The Hard Way

Discovering the women who walked before us

‘An urgent call’ Guy Shrubsole

Why is it radical for women to walk alone in the countryside, when men have been doing so for centuries? The Hard Way is a powerful and illuminating book about addressing this imbalance, reclaiming fearlessness and diving into the history of the landscape from a woman’s point of view.

Setting off to follow the oldest paths in England, the Ridgeway and the Harrow Way, Susannah Walker encounters artillery fire, concern from passing policemen and her own innate fear of lone figures in the distance: a landscape shaped by men, from prehistoric earthworks to today’s army bases.

But along the way, she finds Edwardian feminists, rebellious widows, forgotten writers and artists, as well as all their anonymous sisters who stayed at home throughout history. These become her companions over 135 miles of walking, revealing how much, or how little, has changed for women now.

‘A powerful manifesto for women who long to walk alone and safely in the countryside’ Sharon Blackie, author of If Women Rose Rooted

‘A fascinating personal journey’ Sophie Pierce, author of The Green Hill

‘Thought provoking, rich and interesting’ Andrew Ziminski, author of The Stonemason

Paperback: 256pp

Published: Wilton Square (April 2026)

ISBN: 9781806770083