An English Experience: Exploring the Backroads and Byways of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Hampshire - Softcover

Some of the places are well-known. Others are quiet, out-of-the-way spots. All can be reached by exploring the network of roads that wind through the countryside. The directions in each chapter orient drivers to a specific large town or city. Invest in a detailed atlas or ordinance survey map. They reveal major and minor roads that will help you find your way.

The English countryside invites you to put away timetables, explore and spend quiet moments taking pleasure in the beauty of your surroundings. Country lanes, hemmed in by hedgerows, divide and conquer as they converge again on the edge of a small village, twisting into town from different directions. A sense of history and natural beauty make their presence felt here in the grand architecture of a cathedral and the simple, artful furrows of a farmer’s field. It’s all just waiting for your arrival.

—M.D.H.

Having supervised the construction of several houses for her family, Hansen is captivated by artful design and has made this interest in architecture an important part of her travels. An avid reader, she is intrigued by stories and legends that provide a sense of place and offer insight into the people who infuse a scene with life.

European cities have always been among her favorite destinations, but it is the quiet villages and country lanes that Hansen prefers. She is a frequent visitor to England, but never could have predicted on her first visit three decades ago that her travels there would one day lead to writing a book about the pleasures of wandering its charming backroads and byways.

Hansen lives with her husband and favorite traveling companion, Richard, outside Denver, Colorado.