Lovely article, on a fascinating subject. I have been doing some research on Lake District history recently, and it is thought that some of the popular paths through the high fells in the centre of the region are likely to have been started by Neolithic people moving to and from their axe factory sites. Such an amazing heritage of pedestrian travel!
juliemoss678
4 years ago
Lovely article. Have you looked at the history of the Icknield Way in Buckinghamshire, Mary? It’s supposed to be the oldest trading route in Europe. Also there is the myth of Helen of the Ways, sometime known as Ellen. A woman who appears to lost travellers to show them their way home. She’s depicted with deer antlers, an ancient memory of the deer mothers who led the way for the herd and made the first tracks in the bracken for humans to follow.
Mark Smith
4 years ago
Really enjoyed this article. But this… “Psychogeography was invented by the 1950s Lettrists”. Invented? Made up more like. I must be one of the cynics. It sounds like a load of self indulgent dribble. But that aside, the changing landscape throughout the ages is fascinating. I highly recommend The Making of the English Landscape by W G Hoskins – https://en.wikipedia.org/wi…
Agreed! When I shared this with my FB peeps I even told them not to let “the appearance of the word psychogeography mislead you. Plow past it, and get to the meat of the article. You’ll be glad you did.“
Patrick Cosgrove
4 years ago
If readers don’t know about it, the Lost Ways project is mapping public rights of way that are not on the definitive maps to ensure that they are not lost forever after the cut off date of 2026. Volunteers are needed. Boots not required as it’s a desktop activity. Links below:
It sounds like Mary runs a lot higher mileage than I do in a week. It seems that she is running on moors where there is no problem keeping physical distancing from other runners or walkers. My favourite paths away from residential streets are along the Rideau River, a tributary of the Ottawa River, narrow paths that are mostly surrounded by trees and bush. I couldn’t use them through the winter and now sometimes I can’t use them as a I would like to because of the physical distancing restrictions. I wonder if Mary has to change any of her routes to avoid the same kind of problems.
Eschew the physical distancing restrictions. They’re wholly arbitrary, and not at all based on science. Run, man. Run!
James A
4 years ago
Anyone interested in this area should definitely try and get their hands on ‘Roads and Tracks of Britain’ by Christopher Taylor, a wonderful account of how our road network has been formed, starting in prehistoric times. Very informative but also very accessible!
Chris Milburn
3 years ago
Wonderful article – as a runner it is particularly poignant for me.
Richard Aston
3 years ago
A lovely, tender even, piece of writing. Thank you
What a delightful, thoughtful meditation.
Lovely article, on a fascinating subject. I have been doing some research on Lake District history recently, and it is thought that some of the popular paths through the high fells in the centre of the region are likely to have been started by Neolithic people moving to and from their axe factory sites. Such an amazing heritage of pedestrian travel!
Lovely article. Have you looked at the history of the Icknield Way in Buckinghamshire, Mary? It’s supposed to be the oldest trading route in Europe. Also there is the myth of Helen of the Ways, sometime known as Ellen. A woman who appears to lost travellers to show them their way home. She’s depicted with deer antlers, an ancient memory of the deer mothers who led the way for the herd and made the first tracks in the bracken for humans to follow.
Really enjoyed this article. But this… “Psychogeography was invented by the 1950s Lettrists”. Invented? Made up more like. I must be one of the cynics. It sounds like a load of self indulgent dribble. But that aside, the changing landscape throughout the ages is fascinating. I highly recommend The Making of the English Landscape by W G Hoskins – https://en.wikipedia.org/wi…
Agreed! When I shared this with my FB peeps I even told them not to let “the appearance of the word psychogeography mislead you. Plow past it, and get to the meat of the article. You’ll be glad you did.“
If readers don’t know about it, the Lost Ways project is mapping public rights of way that are not on the definitive maps to ensure that they are not lost forever after the cut off date of 2026. Volunteers are needed. Boots not required as it’s a desktop activity. Links below:
https://www.ramblers.org.uk…
https://www.bhs.org.uk/our-…
Lovely article about our shared heritage.
It sounds like Mary runs a lot higher mileage than I do in a week. It seems that she is running on moors where there is no problem keeping physical distancing from other runners or walkers. My favourite paths away from residential streets are along the Rideau River, a tributary of the Ottawa River, narrow paths that are mostly surrounded by trees and bush. I couldn’t use them through the winter and now sometimes I can’t use them as a I would like to because of the physical distancing restrictions. I wonder if Mary has to change any of her routes to avoid the same kind of problems.
Eschew the physical distancing restrictions. They’re wholly arbitrary, and not at all based on science. Run, man. Run!
Anyone interested in this area should definitely try and get their hands on ‘Roads and Tracks of Britain’ by Christopher Taylor, a wonderful account of how our road network has been formed, starting in prehistoric times. Very informative but also very accessible!
Wonderful article – as a runner it is particularly poignant for me.
A lovely, tender even, piece of writing. Thank you