Beating the Bounds
A walk around the edge of England
This walk around England began in January 2022 at a beach on the Irish Sea north of Liverpool, and if all goes well will end there after a journey of more than 3,000 miles. This website is a celebration of places that I find beautiful or interesting on the coast and borders of England, a celebration of the landscape and buildings, the history and the stories of people who lived there.
Scroll down to see an explanation of the project. An explanation of the phrase"beating the bounds" is here. There is also an index of subject matter.
Beating the Bounds – the project
On a cold, bright day in January 2022, I walked to the beach from my family’s home in Birkdale, Southport and turned left, heading south. The aim is to make a complete circuit of the edge of England: around the coast, and along the Welsh and Scottish borders. The historic practice called “beating the bounds” was a walk around the borders of a parish with the purpose of confirming the boundary.
If I succeed in completing the circuit, which is intended as pleasure, not an ordeal, it will take more than ten years to cover about 3,300 miles.
Without good health and congenial companions, I will not complete the journey, but am optimistic that in a few years' time I will approach Birkdale beach from the north, drink a pint in The Fisherman’s Rest, and arrive home without a limp.
This website
The website is not about me (except for this page), not about what I ate and wore, when I got wet or lost. It is about places that I find beautiful or interesting and the stories associated with them. It is a personal, subjective selection with background information, as well as some personal opinions here and there.
Texts by John Sykes
Photos by John Sykes except: About top left, Georg Lambertz; Height Detection (day 19), Richard Morris; Moomaid day 49, "was here" day 54, Birgit Weber; images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons are credited on the relevant page.
Maps by Birgit Weber
Safety warning. This is not a guide for walkers with exact details of how to find the way. Depending on the weather and tides, the routes that I took may be dangerous or impossible. If following in my footsteps, please use a map or a digital navigation aid, and take care.