Turn Left at the Pub: 22 Walking Tours Through the British Countryside

I agree withthe high praise given this book by the previous reviewer, but I would not give the book five stars. While it covers many areas often neglected in tour books of Great Britain, it does not give the detailed information which distinguishes a truly invaluable guide.Twenty walks are included, though some are in the same location: Bath (2), Cambridge (2), Canterbury, Chichester, Church Stretton, Dorchester, Hay-on-Wye, Knole, Oxford (2), St. David's and Solva, Salisbury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Tenby, Wells, and York (2).Each walk is covered in eight to ten pages including a one or two page map (labelled with main thoroughfares only). The tours lead one to enchanting sites and draw one's attention to architectural and historical points of interest, but the narrative is minimal and so may detract from one's enjoyment of a place. No information is given about the approximate length of a walk or transport to and from the walk, nor niceties such as refreshments available along the way, but museums are listed with times (not phone numbers). There is good index. I would rate this book three-and-a-half stars but that is not possible. I will round up to four because I think that the spirit of this book is not to document every step of your way, but rather to help you enjoy the underdiscovered path; in that it succeeds, and would make a lovely supplement to a more traditional tour book.

I took the very first edition of "Turn Left at the Pub" with me on my very first trip to Britain in 1972, when I was a graduate student on a limited budget. Rather than doing the usual tourist stuff, I wanted to get a "feel" for what Britain was, and had been during the medieval period I was studying. This book was terrific: the authors offered fresh perspectives on popular destinations such as Bath and the Cotswolds, and their recommendations for "off the beaten track" walks in Cornwall were superb. The descriptions were informative, thorough, and great fun to read. Later editions of the book have updated the contents while remaining true to the spirit of the original. This is one of the best guidebooks I've ever used, and it has much to offer to the seasoned traveler as well as the person making a first trip to Britain. I highly recommend it.