NEW BOOKS

Walks North Peak District/Walks South Peak District
Author: Richard Hallewell
September 08

The Peak District – the hill country between Manchester and Sheffield, at the southern tip of the Pennines – represents a new furthest south for the Pocket Walks series.  The area is extremely popular with walkers and has a high density of good paths.  For those who do not know the area, it can be roughly divided into two halves: the Dark Peak to the north (the area covered by the Walks North Peak District guide) and the White Peak to the south (Walks South Peak District).
    The northern half is less populous and more hilly, with a lot of steep, short hill climbs and moorland paths.  Walks North Peak District contains 20 walks, mostly concentrated around three areas: the narrow, wooded Upper Derwent Valley, with its three fine reservoirs; Edale, with its paths leading to Kinder Scout and Rushup Edge; and the little village of Castleton.  The latter is a good hill walking centre, but also has paths leading to the nearby caverns – a feature of the Peak District in general.  The guide also contains a path along Stanage Edge – the most famous of the long, low escarpments which are a feature of the area.
    Walks South Peak District contains 24 walks in the less hilly White Peak: an area of undulating farmland around the towns of Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock, punctuated by rocky edges (Curbar Edge, Baslow Edge, The Roaches) and steep-sided valleys full of caves and other limestone features.  The guide includes a path along the most famous of the valleys – Dovedale, at the southern edge of the area – plus walks along and around a number of others.  The most famous man-made feature in this area – the splendid Chatsworth House – is at the centre of a network of routes.
    The bulk of the area covered by the guides is within the Peak District National Park, and there are National Park information centres at Fairholmes (the Upper Derwent Valley), Edale, Castleton and Bakewell.  Alternatively, click on www.peakdistrict.org for more information on the area.

For more information on Walks North Peak District or to order a copy, click here.
or more information on Walks South Peak District or to order a copy, click here.

NEW BOOK

Walks Isle of Arran
Author: Richard Hallewell
March 08

This latest volume in the series describes 24 walks in one of west Scotland’s favourite walking grounds.  For those who don’t know the island, it sits in the Firth of Clyde in the lee of the Mull of Kintyre.  It is 20 miles/32km long and 10 miles/16km wide; mountainous in the north and hilly in the south.  The population is small (around 5,000: mostly in the villages of Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay) and the walking spectacular.  The best known route is the climb up Goatfell - the island’s highest point at 2867ft/874m - and this and the surrounding peaks and ridges provide some truly dramatic scenery.  Two versions of the ascent of Goatfell (from Brodick and Corrie) are included in the book; the splendid (but vertiginous) ridge walks have been left for mountaineers to explore for themselves.

     Elsewhere on the island there are some fine coastal paths - sections of a route which runs around the entire island - and forest walks.  Routes in the book also visit Brodick Castle, Lochranza Castle, the Machrie Moor Stone Circles and other sites of architectural and archaeological interest, while a short ferry trip takes you to the Buddhist retreat of Holy Island and the fine walk over the island’s twin peaks.

     Walkers often visit Arran on day trips or for weekends, but it really takes at least a week to get to grips with the range of routes to be enjoyed.
Access to the island is by ferry.  For ferry details and booking contact http://www.calmac.co.uk

 

For more information on the book, or to order a copy, click here.

NEW EDITION MARCH 08

Walks Fort William & District
Authors: John & Trina Wombell (rewalked 2008 Richard Hallewell & Becky Coope)
March 08

First published in 2001, Walks Fort William is one of the most popular Scottish titles in the series.  It was rewalked over the winter of 2007/08 and various alterations have been made to reflect changes to the routes on the ground.  In addition, some walks have been removed and four new routes have been added.

     Changes on the ground include the disappearance of the separate Great Glen Cycle Route and the expansion of the walk network on Cow Hill, above Fort William.  The latter walk, as described in the book, now runs to 9 miles/14.5km, and includes not just the ascent of the hill but a fine circuit on good paths above Glen Nevis and Fort William.

     The new walks are: a 4 mile/6.5km loop around the River Garry, linking Invergarry  and White Bridge; a short lineal walk through pinewoods east of Glenfinnan; the short, steep, 2400ft/730m ascent of the Pap of Glencoe (at the west end of the glen); and the 10 mile/16km lineal path, through forestry and over moorland, linking Duror and Ballachulish.

 

For more information on the book, or to order a copy, click here.

NEW EDITION APRIL O8

Walks Oban & North Argyll
Author: Paul Williams (rewalked 2008 Rob & Becky Coope/Richard Hallewell)

Walks Oban was rewalked in early 2008.  Although a number of routes were altered slightly, to reflect changes on the ground, only two new walks have been added: two very short loops through the fine woodland on the north side of Loch Creran/Glen Creran.
     In general, north Argyll is slightly underappreciated as a walking destination.  It may lack the mass of peaks to be found to the north and east, but it has subtler charms; in particular, those of the small islands - Lismore, Kerrera, Seil, Luing - which can be reached by small, regular ferries (or a bridge, in the case of Seil) and offer some terrific walking.  And if you want to climb a hill, you have fine choices in Ben Cruachan and Beinn Dorain.

For more information on the book, or to order a copy, click here.