The Great North Road
London to Edinburgh – 11 Days, 2 Wheels and 1 Ancient Highway
$27.11
- Paperback
256 pages
- Release Date
12 October 2021
Summary
The Great North Road is Britain’s Route 66 - we’ve just forgotten how to sing its praises
In 1921, Britain’s most illustrious highway, the Great North Road, ceased to exist - on paper at least. Stretching from London to Edinburgh, the old road was largely replaced by the A1 as the era of the motor car took hold.
A hundred years later, journalist and cyclist Steve Silk embraces the anniversary as the perfect excuse to set off on an adventure across 11 days and 400 miles. Travel…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781800070493 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1800070497 |
| Author: | Steve Silk |
| Publisher: | Octopus Publishing Group |
| Imprint: | Summersdale Publishers |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 256 |
| Release Date: | 12 October 2021 |
| Weight: | 210g |
| Dimensions: | 123mm x 223mm x 216mm |
You Can Find This Book In
What They're Saying
Critics Review
An enjoyable ode to a road that cyclists planning a trip will love, with entertaining nuggets of trivia and history for anyone who has ever hit the A1 for a long drive. Silk is a man on a mission, snaking alongside the main carriages on his winding passage by bike north via many a cafe and old coaching inn (many of which Charles Dickens visited, apparently). This journey may just give the lockdown Lycra brigade ideas. * Tom Chesshyre *
I love this book. I love the idea of considering something as mundane and utilitarian as the A1(M) in a fascinating, historical context. Who knew that behind this seemingly endless snake of concrete and tarmac lies the makings of a fabulous journey of pilgrimage? It is a joy to learn about the background to Steve’s journey and to follow him as he makes his way along his very own Great North Road. * Rachel Ann Cullen *
I was going to ride the Great North Road and write about it… but in the light of this annoyingly good book, I won’t. * Tim Moore *
Weaving the history of the old road with the colour and the characters of today, Steve proves that any journey is an adventure if you know where to look. * Alastair Humphreys *
About The Author
Steve Silk
Steve Silk is a journalist working for BBC Look East in Norwich. Go West is his second cycling adventure. His first - The Great North Road - saw him ride from London to Edinburgh across 11 days. He has also written books on the Norfolk Broads. The Wherryman’s Way was published in 2010 with Hidden Riverside Norwich following in 2016. Steve can regularly be found cycling the back lanes of Norfolk and Suffolk on either a Jamis Aurora tourer or a Voodoo Bizango mountain bike.
Returns
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.