9. Tracks ~ marks on the land

In this podcast we explore the proscribed routes, the safe paths, the trackways; and how they affect our perception of the land and our experience of the non-human world. What lives beyond the path? Are we an animal making paths of convenience or is there a human need for paths, boundaries and way markers - is it that our species deliberately wants to make marks on the land?

On a windswept autumn day we explore The Ridgeway and ancient Wayland’s Smithy discussing trading routes, pilgrimage, and how to avoid getting lost on tracks that may even be born of the Earth itself.

THEME MUSIC BY DAVID ROTHENBERG. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. USED BY KIND PERMISSION OF THE ARTIST http://www.davidrothenberg.net 

Some of the ideas and references we make in this podcast can be found here:

The Ridgeway

Oxfordshire Downs 

Wayland’s Smithy 

Uffington White Horse 

Plague village of Eyam 

The Old Straight Track 

Ley lines  

Paths of Desire 

The Old Ways  

Robert MacFarlane 

A Line Made by Walking 

National Trust  

Tristan Gooley