Green Saturday

Walkers en route to Flounder's Folly near Craven Arms

Retailers like to hype up our expectations before the festive break and Black Friday has to be one great sinister plot to make us spend more and spend it now, pushing, shoving, riots an' all. But there's an escape...take a walk in the country to calm your nerves and with the mild weather it could not be better (even if it is squelchy under foot). I therefore declare tomorrow as Green Saturday, the day we desert the shops in favour of a walk or cycle ride in countryside. 

For others not so keen to brave the elements there's a chance do some armchair discovery instead...so here's my earnest plug for some of my recent exploits...and, yes, it seems a little hypocritical, but with a degree of temerity and angst here we go...

I still consider A Guide to Slow Travel in the Marches to be one of my best. It offers a different perspective on travel through the Welsh Marches; it is almost Portilloesque in approach; railways come first. This gem is available in local bookshops as well as at Ludlow Railway Station office. At only £10 it is a great stocking filler. If you can't get to a bookshop then order direct from the publisher, simply google Logaston Press.

If it is walking you're into then the lovely little Kittiwake books are ideal. Mike Ledlie and I have penned a number of new titles recently...Walks in the Borders (North and South), and Walks Around Hay-on-Wye. Each book contains twenty walks and are also stocked by High Street booksellers and tourist information offices (where they still exist). Otherwise order via Kittiwake website. The books are only £4.95, an amazing price for 20 walks. Another great stocking filler is Walks Around Ludlow written by me with Peta and Phil Sams-same price and featuring Mortimer Country too.  

There's my bit for consumerism...now back to the old ways, its safer territory. 

PS Hay Ho! bus is running through to the Hay Winter Festival tomorrow and Hay is a good place for slow travellers.