The Great North Road By Steve Silk

London to Edinburgh 11 days, 2 Wheels and 1 Ancient Highway

Join us at Stanfords as we welcome BBC journalist Steve Silk to talk about his fascinating new book The Great North Road.

An evening of remarkable history, Steve explores this ancient highway with stunning descriptions of the British countryside and the practicalities of cycling between two capital cities.

As a crucial route linking London to Edinburgh – and all the locations in-between - the Great North Road has been Britain’s backbone for centuries.

For hundreds of years, kings, queens, soldiers, rebels, mail coaches and highwaymen used the Great North Road to get from A to B. But in 1921, Britain’s most illustrious highway ceased to exist – on paper at least. The Ministry of Transport decided that roads needed numbers, not names. The A1 was born.

A hundred years later, journalist and cyclist Steve Silk sets off on an adventure to follow this iconic 400-mileroute, searching for the stories along the most romantic and historic road in the United Kingdom.

Steve isn’t your average Middle-Aged Man in Lycra. Firstly, he’s no sportsman, and secondly, he’s much keener on coffee shops and museums than gear ratios and miles per hour. Instead of the familiar service stations and tourist hotspots, Steve takes readers on a tour of the forgotten treasures of this ancient highway. Seen from the slow pace of the saddle rather than a car seat, the towns and countryside of England and Scotland reveal traces of Britain’s remarkable past and glimpses of its future.

A tribute to Britain and the endless appeal of the open road, The Great North Road is enriched with history, humour and insight. With lockdown restrictions easing and many people choosing to holiday in the UK this year, this is the perfect gift for armchair explorers, those with a love for the British countryside, home grown adventure, and local history – as well as avid cyclists.

Steve Silk - is a journalist working for BBC Look East in Norwich. Before attempting his adventure along the Great North Road, he’d only really cycled around the lanes of Norfolk. Over the course of 11 days, he broke most of the rules of cycle touring, but still managed to get there in one piece, proving that if he can do it, almost anybody can! He is also the author of two previous books, The Wherryman's Way and Hidden Riverside Norwich, which saw him explore the Norfolk Broads on foot and by canoe.

The evening will start promptly at 7.00pm.

We are pleased to welcome back events to Stanfords. We will closely monitor any changes in government policy that may impact the events and keep you up to date. All details regarding our new safety measures can be found at: https://www.stanfords.co.uk/events

   

Tickets £5.

Includes glass of wine/soft drink

With special offer of £3.00 off The Great North Road for ticket holders when purchased on the evening.