Manchester canal and railway – photo by Stephen Barnaby
The 26 Steps project began as an idea inspired by the 100th anniversary of the publication of John Buchan’s famous novel ‘The 39 Steps’.
What would 26 modern day writers make of a walk in a landscape? How would they interpret the language of the land, its natural form and elements? What sights would they choose to photograph? What significant markers would they signpost on their maps? And what words would they choose for their writing, to fit the 62 word limit?
The constraints of geography, artistic talent and word count have opened up a rich seam of creativity, which finds its form in these virtual postcards. Each one sent by a writer, to you, to invite you to join them on their journey and explore a place through different eyes.
We are immensely grateful to the writers who took on the challenge of 26 Steps. We hope that their postcards encourage you to explore your own landscapes both well known and unfamiliar and to use them to inspire your own creativity and well being.
The final stage of our 26 journey starts in Somerset, taking us through Holyhead to the urban streets of Manchester then south again to Devon and Cornwall. We step through the alphabet from U to Z, and then like all good journeys find ourselves home again, ready for a new adventure, starting with the letter A.
Step 21: Urgashay to Vagg Copse, Somerset by David Mathews
Step 22: Valley to Williams Street, Holyhead by Sharon Jones
Step 23: Wythenshawe to Xaverian College by Sandy Wilkie
Step 24: Xaverian College to Y Club, Manchester by Stephen Barnaby
Step 25: Yeo Lane to Zeal Monachorum, Devon by David Manderson
Step 26: Zennor to Alverton, Cornwall by Fiona Egglestone
Follow the journey on twitter #26Steps.
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