Fell runners and walking walls: towards a sociology of living landscapes and aesthetic atmospheres as an alternative to a Lakeland picturesque

Fell runners in the English Lake District experience a unique, dynamic aesthetic of landscapes that contrasts with the traditional static 'picturesque' ideal. Unlike those who view scenery passively, these long-term participants actively engage with and shape the terrain, embodying a concept akin to Ingold's 'landsceppan.' Their movement through the fells—characterized by fast eye-gait-footwork—creates a somatic aesthetic tied to existential gratification. This embodied pleasure serves as an attractor, binding individuals to the landscape in a way that challenges conventional notions of conservation and appreciation.

Nettleton, S. (2015). Fell runners and walking walls: towards a sociology of living landscapes and aesthetic atmospheres as an alternative to a Lakeland picturesque. The British Journal of Sociology, 66(4), 759–778. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12146