Upon a White Horse by Peter Ross | A Journey Through Ancient Britain and Ireland
Starting A Life More Creative has been a joyous detour on what has, to date, been a primarily musical journey. But above all, through the many wonderful connections I’ve made - both here and on Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge - it has offered me a beautiful opportunity to combine creativity with my love for the past, and to wrap all this up with a cosy blanket under which we seek a slower, simpler and more seasonal life.
I've always been fascinated by the past - not just history for history’s sake - a dry subject full of dates and facts - but as something which gives us hope for the future. In seeking to understand the past, I think that we can gain a stronger foundation for the present. Our ancestors trod these paths before us, and in this time and place, so we do too. The fact that they stepped out in hope for the future enables us to be where we are today. These stories of the past run deep in our veins, but they are also found written in the landscape - in front of our eyes and below our feet.
About the Book: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland
Many of you will, I’m sure, have read and enjoyed Peter Ross’s book, Steeple Chasing: Around Britain by Church. In his latest book, Upon a White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland, Ross seeks out the objects and places of the past which have long captured our imaginations. Across 11 chapters - Shrine, Ring, Henge, Loch, Chalk, Grave, Lough, West, Wall, North and Scion - Ross takes readers on a lyrical journey to uncover the mysteries of these ancient places. These words themselves conjure up ghosts of times past, but in a way which brings them right up to date.
Ross seeks to experience these landscapes at the times when they meant most to those who came before us - midwinter at Stonehenge and midsummer at Sycamore Gap. He asks the important question - why are we still drawn to these sites today? What draws people to live within the great stone circle at Avebury or to seek a prehistoric-style burial for their loved ones in 21st century England? These great prehistoric sites aren’t quaint reminders of a bygone era; they challenge us to think deeply about the world we live in today.
Reflections on Reading Upon a White Horse
For anyone who’s worked in history or archaeology, or even dabbled in them, you’ll know how important context is. Stonehenge, Avebury, and the Uffington White Horse were not constructed without context; the times in which they were created, and the concerns which were backdrop to those who built them, ring true today. These words from Upon a White Horse speak deeply to me:
‘There is, too, something about ancient places that seems to fill some hollow in our souls. We are coming to an end of things, or that is how it feels, and so I find myself drawn, in retreat and in search of consolation, to the beginning.’
Upon a White Horse isn’t just about places, but about people. Ross seeks out the bog bodies in Dublin, a chalk giant in Dorset, and a wooden goddess in Edinburgh. These are the people who came before us, and like us, they too have stories to tell. With their ancient origins in a turbulent world, I wonder if they might utter gentle words of “all will be well”?
Listening to the Land: Where Past and Present Meet
One of the greatest losses of the centuries has been our connection to the land and to the natural world. We see this played out across all parts of society - the food on our table, education, planning laws, and farming - a disconnect which has permeated deep in our collective lives. When we lose this connection to the land, we forget that it has its own stories to tell. The natural world is full of wisdom and reassurance. As Ross writes in the final words of Upon a White Horse:
‘Chopping down trees is one of the things that defines us as humans. It was how we began to change the earth. The first farmers cleared forests for timber and to open the land for fields. In the British Museum I had seen a perfect elm leaf spotlit behind glass. It fell sometime around 4000 BC. On the wall behind it was a display of stone axe-heads, slanted like rain. For six thousand years we have swung the axe. We are the cutting edge and it has brought us to a precipice.’
But all is not lost. In exploring these ancient places, I believe they offer us a sense of perspective - of wonder. If we slow down enough to listen to the land and its stories, we might hear that gentle call of reassurance - “we’ve been here before”.
Final Thoughts and Who This Book Is For
Peter Ross’ Upon a White Horse is a beautiful read. Whether you’re interested in the history of people and landscape, or simply seeking a way to reconnect with the past in the present, this book offers a quiet reminder of how deeply our stories are rooted in the soil beneath our feet. It’s enchanting - challenging in places - but above all, a grounding journey which situates the present within the lens of the past. I came away feeling both reassured and resilient in my quest to seek out an alternative journey through life - one which is slower, simpler, and rooted in the rhythms of the natural world and the changing seasons.
Upon a White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland by Peter Ross was published in hardback in 2025 by Headline, ISBN 9781035414062.
I purchased this copy myself, but I do accept books for review if they are in keeping with the themes of A Life More Creative. If you would like me to consider a title, please see my Reviews Policy for more details and get in touch here.
Have you visited any of the ancient places? How did they make you feel? If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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