Eye on the Hill: Horse Travels in Britain

by Richard Barnes, George Ewart Evans (Introduction), Christina Dodwell (Preface by)

This is one of the most captivating books in modern equestrian literature. It is poetry, set to the sound of a horse's gentle clip-clop. It is a tale of the gradual uncovering of the secrets of back country Britain. "Eye on the Hill" is much more than just a recollection of this noted traveller's thousand mile journey around England, Wales and Scotland. Barnes is possessed with the critical eye of the travelling poet. He sees the England he loves threatened by the spectre of an ever more aggressive industrialized society. The author turned Long Rider warns about the loss of Britain's horse trails and the need to preserve the country's endangered equestrian culture. Not since William Cobbett rode the back roads of England, has a man noted with such vigour what's right and wrong with his country from horseback. Not since George Borrow cantered with the gypsies has anyone told the tales of the nomads such as Richard Barnes has done.

Genres: History

244 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2005

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author sets out on a journey which takes him through England, Scotland and Wales. He traveled on his 12 yr old cob called Remus, they stopped each night wherever they happened to reach, sometimes asking a farmer for a night in a barn but more often than not sleeping by the roadside. The story tells of the people and places they met and something of the history of each area.

Written in 1977, this story shows a changing environment, meeting people living in rural areas continuing with fast disappearing trades, a fascinating glimpse into a past world.

There are some wonderful photos in this book and I particularly enjoyed the description of traveling with a horse and the regional customs. This account left me longing to go on a similar journey, sadly almost 50 years later this would be all the more difficult to negotiate our massive road system. I also wonder how likely people would be these days to offer shelter to a traveller on horse back.

An interesting look into England, Scotland and Wales and the people who lived there in simpler times.

[Pam Lindholm-levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Anglophile and a horse owner from America, I loved this book and the idea of this book, and I loved Barnes' horse, Remus. Horses like Remus are called bomb-proof. I would say Remus was more like nuclear war proof. He took Barnes everywhere he wanted to go, including across the road bridge over the Frith of Forth. OMG.
Barnes shows us that he is resourceful, friendly, careful, and durable. He cares about Remus before his own needs. He takes roads and paths through the UK, the writing about which is sometimes like watching paint dry, but I really liked it and wished for more.