I think most readers will have heard of this author. This is her third book, following on from The Salt Path and The Wild Silence. The Salt Path was a publishing sensation chronicling as it did the walking of the South West Coast Path by Raynor and her husband Moth. Impressive enough to walk the whole 600 odd miles but they did it having just become homeless and being told that Moth had an incurable degenerative illness.
Some years later, now living on a Cornish farm, they decide to walk again, this time in the far north of Scotland. The debilitating symptoms of the disease had eased significantly during the first epic walk and as they begin to return it occurs to Raynor that another long walk might again have the same beneficial effect. The Cape Wrath Trail is incredibly tough but I have to say that the number of times the author says that she shouldn’t have suggested this walk, it is too hard, she feels guilty, well, it became a little tedious. That however is really my only adverse comment on what is otherwise a really good read.
Apart from relaying their walk, which actually becomes infinitely longer, covering the length of Britain, Raynor Winn uses the opportunity to comment on various political ideas and conundrums besieging us at this time. She discusses rewilding, wild camping, various aspects of climate change, the impact of the covid lockdowns,unsustainable farming practices and the dire lack of affordable housing. Her thoughts are interesting; dilemmas to ponder upon as one walks.
So, this book is an odyssey of resilience, of mindfulness and self awareness, of love and of grit. There were several points in the story where I would have walked to the nearest railway station ( when did they become train stations?) and gone home. I am obviously not made of stern enough stuff. As for Moth’s illness, his stiffness, exhaustion and mobility issues, well, even walking a few miles makes me feel better, removing the ache from joints and muscles. I can imagine how being close to nature and having that amount of physical exercise could help. Nobody though is mentioning the word ‘cure.’
Here is quality nature writing with large amounts of human interest. I think you might like this book.