Two Feet Four Paws

Walking the coastline of Britain

Author: Spud Talbot-Ponsony
Reviewed by Lindy Margach

Description: This is the tale of one dog and her woman, who face the daily physical and mental challenges with a sense of humour and more. The author slows life down for a year and experiences the coastline of Britain with its eccentric mix of innovation and tradition as she walks an impressive 4,500 miles to raise money for charity.
Table of Contents:
Foreword
Preface
Chapters: London to Cromer > Cromer to Hull > Hull to Redcar> Redcar to Edinburgh> Edinburgh to Fraserburgh > Fraserburgh to John O'Groats> John O'Groats to Ullapool > Ullapool to Gkenuig> Glenuig to Glasgow> Glasgow to Carlisle> Carlisle to Liverpool> Liverpool to Aberystwyth> Aberystwyth to Carmarthen> Carmarthen to Bristol> Bristol to Boscastle> Boscastle to Plymouth> Plymouth to Swanage> Swanage to Hastings> Hastings to London
Epilogue
2009
And Lastly
Out and about - sports and fun

Best features:
I don't usually enjoy travel books but, on the other hand, I'm usually a sucker for books about or involving dogs. So it was with a degree of trepidation that I opened the covers of Two Feet, Four Paws.

Soon, however, I found myself sucked in to the story of Spud and her irrepressible canine companion Tess, a newly rescued addition to her family, who set off to cover a distance equivalent to London to Kathmandu to raise money for charity.

The book gives a peep behind the tourist vision of the British coastline as they plod from sleepy fishing villages to urban streets by way of some entertainingly treacherous coastal pathways.

From the moment Tess realises that the sandwiches for her first lunch have been consumed and departs to 'terrorise unsuspecting toddlers into parting with their ice creams,' the dog becomes a key player in the saga, undertaking everything from the recovery and return of a lost wallet, recovery from a gashed leg in Scotland and a joyous mudslide on the Pembrokeshire Path.

This is also a very personal book – no hints or tips on where to stay, shop or eat; no glowing reviews of caravan sites or b&bs – recounting the small events, short conversations and passing meetings which make up the colour of life throughout our small island.

I was sorry when her travels ended and thought that maybe next time she should consider crossing the channel and giving us a glimpse into others' lifestyles. But on reading the epilogue I understand why this hasn't happened. You must find out for yourselves.

Could be better: More photographs would have added to the story – but there again, it isn't always feasible to have a camera with you at the ready in the circumstances of this book.

Design & format: Paperback. Dimensions: 129 x 198mm. Number of pages: 320

Overall rating: 10/10 – funny, different, a unique insight into someone else's life in a way that no other travel book has touched me.

Price: £7.99. Published by Summersdale Publishers, Chichester, West Sussex and available from them on www.summersdale.com or through most internet booksellers.
Value for money: A good summer read. Take it with you to an agility show and you won't be sorry.
About the Reviewer...
Lindy Margach works as a freelance journalist and PR consultant from home in Wallington, Surrey, and enjoys agility and obedience training with her family of Labradors. This has just been augmented with the arrival of Hobi – an 8-month-old yellow Labrador who was the subject of a private re-home and is now settling down with Shannon, Bracken and Ree.

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First published 10 August 2009

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Two Feet Four Paws

Walking the coastline of Britain

Table of Contents:

Best features:
I don't usually enjoy travel books but, on the other hand, I'm usually a sucker for books about or involving dogs. So it was with a degree of trepidation that I opened the covers of Two Feet, Four Paws.

Soon, however, I found myself sucked in to the story of Spud and her irrepressible canine companion Tess, a newly rescued addition to her family, who set off to cover a distance equivalent to London to Kathmandu to raise money for charity.

The book gives a peep behind the tourist vision of the British coastline as they plod from sleepy fishing villages to urban streets by way of some entertainingly treacherous coastal pathways.

This is also a very personal book – no hints or tips on where to stay, shop or eat; no glowing reviews of caravan sites or b&bs – recounting the small events, short conversations and passing meetings which make up the colour of life throughout our small island.

Could be better: More photographs would have added to the story – but there again, it isn't always feasible to have a camera with you at the ready in the circumstances of this book.

Design & format: Paperback. Dimensions: 129 x 198mm. Number of pages: 320

Overall rating: 10/10 – funny, different, a unique insight into someone else's life in a way that no other travel book has touched me.

Price: £7.99. Published by Summersdale Publishers, Chichester, West Sussex and available from them on www.summersdale.com or through most internet booksellers.

Value for money: A good summer read. Take it with you to an agility show and you won't be sorry.

Two Feet Four Paws

Walking the coastline of Britain

Table of Contents:

Best features: I don't usually enjoy travel books but, on the other hand, I'm usually a sucker for books about or involving dogs. So it was with a degree of trepidation that I opened the covers of Two Feet, Four Paws.

Soon, however, I found myself sucked in to the story of Spud and her irrepressible canine companion Tess, a newly rescued addition to her family, who set off to cover a distance equivalent to London to Kathmandu to raise money for charity.

The book gives a peep behind the tourist vision of the British coastline as they plod from sleepy fishing villages to urban streets by way of some entertainingly treacherous coastal pathways.

This is also a very personal book – no hints or tips on where to stay, shop or eat; no glowing reviews of caravan sites or b&bs – recounting the small events, short conversations and passing meetings which make up the colour of life throughout our small island.

Could be better: More photographs would have added to the story – but there again, it isn't always feasible to have a camera with you at the ready in the circumstances of this book.

Design & format: Paperback. Dimensions: 129 x 198mm. Number of pages: 320

Overall rating: 10/10 – funny, different, a unique insight into someone else's life in a way that no other travel book has touched me.

Price: £7.99. Published by Summersdale Publishers, Chichester, West Sussex and available from them on www.summersdale.com or through most internet booksellers.

Value for money: A good summer read. Take it with you to an agility show and you won't be sorry.

Best features:
I don't usually enjoy travel books but, on the other hand, I'm usually a sucker for books about or involving dogs. So it was with a degree of trepidation that I opened the covers of Two Feet, Four Paws.