The Earth Beneath My Feet: A 7,000-Mile Walk of Discovery into the Heart of Wild Nature (A 7,000 Walk of Discovery into the Heart of Wild Nature Book 1)

If you enjoy books about mountains, solo hikes, outdoor adventures, and ‘off-the-beaten-path’ travel, then you’ve just found your next must-read.

Andrew Terrill was in his mid-twenties when he decided to do what many people only dream about. He turned his back on suburban life and walked alone into the wild.

In May 1997, he set out to hike from Calabria in southern Italy to the top of Norway. And he chose to do it along the highest, wildest, and remotest route he could find. Seeking freedom and adventure, and a life of meaning and purpose, Terrill went in search of Europe’s hidden wild side, unaware it would be far wilder than he ever expected.

Hiking from the forests and mountains of the Apennines—an unrecognisable side of Italy few outsiders ever know—into the deep snow of an Alpine winter, Terrill chose the trail less-travelled… often ending up on no trail at all. The 18-month journey became a voyage of discovery, unveiling the secrets and treasures of Europe’s least-visited landscapes. The miles brought hardships and struggles, but also the kind of life-enhancing revelations and rewards only an extended stay in nature can bring.

The Earth Beneath My Feet covers the journey’s first eight months; the concluding part is told in On Sacred Ground . Written with humility, humour and honesty, and with a contagious love for nature, this book transports the reader into a simpler existence where every dawn comes bright with possibility. It is a compelling tale of youthful optimism, an old-fashioned adventure yarn from a time before smartphones and social media, and an inspiring story of insight, connection and growth. Above all, it is a celebration of the natural world—and of a young man’s quest to find his true place within it.

Featuring 80 black and white photographs and 8 maps, this captivating multi-layered narrative is far more than the story of a long walk. Anyone who has experienced the powerful pull of wanderlust, felt the urge to lose themselves in nature, or yearned for travel and adventure, will find a great deal to relate to and enjoy.