for Gritstone and for anyone who loves the
English countryside and wants to know it better.
Highly Commended
Kev Reynolds
The Mountain Hut Book
‘A delightful reminder of favourite alpine
hideaways — part guidebook, part reminiscence
of happy days, supported by lovely photos and
some interesting background stories.’
See the Summer 2018 Outdoor Focus for a
review of The Mountain Hut Book.
winter 2018 | Outdoor focus 13