
The Hard Way
Discovering the Women Who Walked Before Us
Susannah Walker(Author)
Wilton Square Books (Publisher)
Published on 2. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-80677-008-3 (ISBN)
Description
'An evocative and inspiring exploration of the lives of women who refuse to be tied indoors by domesticity. The Hard Way is a powerful manifesto for women who long to walk alone - and safely - in the countryside' Dr Sharon Blackie, author of If Women Rose Rooted
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 comes across 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, Susannah finds Edwardian feminists, rebellious widows, forgotten writers and artists, as well as all their anonymous sisters who stayed at home throughout history. They become her companions over 135 miles of walking, revealing how much, or how little, has changed for women now.
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 comes across 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, Susannah finds Edwardian feminists, rebellious widows, forgotten writers and artists, as well as all their anonymous sisters who stayed at home throughout history. They become her companions over 135 miles of walking, revealing how much, or how little, has changed for women now.
Reviews / Votes
'An evocative and inspiring exploration of the lives of women who refuse to be tied indoors by domesticity. The Hard Way is a powerful manifesto for women who long to walk alone - and safely - in the countryside' -- Dr Sharon Blackie, author of If Women Rose RootedMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
160 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80677-008-3 (9781806770083)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2025
Wilton Square Books
€8.39
Available for download
Person
Susannah Walker studied English Literature at Cambridge followed by Design History at the Royal College of Art and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Starting out as a curator and writer, she then worked as a television producer and director for the BBC and Channel 4. She now combines freelance writing and lecturing with running a charity, Make Space for Girls, which campaigns for better parks and public spaces for teenage girls. She is the author of several books including The Life of Stuff, which was shortlisted for the James Tait Black biography prize, and The Hard Way. She lives in Somerset.