Showing results by author "Paul Amess" in All Categories

The West Highland Way—a world-famous, jaw-droppingly beautiful long-distance footpath through the wilds of Scotland. A peaceful, awe-inspiring journey? Not when Paul and the gang are involved. Setting off from the outskirts of Glasgow, the boys march headfirst into the hills, glens, and general chaos of the Scottish Highlands, uncovering all sorts of bizarre and brilliant stories along the way. From a train that wanted to be a plane to the legendary outlaw Rob Roy, from ghosts lurking in haunted pubs to the blood-soaked battlefields of history, this trek is packed with fascinating tales. ...

THE THAMES PATH: GOING ROUND THE BEND The Thames is supposed to be a gentle walk. Flat. Easy. Scenic. At least, that’s the theory. In The Thames Path: Going Round the Bend, Paul Amess follows England’s most famous river on foot, from quiet countryside to full-blown London chaos, via history, blisters, bad signage, and far too much time alone with his thoughts. Along the way there are misleading “easy” stretches, unexpected detours, aching feet, and the creeping realisation that walking may have been wildly oversold as a relaxing pastime. But there is also history everywhere you look...

Join Paul on an epic trek along Hadrian’s Wall, one of the most famous and historically fascinating walks in the world—because nothing says adventure like following a 2,000-year-old pile of stones across England. This isn’t just a history lesson (though there’s plenty of that). Discover which king thought carrying a rotting human arm was a good luck charm, relive one of the most dramatic spy-swaps in history, and, of course, find out where to see the longest, tallest, most impressive, and downright rudest bits of the wall. But history aside, walking this ancient frontier is no ...

469 miles. 26 tunnels. 50,000 feet of climbing. It sounded like a good idea at the time. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs for 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains, from Virginia to North Carolina. It’s often described as America’s most scenic road — a gentle, meandering drive through endless mountain views, historic landmarks, and carefully placed overlooks. This is slightly misleading. Because what that description doesn’t mention is that it also climbs. A lot. Around 50,000 feet of it, in fact. Which is roughly the equivalent of cycling up Everest. Twice. For fun. It also ...

What kind of cyclist decides to follow an invisible line that controls global time? The kind who enjoys a cycling adventure with a side order of British history, questionable navigation and the occasional existential wobble. In Straight Lines and Bad Ideas, I set out to bike tour the Greenwich Meridian from the rugged east coast of England to the English Channel. On a map it’s a perfectly straight line. In reality it’s hills, hedgerows, medieval battlefields, Cold War paranoia, Roman roads, wandering Napoléon references and a stubborn refusal to stay flat when you really need it to. ...

In the heart of the glorious Yorkshire Dales lies The James Herriot Way, possibly the best short long-distance footpath in the world (yes, that’s a thing). Winding through majestic mountains, rolling moors, and two of England’s most beautiful dales—Wensleydale and Swaledale—this isn’t just a walk, it’s a celebration of breathtaking landscapes, fascinating history, and the legendary James Herriot (All Creatures Great and Small fame, in case you’ve been living under a rock). But Paul isn’t going it alone this time. Oh no. Enter Belle, his loyal(ish) canine companion, who is ...

Twelve days. Two hundred miles. One bear costume. Zero common sense. When a group of stubborn, middle-aged blokes decide to walk coast-to-coast across England, what could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: everything.) Armed with questionable knees, excessive amounts of pork pie, and a heroic lack of planning, we set off from the Irish Sea with nothing but a pebble in our pocket and the foolish belief that "it’ll be fine." Through monsoon-level rain, endless hills, and several near-death experiences (one involving a flowerpot), we somehow bumbled our way all the way to Robin Hood’s Bay — ...

One dad, the one teenager, and 215 miles. Trail and Error is the hilarious, chaotic, and occasionally muddy tale of our attempt to cross England without losing our boots, our tempers, or each other. What do you get when you mix one middle-aged dad, a sarcastic teenage son, a map they barely read, and 215 miles of British countryside? A masterclass in how not to walk across England. Join me and my 15-year-old son, Max, as we tackle the Trans Pennine Trail — from the Irish Sea to the North Sea — one blister, one rainstorm, and one wrong turn at a time. Along the way, we encounter ...

I really should have seen it coming—because, let’s be honest, planets are massive—but somehow, I didn’t. One moment, I was happily sliding about like someone playing twister after they had lubed themselves up with copious amounts of industrial-strength baby oil, and the next, I was face-first in a field of cow crap, legs in the air, dignity long gone. Welcome to The Viking Way, a long-distance walk stretching from Barton in Lincolnshire to Oakham in Rutland (which, fun fact, is England’s smallest county). “I’ll walk it,” I thought. “It’ll be fun,” I thought. And sure, ...

