The Earth Beneath My Feet: A 7,000-Mile Walk of Discovery into the Heart of Wild Nature

I really connected with the essence of Andrews quest to reconnect and appreciate nature, the joys and challenges it presents. So different from living an urban lifestyle, no sirens and city noise, just the sounds, smells and the tactile connection with the trees, plants, animals and the land itself. All that nature has to offer.As someone from London myself, and now living in the beautiful Kootenay’s of British Columbia, Canada, I think I understand what Andrew was seeking in his incredible journey.A great book, written with sincerity and humour and passion. 5 STARS

I couldn't put it down, it's definitely one of the best descriptions of a stunning walk through Europe's wildest and most inhospitable environments imaginable. Much more than the description of the walk itself (as incredible as it is), it is a description of stunning nature, of impressions, of reflections. Anybody who has ever done walks of a day, a week, a month or more will regularly recognize joys, doubts, feelings, that sense of reward when accomplishing something special, something hard. Those very special and unforgettable moments created by nature and unexpected encounters. And anybody who ever thought about undertaking something like this, even on a much smaller scale, will no doubt be convinced immediately.

Someone I know suggested this book, a keen walker and camper. But to be honest I wasn’t sure. I go on walks in the countryside, and I’ve climbed a few mountains in my time, but I thought a book about a long walk might be repetitive.But the Earth beneath my feet is a riveting read. The author describes an extraordinary adventure across Italy and Austria, through wild places I didn’t know exist. I love travel, Greece especially, and Italy has always interested me, although I haven’t been there. But now I feel I have! The writing took me there in a way I hadn’t expected, and kept me wanting to find out what happened next. It was so easy to picture being in some dusty hilltop village surrounded by locals who hadn’t seen many tourists. Or on top of a remote summit in the middle of nowhere. The scenes and events were painted in vivid detail.But what really made this book stand out is that it’s so much more than just a walking narrative or a travel book. It covers elements of nature, people, humour, geography, history, life, as well as all the ups and downs of the actual physical walk. The author comes across as thoughtful, observant, determined, and ordinary. He’s not a boastful adventurer or a ‘look at me’ endurance athlete but a likeable person who sometimes struggles and is honest about it. This honesty and the youthful optimism and the author’s inward journey really bring this book to life.So I’m glad I spent time on this book. It was time well spent. I look at Italy differently now, and I wouldn’t mind going backpacking myself for a few nights. (Although probably not where wolves roam, or in deep snow!) This is an outstanding and inspiring book. Walkers are certain to love it, but many other people will too.

My Best read of the year so far. As a wild camper, although nowhere near as ambitious as Andrew, I can totally relate to the story, the highs and lows, the challenges and joys of camping in the mountains. The story is both remarkable in it's challenging nature - just this first book/part, walking the length of Italy, sticking to the mountains and then traversing the Alps in winter, but also in how well it is written, with much humour, and heartfelt encounters. It also didn't fall into the trap of going down some rambling side track stories or monotonous, I got up and walked some more, which is difficult to avoid with such a journey. Instead the author wrote with great depth and sentiment about moving through a stunning but often challenging landscape in a highly engaging manner. I didn't want the book to end but at least I can go and buy the next one. Would have loved to see colour rather than black and white photos but guess the printing cost and hence price of the book would be increased considerably so probably a good compromise. All in all a stunning read for those who love the mountains or just want to read about other people’s adventures.

This book was very well written and is an easy read. You feel like you're on a hike with the author. A very relaxing read!