Lost Paths by Jack Cornish

A journey across Britain’s millennia-old network of pathways, revealing key moments throughout our history

Hundreds of thousands of miles of paths reach into, and connect, communities across England and Wales. More than just a practical way for us to walk, ride and cycle around, they are an inheritance from the past, revealing how our ancestors interacted with and shaped their landscapes. But thousands of miles are still missing from our maps.

Exploring the deep history of these pathways, Jack Cornish uncovers how this millennia-old network was created and has evolved – from prehistoric trackways to the modern creation of towns – reflecting the contours of the past and the changing fortunes of society.

About the Author: Jack Cornish is head of paths at the Ramblers Association, Britain’s largest walking charity. In 2017, he walked across the country from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and he has dedicated the last seven years of his life to walking and recording the forgotten routes of England and Wales. He is ten years into an attempt to walk every street in London, where he lives.

Twitter @cornish_jack

17 Apr 2025
 

The Lost Paths: A History of How We Walk From Here To There by Jack Cornish ISBN 9781405951296