ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the idealisation of rural Britain as a place of retreat and refreshment for the benefit of urban visitors. It discusses the enthusiasm for the countryside and various forms of outdoor recreation demonstrated by diverse sections of urban society from the early nineteenth century, and their response when excluded by the rural establishment. Two powerful discourses have influenced the way in which the British countryside is experienced by urban visitors and the way in which valued landscapes are viewed as a common heritage. First, the Romantic Movement's affinity with Nature in the round stimulated a full-hearted appreciation of rural landscapes by those who had acquired the necessary cultural capital. Second, a belief in rational leisure encouraged recreation in the countryside not only to develop a healthier physique but also to refresh and improve the mind and rejuvenate and inspire the spirit in beautiful surroundings.
