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Two Feet, Four Paws : The Girl Who Walked Her Dog 4, 500 Miles
The author, and her dog, Tess, walked the entire coastline of Britain to raise funds for homeless people. This is the story of their epic walk.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 19, 2025
My godmother, Spud, was the OG badass. A woman living among her many animals in a never-ending cycle of rainbow outfits, a pig traipsing through the kitchen as everyone is laughing at something else she just said; these are the images with which I remember her by. Sadly she passed away in 2010, but keeping her book on my shelf and her many postcards sent to my USA home from her Scotland farm remind me to live life to the fullest, the way she did.
February 1, 2013
The premise of the girl (I want to say woman but the title says girl) who walked her dog around the coast of Great Britain to raise money for the charity Shelter has definite appeal, but somehow the execution lacks a certain something.
There is no real plot, we know the ending, and there is a degree of monotony in the months of travelling: realistic no doubt, but not making for riveting reading.
Nevertheless, it is entertaining, containing many amusing incidents that happened en route; interesting on a geographical and personal level; and inspiring on the grand level of the journey and the psychological level as she copes with the difficulties of the walk, the Spudtruck's mechanical failings and ever-changing drivers, injury, and the mental difficulties of both beginning and particularly ending the walk.
There is no real plot, we know the ending, and there is a degree of monotony in the months of travelling: realistic no doubt, but not making for riveting reading.
Nevertheless, it is entertaining, containing many amusing incidents that happened en route; interesting on a geographical and personal level; and inspiring on the grand level of the journey and the psychological level as she copes with the difficulties of the walk, the Spudtruck's mechanical failings and ever-changing drivers, injury, and the mental difficulties of both beginning and particularly ending the walk.
April 2, 2008
The journey is broken up into 19 15-page sections; I would pick up the book now and then (often in the bathtub!) to read a couple at a time, so I wasn't as able to place references to previously encountered persons/situations as easily as someone reading the book straight through. Tess and Spud's adventure is well told. I can certainly recommend this interesting book.
March 13, 2013
I came across "Two Feet and Four Paws" by Katherine "Spud" Talbot-Ponsonby almost by chance - and what a lucky find it was.
It's the story of a young girl, Spud, and her faithful dog Tess who set out to walk all the way around Britain (4500 miles) following the coastline as closely as possible.
The purpose of her epic journey was to raise money for the homeless in Britain. Sleeping in a beat-up old motorhome (driven by a wonderful variety of friends and supporters), the book catalogues, in a most interesting way, her experiences meeting interesting people and persevering in the most awful weather.
I am saddened to have to add that Spud passed away recently.
Spud Talbot-PonsonbyTwo Feet, Four Paws: Walking the Coastline of Britain
It's the story of a young girl, Spud, and her faithful dog Tess who set out to walk all the way around Britain (4500 miles) following the coastline as closely as possible.
The purpose of her epic journey was to raise money for the homeless in Britain. Sleeping in a beat-up old motorhome (driven by a wonderful variety of friends and supporters), the book catalogues, in a most interesting way, her experiences meeting interesting people and persevering in the most awful weather.
I am saddened to have to add that Spud passed away recently.
Spud Talbot-PonsonbyTwo Feet, Four Paws: Walking the Coastline of Britain
July 6, 2020
Enjoyed this book quite inspiring and funny.
November 9, 2023
An OK tale of this pair's trials & tribulations as they walked the coastline of mainland UK. All done for a good cause but Spud doesn't seem to have taken much from the experience. A bit of judicious editing might have lifted this from a fairly bland account of their travels to something more life-changing or uplifting. I'd give it 2.5* but rolling up for the effort.
February 10, 2015
The author has done an amazing thing with her walk and i kept reading because of this. Based on the first pages I expected this to a journey not only around Britain but also of her growing maturity. I was wrong.
The book didn't feel planned. There was no thread. There was no insight.
I also had a problem with the author's moral compass. In one sentence she would be complaining about the litter, in the next she would be throwing a cigarette off the Humber bridge. She also showed a lack of respect for those that offered help unless, it seemed, that they were her type of people.
The walk is a great achievement and I am glad I read for the inspiration. The book was generally a disappointment.
The book didn't feel planned. There was no thread. There was no insight.
