Trail and Error

The Trans Pennine Trail

By: Paul Amess

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

One dad, the one teenager, and 215 miles. Trail and Error is the hilarious, chaotic, and occasionally muddy tale of our attempt to cross England without losing our boots, our tempers, or each other.

What do you get when you mix one middle-aged dad, a sarcastic teenage son, a map they barely read, and 215 miles of British countryside? A masterclass in how not to walk across England.

Join me and my 15-year-old son, Max, as we tackle the Trans Pennine Trail — from the Irish Sea to the North Sea — one blister, one rainstorm, and one wrong turn at a time. Along the way, we encounter countryside charm and wildlife with more personality than some people we know, and signposts so misleading they should be tried in court.

This isn’t your average hiking memoir full of poetic descriptions of morning dew and inner peace. This is about real walking: damp socks, pub lunches, absurd conversations, and a son whose phone was far more interesting than my historical trivia.

Packed with daft encounters, local legends, and the kind of father-son banter that could be weaponised, Trail and Error is perfect for anyone who’s ever thought about doing a long-distance walk… and then wisely stayed home.

Read it for the laughs. Read it for the chaos. Or just read it to feel smug that you’re not the one being chased by livestock.

Very Funny

This is the best laugh I have enjoyed for a long time. What a wonderful trip for the young man and his Dad. I'm looking forward to the next read.