Writers, Walks and Journeys
An Introduction to our Literature section
Although our main objective in the design of this website was usability: the navigation and presentation are simple and we have taken care to avoid unnecessary detail in its content, nonetheless the overall design and aesthetics have not been ignored.
Our ‘Literature’ section is different: the intention is to include short extracts from literature about walking and travel including both prose and poetry of all genres, periods and countries. There will be no shortage of material.
We have no wish to use this site to discuss the benefits of walking; instead, and this time only, we would draw your attention to two books published in 2019 which are relevant to this subject, one directly, the other indirectly but still of importance. Both are serious scholarly works which have received excellent reviews.
The first is ‘In Praise of Walking: The New Science of How We Walk and Why it’s Good for Us’ by Shane O’Mara, a professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College, Dublin. He, of course, describes the benefits of exercise-from unclogging the heart to boosting the mind - but he does not labour the point. Instead, he refers to one fascinating experiment that shows just how dramatic it can be if we return to our primeval walking state.
In 2011 researchers convinced a 62-year man to walk the length of the Alps. Over 3 months like an ageing Hannibal he trekked 1300km along the Via Alpina. Unlike Hannibal, instead of elephants, he was followed by scientists who measured every aspect of his physiology. The first surprise was that he did it. This averagely fit man, who had barely gone on a long walk in his life, could recover his latent walker with ease. The second surprise was just how profound the consequences were in terms of improvements to his health which O’Mara describes in detail.
The second is ‘Chasing the Sun: The new Science of Sunlight and How It Shapes Our Bodies and Minds’ by Linda Geddes, a science journalist. The main theme of this book is that for good physical and mental health, it is increasingly understood, the sun is vitally important. And the way we live now is associated with a host of health risks. Our daytimes are too dark and our nights too bright: even on the most overcast winter day it is at least 10 times as bright outside. On a clear summer day, it could be 1000 times brighter.
This matters – as this book explains, our inner biological pattern aligns itself with daylight and allows our organs to periodically rest. If we disrupt those rhythms, our bodies suffer as do our minds.
These two books, both recently published, say far more about the benefits of walking, exercise and being outside than we can ever do on this website and we doubt whether we will be revisiting this subject.
Therefore we hope you enjoy the new Bath Rambling Club website but do not spend too much time looking at it! Its sole purpose is to promote Bath Rambling Club and its walks.
Lastly, we would also like to thank the several artists who allowed us to use their beautiful work on our website and who are acknowledged here.