I also had a problem with the author's moral compass. In one sentence she would be complaining about the litter, in the next she would be throwing a cigarette off the Humber bridge. She also showed a lack of respect for those that offered help unless, it seemed, that they were her type of people.
The walk is a great achievement and I am glad I read for the inspiration. The book was generally a disappointment.
April 11, 2011
I wanted to love this book, but only enjoyed it sporadically. Spud is never in one place long enough to really give us a feel for the locale--and that's understandable, given that she's covering a 4500-mile walk in 300 pages--but the anecdotes relating to Tess, her canine companion, are a lot of fun. The book could also have used more thorough editing to weed out the grammatical and word usage problems; of course, the editor may have wanted Spud's voice to come through. The mission was admirable--walking the coast of England to raise money for the homeless--but the necessarily episodic nature of the book resulted in my never being thoroughly engrossed.
February 3, 2014
Until the final 10 or so pages I would have given this book 3 stars at a pinch. Now I give it 4 and fell like I am being a little unfair.
What started as a seemingly lacklustre narrative of one woman's epic walk across Britain was some how turned into something entirely more emotional at the end. I can't really explain it, but somehow 300 pages all made sense at the end in such a transformative way. You suddenly understood Spud, why she did what she did and why she wrote the book in the way she did...
Pretty vague, but yes, the end of the book is an experience I found.
What started as a seemingly lacklustre narrative of one woman's epic walk across Britain was some how turned into something entirely more emotional at the end. I can't really explain it, but somehow 300 pages all made sense at the end in such a transformative way. You suddenly understood Spud, why she did what she did and why she wrote the book in the way she did...
Pretty vague, but yes, the end of the book is an experience I found.
November 30, 2015
I liked this book very much and I'll read the sequel if I can find it here in the States. I liked the Spud-Tess dynamic, the description of walking and of towns, her attitude and I was especially thrilled to see just how much of her walk I have walked too!
I'm anxious to walk parts of the coast of Britain again; this was just what I needed.
It's strange to think that this was 22 years ago... Spud is probably near my age now and Tess is probably gone but I will always picture them on this walk.
I'm anxious to walk parts of the coast of Britain again; this was just what I needed.
It's strange to think that this was 22 years ago... Spud is probably near my age now and Tess is probably gone but I will always picture them on this walk.
August 22, 2010
I have just spent the last week and a bit following this amazing woman's trek around the British coastline and loved it. I opened up google earth and looking at the satellite images and photos really brought the journey alive. I loved the stories about Tess and the drivers and people she meets along the way, sympathised (and almost felt)the pains and I cried with emotion as she completed the journey. I've told my husband we need to do this trip one day but we'll be taking the caravan.
April 2, 2011
I have not actually finished this book but I've read 70% of it and I think that's enough. There isn't a great deal happening, and it doesn't have the humour of Bill Bryson or the interesting-ness of Paul Theroux. I have quite enjoyed what I've read though.
I think 70% is enough to count it as the "T" in my A-Z challenge!
I think 70% is enough to count it as the "T" in my A-Z challenge!
November 17, 2012
I read this book a couple of years ago and found it really inspiring and interesting to read. The relationship between an owner and his/her dog is one I always am fasinated by as dogs are the most loving and faithful of animals. I also really enjoy travel/adventure writing and reading this book was an inspiration to me, and a journey I will one day like to partake in with own dog.
October 3, 2012
Wonderful account of a woman's hike around the coastline of Britain with her dog. The author is immensely likeable, passionate and intelligent, highly recommended if you enjoy books about hiking and adventuring.
January 27, 2015
Not knowing a lot about UK geography I did not really understand many of the local references but I enjoyed the relationship between Spud and Tess and the drivers. Would have liked to hear more about the local people but I give her a lot do credit for the long walk!
May 18, 2008
A girl and her dog; what more could I ask? Apparently, a lot more, because this book reads like a bad tour guide, and has very little insight into anything.
October 23, 2013
Absolutely loved it
May 24, 2016
Wonderful book full of hope and dog
Wonderful book full of hope and dog and perfect timing to read during our walking holiday. Best book I've read in ages.
Wonderful book full of hope and dog and perfect timing to read during our walking holiday. Best book I've read in ages.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews