BOSCOBEL 257 THE PRIEST'S DOORWAY 296 DOORWAY OF THE CROWN INN, SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD 303 BABLOCKHYTHE FERRY 318 BOARSTALL TOWER FROM THE MOAT 328 A FOURTEENTH-CENTURY DOORWAY 344 AN OLD-TIME HOME 367 A JACOBEAN DOORWAY 383 A LEISURELY TOUR IN ENGLAND CHAPTER I Different methods of travel--The old coaching days--Maps _versus_ guide-books--The fortune of the road--The South Downs--Hilly roads--The price of beauty--The sentimental traveller--A lonely farmstead--Oxen at work--A quaint old-world village. There are many ways of exploring the country: one may walk, cycle, ride horseback, or drive a horse in some conveyance, go by crawling caravan or speedy motor-car--each to his fancy or opportunity. Perhaps there is no best way of travel. I say this after having sampled all the methods mentioned, excepting caravanning, for I have tramped it knapsack on back, and enjoyed the tramping, through Switzerland, Scotland, the Lake District, Wales, Cornwall, and Devon; I have taken long cycling tours; I have driven in a phaeton and dogcart from one end of our land to another; I have ridden about country on horseback with a pack; I have driven my own motor-car for more miles than I can remember, and without mishap--so I know, or ought to know, something about the subject, but I will not venture to lay down any dictum, for "What's one man's meat is another man's poison." The thing is to see the country, but what is worth seeing cannot be seen in a hurry. Walking enthusiasts declare that walking is the only way, and certainly the pace that binds the pedestrian permits of leisured observation, almost compels it indeed: therein much virtue lies. Still there are other ways, and the convenience of a conveyance is not to be despised, for there are born wanderers, like myself, who have grown old at the game, and have come to that time of life when they prefer to be comfortably carried than to carry a load. Then there is the further comfort of not being unduly stinted in the matter of luggage, for given a conveyance, even sundry luxuries such as a luncheon-basket, camera, rugs, sketching materials, fishing-tackle (should an opportunity for sport occur), a book or two to while away a possibly dull evening, and a plentiful supply of maps may be taken without inconvenience. To foot it does not enhance the scenic charms of the way.