THE JANUARY MAN

BY CHRISTOPHER SOMERVILLE PENGUIN BOOKS, £14.99 HARDBACK

Inspired by the song ‘The January Man’ by Dave Goulder, this inspiring book tells the story of a year of walking across the British Isles. Donning his walking boots, Somerville explores hidden Britain on foot, ambling secret lanes, old footpaths and ancient trails, with each region chosen to fit the season.

From soaring seabirds off the coast of Shetland to the bleat of newborn lambs in Yorkshire, local wildlife and wild landscapes are brought to life through intriguing tales of the characters who once walked the same pathways. In the March chapter, a night of terror is recounted of the rector who survived a lonely night in bitter conditions after falling into a deep ravine, while later in the year, we hear vivid tales from the Robin Hood Way in Sherwood.

Evocatively written, with charming snippets of childhood memories, including a raid on the local sweetshop and police caution, Somerville explains how walking the countryside shaped him as an adult. He explores personal relationships, and in homage to his late father, the book shares father and son moments from childhood and more recent walking experiences together.

Touching on his father’s Second World War experiences and stoic nature, Somerville seeks to discover ‘the man inside the man’. Poignantly highlighting the power walking has in forging close relationships and enabling communication, this heart-warming walkers’ diary provides real inspiration to explore Britain on foot. Carys Matthews, digital editor