’Burton sets off in September and heads into shortening nights and worsening weather: it quickly becomes a visceral battle against his own body and the elements… The tone shifts into philosophical Robert McFarlane mode before the voice of Douglas Adams cuts through the reverie... Burton comes across as honest and self-aware. He has a nuanced, realistic take on the politics and detail of homelessness and engages genuinely with the individuals he encounters in this state.
’Any Porth In a Storm is the latest in a recent 1-2-3 of South West Coast Path Memoirs arriving nearly 40 years after the standard was set by Mark Wallington’s 500 Mile Walkies… Any Porth is the underdog contender… but it punches above its weight: certainly my favourite of the three… If you are saving weight and want two complementary travelogues, I’d take Burton and Wallington.’
- R Plummer, Amazon reviewer
'Loved this. Easier read than the Salt Path... must have walked right past our house. Wish I had known! Funny and sobering in equal measure.'
- Heather Townley, GoodReads
'Who is this Paddy Dillon? The real Paddy Dillon does NOT wear shorts!'
- Paddy Dillon, outdoor writer and photographer.
’It’s about walking the SWCP in one hit but it is so much more than that. It has humour, emotion, suffering, & history, it’s thought provoking, educational & more. I loved it & found it hard to put down, I am doing the walk in sections & I found it very inspirational.
- Norm, Amazon reviewer
’Any Porth In A Storm is an entertaining piece of travel writing… With wit and deep insight … An enthralling read that will not only potentially put you off walking the Path in one go, but also give you the space to explore themes of resilience and hope amidst dire circumstances.’
– Charlotte Walker, LoveReading
’Burton is driven by recent redundancy … Bookended by Britain’s EU referendum and the rise of COVID 19, Any Porth In a Storm… takes place at the last moment in history where at least some humans could take freedom of movement for granted…
’The engaging narrative intertwines Burton’s physical and mental progress with historical, literary and cinematic motifs. The standout moments, the occasions when his humanity really shines, come with his pen sketches of interactions - and the occasional rows - with fellow Path walkers, and those who live along the Path.
’’Any Porth also compellingly highlights the marginalisation faced by rough sleepers and the homeless through the author’s personal experiences during the walk... raises fundamental questions about what it means to live in the 21st Century. Burton emerges at the end of his journey a changed man, despite stating at the outset that this was to be no voyage of self-discovery.’
- J English, Waterstones review
‘Quirky, sad, descriptive all in one absorbing read. Well worth setting aside a couple of hours to enjoy this compelling book.’
- A Bristow, Amazon reviewer