Off-the-Wall Walking: A Different kind of Journey
The Start of an Odyssey
A journey can lead you in unimaginable directions. The writer planned to trek the 84 miles of Hadrian’s Wall Path, taking in notable Roman sites on the way. That much almost went to plan. Hardly anything else did!
He should have known better than to buy boots the day before he set off. Blisters diverted him into such oddball activities as wheel lobbing or sandal begging, and brought lessons he could never have anticipated.
The walk turned into an intriguing mind game with rules made up as he went along, all played out against the epic backdrop of Roman history. Expect the unexpected as you follow his twists and turns and find yourself being transported!
Reviews
‘Off-the-Wall Walking’ is simply delightful; for its quirky humour and real humanity, for the candour and sheer excellence of its words. This is a book that doesn’t need a journey of a thousand miles. It’s written at the sprightly pace of each single step.’
- Crysse Morrison, fiction writer and poet
‘I love his play on words, his observations, the way he abstracts the philosophical from the everyday and his humour. It all comes together brilliantly. It has the potential to be a Bill Bryson follow-on.’
- Pamela Hogan, writer
‘I have thoroughly enjoyed dipping in and out of the book and find it very ‘moreish’ every time I read it. Your book has been passed around my colleagues, who have all enjoyed it.’
- Jonathan Manning, Editor, Country Walking magazine
‘He doesn’t miss a single thing. Everything he sees … gets woven into the narrative. Characters, architecture, history, food, Nature, the present and the past … it’s all there.
And along with it, the author’s wry and lively commentary on his own inner process. We realise that many of life’s most memorable moments turn out to be the unplanned and unexpected ones.’
- Marian Van Eyk McCain, author and Co-Editor of Green Spirit magazine.
Winner of the 2007 Self-Publishing Award in the Local Interest category
Laurence was delighted when 'Off-the-Wall Walking' won this award. After launching at the Appledore Book Festival, the book received double page spread coverage in Northumbria's daily paper, The Journal. The bust referred to in the headline is that of the evil-minded Roman emperor, Caracalla, whose image is shown in this article.
The book's appeal benefits greatly from the wood engraving illustrations of Hilary Paynter, past president of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. Book signings were held at Waterstones

and it continues to sell well. One independent bookshop took 60 copies and the Vindolanda Trust near Hexham has sold well over 100 copies.
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