Eight chapters, in each of which the author (the 'Coast' presenter) recreates a journey (or part of one) made by a doughty British explorer in years gone by.
I'd heard of Gerald of Wales (here accompanying the Bishop to drum up support for a forthcoming Crusade), Daniel Defoe (as he explores Essex) and William Cobbett (who fulminates against the Establishment and the Great Wen of London, as he pursues his Rural Rides.)
I THOUGHT t I'd heard of John Leland...but was thinking of John Cleland...so not the author of 'Fanny Hill', but Henry VII's antiquary who drives himself mad trying to survey the entire land for his master.
And totally unknown too were Celia Fiennes, the first Englishwoman to visit every county in England in the 1700s; William Gilpin, whose focus on the 'picturesque' leads him to propose further demolition of Tintern's ruins to create a truly artistic scene; and Thomas Pennant anf HV Moreton who took on the remoter parts of Scotland.
Crane follows in their steps, noting the stuff that remains and that which is totally altered. He brings in the politics and economy of the time, and gives an insight into the personalities and preoccupations of the eight. Lovely photography throughout. ( )

Nicholas Crane retraces the journeys of eight adventurers, beginning with Gerald of Wales in 1188, John Leland in1536, CeliA Fiennes in 1600,s, Daniel Defoe, Rev William Gilpin and Thomas Pennant in the 1700,s, William Cobbett in the 1800s and HV Morton in the early 1900s. These travellers, especially in very early times travelled under extremely tough conditions and mostly, seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.
This was an enjoyable book to read, filled with many photos. It,s also a BBC series available on DVD. ( )

Brilliant! Strangely, I already have the H.V.Morton book and would love to read in more detail about the journeys of Gerald of Wales. Learned some interesting historical facts, and really got carreid away with the travellers. ( )