The Worst Journey in the Midlands : One Man, a Boat and the British Weather

by Sam Llewellyn

This text chronicles Sam Llewellyn's journey form Llandiloes on the River Severn down through the canals of the Midlands to London. He and his open rowing-boat, the Magdalen, travelled through Worcester, Oxford and the suburbs during the wettest October on record.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2015

About the author

Sam Llewellyn is a British author of literature for children and adults.

Reviews

[Bruce Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Worst Journey in the Midlands: One man, His Boat and the Weather, by Sam Llewellyn (pp 224). This book is a delightful waterborne solo romp from Wales to London aboard a barely seaworthy (canal worthy?) row boat that the author inexplicably salvaged expressly for this trip. The humorous description of his journey is quite humorous, and no less so because I have no knowledge of lock-infested canal travel, row boat etiquette, much of his English vocabulary, canal-side customs, small village mores, Wales and English geography, local history, and so much more. The book was fun to read, and possibly would have more so if I’d drunk either the beer or hard spirits the author purportedly downed along the way. This is a very fun travelogue of an unconventional sort.

[Israel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start was a little fuzzy, but the rest of the book was really enjoyable.
It's good as an autobiography work, but I would not consider this as a guide for rowing in channels, as the author was always on eminent risk.

[Judi Fruen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a disaster travelogue. This was well written, funny, and I didn't want to punch the narrator too often.

[Misha Herwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Even though it was written some time ago it made me laugh out loud.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Engaging.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about rowing.
Which turns out to be a good topic for a book. The author renovates a dilapidated rowing boat and proceeds to row it across a significant section of the UK to london.
It rains a lot, and he travels through some of the less lovely parts of the UK on the way, however the writing is like his novels, clean, flowing and keeps the story moving.
There is a combination of travel writing, boaty stuff (although limited to a rowing boat on a canal...) and general observations of bits of Britain you didn't know existed or know the history of. Worth a read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Llewellyn sets out to navigate the Severn river in its entirety--from its springs in the Welsh hills, through the Midlands, and to the Thames and a docking in London. His old wooden boat is only notionally sea-worthy, and his trip takes him through some inhospitable areas. Nor does the weather cooperate--it rains and rains. I wouldn't want to make the journey, but Llewellyn makes it a joy to read about.

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some nuggets of history and humour here but not enough to make me glad I read the book. I haven't read anything else by this author but was puzzled by his constant antipathy towards the Midlands as his theme.

[Marie-helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little gem of a book. I like reading it from time to time and it is one of my comfort books at home. Initially bought it after reading The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow by A.J McKinnon where it was mentioned. I love anything about boat trips on canals, especially in the British Isles!

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous account of rowboat trip from Wales to London. Would give extra half star for laughter.