Written by wilderness wanderer Andrew Terrill, The Earth Beneath My Feet tells the inspiring true story of a 7,000-mile solo walk. Hiking from Calabria in Italy to the top of Norway, Terrill reveals the wild side of Europe that most people miss. A compelling travel narrative about a challenging physical journey, The Earth Beneath My Feet also explores ‘the journey within’ – a passionate search for belonging within the natural world.
Like millions of people, Andrew Terrill grew up on the edge of a big city. But for Terrill, a young man in his early twenties, suburban life lacked purpose and meaning. What Terrill craved was a life of simplicity, freedom and adventure, and after surviving a near-fatal fall in the Swiss Alps, that was the life he chose.
In May 1997, despite lacking the funds, Terrill left his London home and travelled to the southernmost point of Calabria, Italy. Once there, he turned north and began walking. His destination, the North Cape at the top of Norway, lay unimaginably far away.
Leaving civilisation behind, and frequently even trails, Terrill journeyed deep into the ‘other’ Europe, the hidden wilderness Europe, a parallel continent that still exists beyond road’s end. Travelling alone, he hiked the length of the Apennine mountain range – a forgotten side of Italy few outsiders ever know – continued across the Alps, through the dark forests of Central Europe, and then on towards the vast northern wildernesses of Arctic Norway. With every step, Terrill immersed himself in the natural world, forever seeking a deeper connection with it. The 18-month journey became a voyage of discovery, unveiling the secrets and treasures of Europe’s least-known places. The miles brought hardships and struggles, pushed Terrill to his limits, but ultimately led to unimaginable rewards.
The Earth Beneath My Feet describes the first eight months of this walk. It takes readers the length of Italy during a searing-hot summer, and then across Austria into the depths of a fierce Alpine winter. The book introduces many of Europe’s wildest and most beautiful locations – environments little touched by the modern world – as well as the colourful characters who live alongside the wild. It describes the full experience of travelling on foot through nature, and of living outside in all conditions, seasons and weathers. And it chronicles a journey of immense growth, of overcoming a sheltered upbringing and finding connection with something bigger and wilder.
SCENIC MIST MISTY *** Local Caption *** MANDRON LAKE AND ADAMELLO MOUNTAINS, TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE, ITALY
The Earth Beneath My Feet is a narrative filled with freshness, optimism, wonder and youthful enthusiasm – an inspiring true story by a young man who chose to embrace life and live it to the full.
Featuring 80 evocative black and white photographs, and 8 maps, The Earth Beneath My Feet will satisfy anyone who feels the call of adventure, who has the urge to travel, who loves nature, and who feels a desire to live the life they know deep down they are meant to live. Join Andrew Terrill on an extraordinary journey into the wild.
The second half of this journey, told in On Sacred Ground, will follow in Spring 2022.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Terrill grew up in Pinner, suburban London, far removed from mountains and wild places. He didn’t step onto a mountain until he was fifteen, but after that there was no going back. In the three and a half decades since, travelling on foot into wild nature has been a central part of his life. After completing several ultra-long walks, he settled in Colorado, where he now lives with his wife and two children. Open country lies just steps from his front door, and rarely a day passes without him visiting it. A regular contributor to The Great Outdoors magazine over the past two decades, The Earth Beneath His Feet is his debut book. Learn more at: Andrew Terrill – Writer, Photographer, Wilderness Wanderer
The Earth Beneath His Feet can be found on Amazon, and should soon be available for order through your local bookshop.
Amazon.co.uk link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1737068605/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Just listened to Andrew’s story…..Briilliant.
So glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment.
Nearly finished Andrew’s book, can’t put it down.
We knew Andrew during his ‘wandering days’.
Peter ans Alison Moss
So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment.