Among the world's greatest long-distance hikes is the Land's End to John o'Groats one that traverses about 1000 miles of Britain's greatest scenery from the southwestern tip of mainland England to the northeastern tip of mainland Scotland. In this book, which is bound to be a classic, Mark Moxon describes the three months he spent on this arduous trail - which involves a whole lot more than the hike itself. Mr. Moxon shares with us not just the route (as others have) but also the mental and physical anguish that go with it. He does this with unrelenting equanimity and frequent flashes of humor - as for example when searching for launderette facilities in Fort William, or duct-taping to hold his boots together, or meeting strange locals in the myriad local pubs he stops at. This book is therefore not just a primer on this hike, but an entertaining travelogue for hikers and non-hikers alike. With photos, maps and route statistics, it's an effortless read that enabled me to take this hike vicariously . . . and then make my plans to do it for real.
A delightful side-product is also Mr. Moxon's website (find it on Google by searching for "moxon" and "landsend") which provides additional material, such as a Google Earth 3-d view of his entire route from on-high. The website also has a guestbook where a lively discourse has started among hikers and potential hikers, moderated by Moxon, who shares willingly and is generous with his encouragement. This augments the book's usefulness in a rather unique way, and of course it's free.
As well as hikers and those who plan to hike, the enthusiastic readership of this book will include those who are drawn to outdoor adventure sagas, and I'm hoping that teachers will embrace it as a wholesome class text that will teach reading, geography - and encourage outdoor adventure in generations to come. It's value-priced, and will make a great gift of almost universal appeal - but read it first for your own enjoyment!
