There’s the beginning of a useful guide in here Mark. About “The nearest wild places to big cities that can be easily got to on public transport.” I could contribute Hilbre Island and other places along the Dee and Mersey Estuaries, as well as the mud flats north of Southport.
Rough Guides have recently come out with the 'Rough Guide to Rewilding in Britain'. It's ok but the places are kind of the obvious ones.
I have always been a big fan of the Time Out guides to 'Country Walks from London', all starting and ending from train stations but unfortunately out of print now.
Almost by definition, 'wilderness' equates to 'remote' but as you said there are places that defy those terms and when you find them they are really quite surprising.
I hope so, because without public transport wild places become the preserve of car owners. Who collectively end up defeating their wildness, as they have in most of the Lake District for example.
I agree! Although I’d suggest you look up the book trees in winter for some ideas, it’s by richard shimell, who weirdly enough also used to be my boss but is now an absolutely staggeringly talented printmaker. He spent a lot of time seeking nature and covers his trips in his book - worth a look mark.
There’s the beginning of a useful guide in here Mark. About “The nearest wild places to big cities that can be easily got to on public transport.” I could contribute Hilbre Island and other places along the Dee and Mersey Estuaries, as well as the mud flats north of Southport.
Rough Guides have recently come out with the 'Rough Guide to Rewilding in Britain'. It's ok but the places are kind of the obvious ones.
I have always been a big fan of the Time Out guides to 'Country Walks from London', all starting and ending from train stations but unfortunately out of print now.
Almost by definition, 'wilderness' equates to 'remote' but as you said there are places that defy those terms and when you find them they are really quite surprising.
You could be onto something there, Ronnie.
I hope so, because without public transport wild places become the preserve of car owners. Who collectively end up defeating their wildness, as they have in most of the Lake District for example.
I agree! Although I’d suggest you look up the book trees in winter for some ideas, it’s by richard shimell, who weirdly enough also used to be my boss but is now an absolutely staggeringly talented printmaker. He spent a lot of time seeking nature and covers his trips in his book - worth a look mark.
Richard's book looks stunning. I'll look for it in my next sortie to a bookshop. Thanks Alex