Join Paul as he bravely (and foolishly) takes on 109 miles of the Cleveland Way, meandering through the North Yorkshire Moors in what can only be described as a poorly planned survival experiment. Kicking things off in Helmsley on the wettest day of the year, Paul assumes things can’t possibly get worse. Enter Storm Francis, stage left. Accompanied by his long-suffering (and suspiciously well-prepared) friend Rob—who carries most of the gear, does most of the cooking, and probably regrets all his life choices—they get lost, sunburned, blistered, and nearly blown off the cliffs. Good ...

Join Paul and the gang as they stumble, bumble, and occasionally get lost across the border into deepest, darkest Wales. Armed with questionable decision-making and a serious lack of map-reading skills, they take on Offa's Dyke Path, heading from South to North, and braving whatever the weather (and the sheep) throw their way. Spoiler: It's a lot of rain and a lot of sheep. The adventure kicks off in Chepstow, home to Wales' oldest castle (it’s impressive, but don’t worry, the guys will still find a way to mess it up). As they head north to Monmouth, they cross the only medieval bridge ...

Paul and Rob are at it again—this time, quite literally walking home. Taking on The Wilberforce Way, a trail running from York to Hull in honor of anti-slavery legend William Wilberforce, our intrepid (and slightly clueless) adventurers set off, blissfully unaware of the ridiculousness that awaits them. Kicking things off in York, they immediately stumble upon a famous piece of poo (yes, really), before learning some deeply unsettling facts about moles—namely, that they don’t taste great but will absolutely trip you up. Pocklington, it turns out, is home to madmen, top-secret history,...

Paul and Rob are back at it again—because apparently, they haven’t learned their lesson. This time, they’re taking on the wild and breathtaking Yorkshire Coast Path, a journey from Spurn Point in the south to Teesmouth in the north, following what is probably the world’s fastest-eroding coastline (so best read this quickly before it disappears entirely). But this isn’t just a stroll along the beach. Along the way, the duo stumbles upon tales of pirates, smugglers, explorers, princes, battles, shipwrecks, and enough history to make your head spin. Ever heard of the town that never ...

What happens when you draw a perfectly straight line across England at exactly 54 degrees latitude and then attempt to walk it? Absolute chaos, that's what. Armed with a questionable sense of direction and an unhealthy curiosity, Paul sets off from Yorkshire’s east coast, somehow surviving his way to Lancashire—dodging rivers, fences, and a few angry farmers along the way. But this isn’t just a scenic stroll. Along this invisible line, Paul stumbles upon murderers, film stars, and witches, and discovers what links York with Lancaster. He also answers many questions, such as what do ...

About the Book In his latest book, Paul Amess braves cold rain, hot tea, a leaky tent and a heroic old bike through a countryside crammed with stories. This laugh-out-loud, oddly uplifting ride across the Pennines proves that everything can go wrong in the most entertaining way and still end exactly right. When a knackered cyclist points his wheels from Peak Forest to Street, he expects hills. He does not expect randy hedgehogs at 3 a.m., duels with homicidal goats, cliff-edge “paths” that feel like practical jokes, or a greatest-hits tour of Britain’s strangest history. Along the way...

Eastbourne or Bust A not-at-all-serious account of one man, one bike, and the long, painful road to the coast. Ever thought cycling the South Downs Way would be a charming, leisurely jaunt through scenic countryside? Yeah, so did I. Idiot. What actually happened was a four-day, mud-splattered odyssey of mechanical failures, chalky cliffside death slides, possessed bike saddles, and a surprising number of historical detours involving Romans, smugglers, haunted windmills and at least one overly dramatic Victorian tunnel. Armed with questionable fitness, a half-functioning bicycle, and the ...

When Paul set out to walk the Wolds Way, he thought it would be a nice, leisurely stroll through his own backyard. Spoiler alert: it was anything but. Starting at the Humber Estuary in the middle of winter, Paul soon discovered that the Wolds were home to a treasure trove of bizarre history, eccentric people, and enough oddities to make you question everything. Joined by his trusty sidekicks, Rob and Chris, they set off through the dales and valleys, uncovering an ancient land with more secrets than an old man’s attic. From an unsolved archaeological mystery (because of course) to ...

Join Paul and Rob as they ditch their walking boots for something a little faster—an electric car. But not just any electric car, oh no—a first-generation Nissan Leaf. That’s right, our intrepid duo is setting out on a road trip across England to answer the ultimate question: Can you actually go on a road trip in an electric car? Spoiler alert: the answer might just be “sort of, but it’s complicated.” Will the car make it to the next charger? Will the charger even exist when they get there? And if it does exist, will it actually work? As Paul and Rob discover, there are a lot of...