Ancestor's Trail Background

Professor Richard Dawkins at AT

The Ancestor's Trail is an annual walking event combining hill walking, science and the arts. We invite you to join us on this ‘biological pilgrimage’ celebrating our shared origins with all life on Earth. We have draped Darwin’s Tree of Life over the Quantocks, lining up its branches with the hills’ many footpaths. Based on Richard Dawkins' book ‘The Ancestor's Tale’, the Trail will guide you back 3.8 billion years.  

Each branch of the tree will rendezvous with the Human trail at specific times (see our Google map) such that the ever-increasing band of 'pilgrims' arrives together at the Dawn of Life ~ Kilve beach, appropriately famous for its fossils.

Along the way and at its conclusion, we encounter a range of musical and scientific contributions. Seeing as evolution is one big biodiversity machine, annually the Trail raises money for nature conservation charities relating to different branches of Darwin's Tree. 2012 was our 'Year of the Bird', our charities were the RSPB and World Land Trust.

For 2013 our draft date is already scheduled on the same Bank holiday weekend - Saturday 24th - Monday 26th August.