Publisher's Synopsis
I was asked multiple times as I walked on England's longest National Trail, "What has been your favorite part?" "Every part, because the scenery changes with every mile, and each mile has something unique to offer." At 630 miles, with an equivalent elevation gain and loss of climbing Mount Everest four times, with most of it running through National Parks and AONBs, the South West Coast Path traverses amazing and brilliant landscapes. Walk along with me on my day-by-day, mostly solo, adventure as I discover what's over the next hillside and around the next headland, on a path that continuously hugs an ever-changing, picturesque coastline.
Travel with me as we visit timeless historical fishing villages, harbours, and churches. Meet great people: authors, artists, poets, and actors; fishermen and geologists; many kind and helpful people; and new friends. Hike with me on the ups and downs of walking, literally of the ascents and descents of the many hills, and figuratively of my thoughts and emotions. Learn some history of smuggling, the coastguard, lighthouses, and the SWCP itself, and about the important industries of fishing, farming, and mining. Experience varying coastal weather: some of the hottest days in years; gale force winds and downpours; days with light rain or gentle breezes; and lovely, warm, sunny, perfect days that I just did not want to end. We sit and relax on beaches, and walk hilltops where we observe miles of views behind and ahead - of where I had walked from, and where I was walking to.
I share a few "record-breaking" occurrences, and encounters with herds of cows, mountain goats, horses, sheep, and golf courses. I search for my ultimate location for a beach hut, and indulge in a few cream teas, other desserts, and English food. I talk about influential books, important organizations, music, paintings, and connections with the Camino de Santiago walk in Spain. We walk along a coastline where the blues of the waters outline the browns, reds, and whites of the cliffs, where sandy and rocky beaches outline the greens of the hillsides, headlands, and farmland. We hear crashing ocean waves, chirping birds, and complete silence. I describe the times I participated in local life with local people. I reveal some words of wisdom I obtained from others, and some I thought of myself.
Each day/chapter of this book begins with a relevant quote, has a middle of much detail about so many amazing facets of my walks, and ends with daily statistics, including mileage, hours, and the names of local pubs. I explain my trip planning, some logistical and essential information, and over 180 black and white photos accompany my stories. Find out the significance of my title, "The Arrow Closest To The Acorn," read about the life lessons I learned, and discover how I fell in love with each and every one of the 630 miles. Sit back with a few pots of tea, time to relax, and please join me (and my "purple shoes") as we celebrate my 50th birthday on an American woman's walking adventure on England's 630-mile South West Coast Path.
This very detailed account of my planning and walking the SWCP expresses my passion for travel, walking, and learning. Not being a professional writer, editor, or formatter, this is a uniquely personal description of how I accomplished this 630 mile walk - my way! Because there is no right or wrong way to walk the SWCP, and I enjoy solo travel, my way was to stay in local B&Bs and utilize public transportation. Given I live in the US, I build up to my arrival with how my past travels led me to discover the SWCP. I describe everything I found important, including clothing and hat choices. Every word in my book has a purpose to my day-by-day, sometimes hour-by-hour story. This book is a long read, in smaller print, with every word describing my amazing experiences. While not a guidebook, perhaps I will inspire you to create your own amazing SWCP story!
