A Walk Along the Tracks

by Hunter Davies

Hunter Davies follows his successful A Walk Around the Lakes with a nostalgic tour of Britain's disused railway lines, which now cover more than 8,000 miles of empty track.You don't have to be an experienced walker or a railway enthusiast to enjoy this highly readable, amusing and perceptive guide to one of Britain's least-known natural resources.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1982

About the author

Edward Hunter Davies OBE is an author, journalist and broadcaster, and a former editor for the Sunday Times of London. He is the author of numerous books, including The Glory Game and the only authorised biography of the Beatles. He was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, to Scottish parents. For four years his family lived in Dumfries until Davies was aged 11.

His family moved to Carlisle in northern England when Davies was 11 and he attended the Creighton School in the city. Davies lived in Carlisle until he moved to study at university. During this time his father, who was a former Royal Air Force pay clerk, developed multiple sclerosis and had to retire on medical grounds from a civil service career.

Davies joined the sixth form at Carlisle Grammar School and was awarded a place at University College, Durham to read for an honours degree in History, but after his first year he switched to a general arts course. He gained his first writing experience as a student, contributing to the university newspaper, Palatinate, where one of his fellow student journalists was the future fashion writer Colin McDowell. After completing his degree course he stayed on at Durham for another year to gain a teaching diploma and avoid National Service.

He lives in London.

Reviews

[Elliot Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read, well especially if you enjoy walking, railways and Britain. I happen to be British and thoroughly enjoy the first two, so I obviously adored this. It's quite dated now, being written nearly 40 years ago and most of these old lines have been massively redeveloped or properly preserved now thankfully, but interesting to hear their state at a time before Britain was as concerned as it is now with preserving history and certain areas of natural beauty. Reading the accounts of a dilapidated, forgotten Midsomer Norton Station and knowing that it is now a beautiful preserved heritage line with (hopefully) even bigger plans for the future, is definitely heartwarming!

[Stuart Moodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for a walking book but it was more about the railways. Interesting in parts and well written, just not really what I'd hoped.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-selected geographic and historic cross-section of the publicly-accessible disused lines in the U. K. I appreciated the historical background of the immediate area, as well the author's interviews with older locals who were familiar with the line when it operated - many of his interviewees were former employees living nearby. I didn't so much appreciate the technical aspects, though railfans would. A great book if you're going to be picking it up to read a chapter or two at a time; after a couple of entries, the stories can begin to run together.

[Ade Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hunter Davies was writing a lot in the 80s about football and walking, in a jokey, journalistic style. His 'Walk around the Lakes' re the English Lake District is worth a look.
This one is about walking up disused railway lines in the UK, something I do quite a lot myself. I like trains and the ghosts they leave behind. Also, I am writing a story about a man who lives in a secret den on a railway embankment so am looking to find out about railway embankments. A very light, breezy read.