The English Path by Kim Taplin

Until the twentieth century most country dwellers made their short journeys on foot, via footpaths and bridleways which threaded the landscape and connected people to neighbouring villages, to church, to market, to freshwater springs, to work, to pubs. In The English Path, Kim Taplin embarks on her own, contemplative journey through these ancient and lost ways, where landscape, cultural identity and history intertwine to reveal the quiet beauty of journeys on foot.

Drawing inspiration from artists, poets and novelists who have found deep meaning in the path, Taplin’s lyrical prose invites us to rediscover the elemental ties that bind us to the land and reminds us that footpaths are vital connections between people and the natural world.

About the Author
Kim Taplin (1943-2024) was a poet and writer, whose first book was The English Path, originally published in 1979. She was also a teacher and a peace campaigner, who protested at Greenham Common in the 1980s.

Mary-Ann Ochota is a broadcaster and anthropologist whose books include Hidden Histories, A Spotter’s Guide to the British Landscape and Secret Britain. She’s also a keen walker who campaigns for better and more inclusive access to the countryside, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and President of CPRE.

Paperback
XX pages