Jack Cornish

A nostalgic amble through the history of travel in England and Wales, and an examination of the routes that make up our modern path network. Jack Cornish interlaces titbits of travel, history, personal reflection and anecdote. His passion for walking, natural beauty and the abundant history of these old ways shines through. Cornish's motivation to protect heritage and relish our spectacular countryside is admirable

Cornish’s book delves back in history and is written with a sense of urgency. On each page you discover an enticing new vista

Marvellous. Cornish is the ideal companion on the road: interested in everything, learned, acute, and a splendid story-teller

A rallying cry to reclaim lost routes and preserve this precious resource for future generations

A celebration of an ancient network and a rallying cry to reclaim what has been lost and preserve it for future generations

[A] fascinating history of path-making and path-taking . . . our guide excels at historic story-telling . . . Cornish’s celebration of our grand wealth of history ways, and the different motivations for walking over the centuries, is a worthy clarion call for us to keep treading paths – so we don’t lose our way . . .

A lively account of millennia of movement, and a call to action to preserve an endangered heritage

By 2026, some 16,000km of forgotten footpaths around Britain stand to be lost. Jack Cornish’s fascinating book sets out to ensure they aren’t, and en route explains why Britain’s history is buried in these historic rights of way.

A History of How We Walk From Here To There

Hundreds of thousands of miles of paths reach into, and connect, communities across England and Wales. More than just a practical way for us to walk, ride and cycle around, they are an inheritance from the past, revealing how our ancestors interacted with and shaped their landscapes. But thousands of miles are still missing from our maps. 
 
Exploring the deep history of these pathways, Jack Cornish uncovers how this millennia-old network was created and has evolved - from prehistoric trackways to the modern creation of towns - reflecting the contours of the past and the changing fortunes of society.

Jack Cornish

Praise for The Lost Paths

A nostalgic amble through the history of travel in England and Wales, and an examination of the routes that make up our modern path network. Jack Cornish interlaces titbits of travel, history, personal ref ...

Cornish’s book delves back in history and is written with a sense of urgency. On each page you discover an enticing new vista

Marvellous. Cornish is the ideal companion on the road: interested in everything, learned, acute, and a splendid story-teller

A nostalgic amble through the history of travel in England and Wales, and an examination of the routes that make up our modern path network. Jack Cornish interlaces titbits of travel, history, personal ref ...

Cornish’s book delves back in history and is written with a sense of urgency. On each page you discover an enticing new vista

Marvellous. Cornish is the ideal companion on the road: interested in everything, learned, acute, and a splendid story-teller

A nostalgic amble through the history of travel in England and Wales, and an examination of the routes that make up our modern path network. Jack Cornish interlaces titbits of travel, history, personal ref ...

Cornish’s book delves back in history and is written with a sense of urgency. On each page you discover an enticing new vista

Marvellous. Cornish is the ideal companion on the road: interested in everything, learned, acute, and a splendid story-teller

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter