A fascinating coast-to-coast look at Britain’s most historic footpaths and walkways from the acclaimed geographer and author Nicholas Crane.

Discover the prehistoric routeways walked by European migrants 12,000 years ago, how Saxons, Normans and the industrial revolution changed our landscape and how our beloved national parks emerged from the ashes of two world wars.

Nicholas Crane will take you on a journey to discover some of his most memorable walks and calls on all of us to rediscover the lifeblood of our landscapes.

About the speaker

Nicholas Crane is an author, geographer and the recipient of numerous awards, most recently the 2024 Stanfords Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing. Crane was born in seaside Hastings, grew up in rural Norfolk and learned winter mountaineering in snowy Scotland.

Between 2015 and 2018, he was president of the Royal Geographical Society. He is also known for his television work as lead presenter on the BAFTA-winning series COAST, among several other BBC series.

He has written more than 10 books, including Clear Waters Rising, Mercator and The Making of the British Landscape.

Booking information

  • Advance booking for this event is required.
  • To book tickets, please visit Exeter Phoenix's website. If you have any questions about this event, please email events@rgs.org
  • If you require assistance with your booking, please call Exeter Phoenix's box office at 01392 667080.

Venue information

This talk will be held at Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, EX4 3LS.

For further information about the venue, please visit Exeter Phoenix's website.

This event has been organised as part of the Society’s Regional Theatres Programme which aims to inform and inspire the public about the diverse world of geography. If you would like to hear more about our events, please sign up to our events mailing list.

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Key Information

Open to all
Wednesday 3 June 2026
8.00pm-10.00pm
Exeter

In-person
Non-member £10.00
Book now