First-time author Heather Lacey explains that her book "is full of 'stuff' about the people and the places, the history, the landscape, work and leisure, that the usual guides don't tell you about."
Heather visited the area from her home county of Kent for a few days, and got soaked in a deluge. With her hood up she could see little of the landscape, and started investigating books on the subject.
Finding there were only ones telling walkers to ?turn left at the third horse on the right?, and nothing for nosy people like her who wanted to know much more, she decided to take action.
?There was only one thing for it - write it!?, explained Heather.
?I bumped into a photographer from Petersfield, Steve Cannings, who has taken some fantastic shots,? she added, and the outcome is a large, coffee table-style book containing scores of photographs as well as useful maps and information.
?To sum up, the book is about what is either side of you as you walk the South Downs Way between the start in Winchester and the Buriton border with West Sussex,? said Heather, a cover teacher.
?Do you know about the ghost who does housework? The Royal Navy signalling system that never really worked? The lady of the manor who would do her morning exercises on her balcony? in the nude??
The title of the book, 'Whan that Aprille', is the first three words of Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' about going for a walk in April, in the rain, just as Heather had done when she first walked the Downs.
To find out more, or to buy a copy of the book (priced £24.95), visit www.whanthataprille.co.uk or visit One Tree Books in Petersfield.
