cybermule | The South Country

https://www.amazon.co.uk/South-Country-Nature-Classics-Library/dp/0956254519/

I'd been meaning to read this for ages. When I went to the Lost Words exhibition at Compton Verney, there was a copy knocking around and that reminded me to stick it on the reservation list. It's a lovely poetic account of the explorations of the strip of land that's basically now below the M4, pretty much as far across as Witlshire. There's more of a focus on the rural characters rather than just the landscape - this makes me think a little of Laurie Lee. In some ways there's not a lot to say about the older rural rambling travel books - it made me want to visit the places, and in that must be a success. And it painted pictures in my head.

One thing it did remind me to do was to go back and read The Country Child, by Alison Uttley, which utterly delighted, enthralled and inspired me as a little girl. So an all round good read, not too mawkish. Go for it if it's your kind of thing - I may well get my own copy.