'Tales from the Big Trails' by Martyn Howe
Hello again! Sorry for the delay, but, y'know, life...
My latest read was 'Tales from the Big Trails' by Martyn Howe, a personal story of one man's attempt to walk 19 of the most famous - and challenging - long-distance walking routes in England, Scotland and Wales.
Out and About
The first steps of Howe's 40-year odyssey began during a trip to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path as a teenager. By the end of that week in Wales, he'd been bitten by the walking bug, and spent much of his adult life hoping to complete this and other long-distance trails in the UK. His dream lay dormant for many years, until changes in circumstance led to a new work pattern and meant he could at last follow his passion. 'Tales from the Big Trails' is the story of how he fulfilled his ambition of walking every National Trail in England and Wales and four Long-Distance Routes in Scotland, a 3000 mile journey that took him to some of the most beautiful and remote parts of this green and pleasant land.
Amiable Ambles
If asked to sum this book up in one word, I would have to say 'charming'. Howe, an IT consultant by profession, bucks the stereotype with his vivid and often poetic descriptions of landscape which made you feel as though you were beside him every step of the way. That was the great strength of this book. Every time I felt the need for a mini-excursion into the great outdoors, some R&R and escapism, I knew that even reading just a few pages of 'Tales from the Big Trails' would give me a taste of the fresh air and exercise I craved. A lovely way to get away from it all - but without the blisters!
Wise Words
'Tales from the Big Trails' is a surprisingly philosophical book. Howe finally begins his project when family illness and a change in work circumstances make him reflect and reassess. As mid-life crises go, it's not exactly buying a Porsche, but I think that's the point. His story reminds us that it's easy to lose sight of or dismiss the simple pleasures when they are often the things that will do us the most good mentally and physically. As Howe himself notes, there's something unique about how we think and process at walking pace. This certainly chimes with something writers often say about going for a walk when there's a particularly knotty plot point that they're trying to tease out. But perhaps the biggest message in the book comes from conversations he has with other walkers. When he asks why they do what they do - walk over rough terrain, in all weathers, risking minor injury, often isolated and alone, and to no practical purpose - Howe often gets the same reply; "It makes me happy."
People and Places
Howe's atmospheric landscapes are peopled with a variety of fellow walkers (often Dutch it seems), B&B owners, pub landlords and farmers, illustrating the diverse community built around the trails. Although Howe has resisted writing yet another reference book, he does name-drop some of the pubs and cafes where, more often than not, he seems to end up munching on fish 'n' chips and drinking beer. But who can blame him after the day's efforts? Even bedding down for the night is part of the adventure, whether in a comfy B&B, sparse but well-equipped bothy, or wild camping.
Overall
Much like the walks themselves, I think it's best to pace yourself with this book rather than attempt it all at once, although I read it like this more by accident than design. While 'Tales from the Big Trails' provides time out in some lovely landscapes, by it's nature it's quite samey. There is no real overarching narrative to keep you turning the pages, as found in some recently-published walking or nature books. Instead, I think that it works best as either something to slip into when you need to get away from it all, or as source material when planning your own visits to the trails described. Howe himself says that this isn't a guide book, but 'Tales from the Big Trails' does give you a helpful idea of what to expect if you decided to follow in his footsteps.
Now, what next...?
'Tales from the Big Trails: A Forty-year Quest to Walk the Iconic Long-distance Trails of England, Scotland and Wales' by Martyn Howe was published in 2021 by Vertebrate Publishing. A review copy was provided by the publisher free of charge.
Related Links - Find our More
National Trails (England and Wales)
Great Trails, including Long-Distance Routes (Scotland)
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