The Lost Paths

A History of How We Walk from Here to There

Preview

Failed to add items

Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping cart is already at capacity.

Add to basket failed.

Please try again later

Add to wishlist failed.

Please try again later

Remove from wishlist failed.

Please try again later

Adding to library failed

Please try again

Follow podcast failed

Unfollow podcast failed

Try Premium Plus free

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.

Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.

Access exclusive sales and deals.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

The Lost Paths

By: Jack Cornish

Narrated by: Jack Cornish

Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Discover the rich history of Britain's millennia-old network of pathways, and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again. . .
Hundreds of thousands of miles of ancient paths crisscross our land. Whether Iron Age footsteps or Anglo-Saxon mercenary trails, Railway Age tracks or Home Army defences, they reveal a hidden story.
Jack Cornish has spent years walking and recording these forgotten routes and The Lost Paths is his history of the people who created and walked these ways.
From sheep drovers to Cornish miners to workhouse wanderers, this tale of the land beneath our feet brings our past to life and puts its future squarely in our hands.

'An essential read for those who love walking' Jackie Morris, author of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells
'Cornish’s book delves back in history and is written with a sense of urgency' Mail on Sunday
'[Cornish's] passion for walking, natural beauty and the abundant history of these old ways shines through' Times

War

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Lost Rainforests of Britain cover art

A Brief History of the Countryside in 100 Objects cover art

Map Addict: The Bestselling Tale of an Obsession cover art

Most relevant

I love history and love walking and have always combined the two so it is lovely to read a book, well researched, that uncovers the fascinating history of parks and always gives a call to arms to protect them going forward.

When History and hobbies meet

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Ably narrated by Jack himself, there is so much in this book that I don’t quite know what to talk about. I’ve learned so much about so many different things - how paths are designated, bits of history (including social and cultural), folklore, nature, and architectural information - that I often had to go back over a chapter again just to make notes. As well as being excellently written is has a narrative flow that allows for subtle linkages to become noticeable as well as making you want to read on long after you’d told yourself you’d stop after another minute.

It left me feeling hopeful, content and stirred up, all at the same time and I have promised myself that once I’ve got settled in Northumberland I will become one of the volunteers who map and preserve the pathways that we all have right to roam on.

A fascinating call to action.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

An excellent history about our amazing footpath network and the people who have shaped it and fought to protect it.
The book highlights the threat our footpaths are, and have been, under and inspiration on how we cand defend it .
Brilliant, if you're a lover of the countryside this is a vital read / listen

A lovely story to our footpaths

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This was a really interesting, well-written and well-researched book. Fascinating. I highly recommend it.

Great listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.