Walking the Old Ways

Early British Trackways marks the beginning of Alfred Watkins’ groundbreaking exploration into the theory of ley lines, the ancient pathways linking prehistoric monuments and sacred landmarks across the British landscape.

Based on detailed fieldwork in Herefordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, and surrounding counties, Watkins proposed that these ancient routes, which he termed ‘leys’, once served as practical trackways for early civilisations. More than simple paths, he argued, they reflected a deliberate system of navigation between sacred sites and standing stones laid out by prehistoric peoples.

Although Watkins’ ideas were met with scepticism by archaeologists and geographers, they’ve since become foundational in the study of sacred geography, with ley lines reinterpreted in spiritual and esoteric traditions. Walking the Old Ways presents Watkins’ first vision for ley lines, originally published in 1922. It’s a pioneering work that continues to inspire a deeper appreciation of Britain’s ancient landscape.