NEW EDITION FEBRUARY 2010

Walks Angus & Dundee
Author: John Fyfe
rewalked 2009 – Rod & Lindsay Munro; Richard Hallewell, Becky Coope

Walks Angus & Dundee was rewalked last Autumn.  For the serious walker, walking in Angus is all about the Angus Glens: a series of long, narrow valleys winding into the eastern Grampians.  There are some terrific paths linking the glens, or heading north to Deeside: Jock's Road, Capel Mounth, Firmounth, Fungle.  Glendoll (where there is a new information centre), at the head of Glen Clova, is a good place to start exploring.  In addition to the long hill paths heading north, west and south there are a number of short, signposted paths which give a falvour of the place.  Further down the glen are The Minister's Path and the circuit of dramatic Loch Brandy (centre left).  In this edition we have also added a moderate walk past the Airlie Monument, in neighbouring Glen Prosen.
    At the edge of the hills there are two fine waterfall/glen walks, at Reekie Linn and Edzell.  After that, you are into the farmland of Strathmore, and there is little to interest the walker until you reach the coast.  Here, there is a great deal of variey, from the mudflats of Montrose Basin – a birdwatcher's paradise – and the wide sands of Lunan Bay to the sandstone cliffs north of Arbroath (bottom left).  On the latter path, the section from Carlinheugh Bay to the old fishing village of Auchmithie – once very rough – has been greatly improved.  Further south, we have added the path linking Carnoustie and Broughty Ferry on the north shore of the Firth of Tay – part of the intermittent Angus Coastal Walk.
    As the selection above might suggest, there is no lack of variety in the county's walks, but it is the hill routes which particularly deserve attention – a calm Spring day in the Angus Glens is one of the great joys of Scottish walking.
     For more details of Walks Angus & Dundee, or to order a copy, click here.

POCKET WALKS GO DIGITAL

In order to keep up with changing technology, we have just launched our digital download service on the website.  Starting with two titles - Walks Coniston and Walks Edinburgh.  The books have been reordered to fit the digital format, but essentially the content is the same as the printed versions.  When you purchase a digital book, a PDF file is downloaded to your computer that you print out, page by page, as required.  One difference is that the download pages are A5 rather than the A6 of the printed books - twice the size - and are therefore a little easier to read.
     More details are available from the About Downloads page. 
If you use this service, or have any comments on it we would be pleased to hear them.
 

NEW BOOKS

Walks North York Moors Eastern Area
Walks North York Moors Western Area
Author: Richard Hallewell 2009

We have just published two new titles covering the North York Moors: the broad moorland area inland from Yorkshire's north-east coast, between Scarborough and Middlesbrough.  There are few significant towns in the area - the handsome old port of Whitby is the main one - but a lot of small villages up the shallow dales.  The area is divided east and west, following the break in the OS 1:25,000 maps (OL26 and OL27).  As with all the north of England books, the 1:25,000 (Explorer) series is recommended, as it gives an accurate representation of the field boundaries -  essential when you are following rights of way.
    The walking in the eastern book includes a number of coastal paths, around Sandsend, Whitby and the beautiful village of Robin Hood's Bay, plus some moorland walks around Eskdale (as far west as Danby) and forest walks by Scarborough, Dalby and Pickering.  The Cleveland Way runs along the coastal cliffs, providing good, clear paths.
    In the western area, the Cleveland Way runs along the western escarpment of the Moors, giving fine views west to the Yorkshire Dales.  Features of the area include the white horse set into the hill above Kilburn, the splendid ruin of Rievaulx Abbey and the disused mine works in Rosedale.  In general, the western area has a higher proportion of moorland walks: paths and tracks over and along the low whale's-back ridges between the dales.
    The North York Moors attracts fewer visitors than the other major walking areas in the north of England, but is is well worth a visit: the paths are good, the walks excellent and the villages full of charm.
    For more details of Walks North York Moors Eastern Area, or to order a copy, click here.  For more details of Walks North York Moors Western Area, or to order a copy, click here.

NEW EDITION JULY 09

Walks Mallaig & Ardnamurchan
Author: John & Trina Wombell & Richard Hallewell
rewalked 2008/9 - Richard Hallewell/Becky Coope

Walks Mallaig & Ardnamurchan was completely rewalked over Autumn 2008/Spring 2009.  We started looking at routes in September but had some difficulty with access on the higher routes due to stalking.  If you are visiting the west Highlands it is worth bearing this in mind: the high-level walks are superb, but in late summer and autumn – particularly September/October – there is always the possibility that the paths (if they are not rights of way) may be closed by the estate.  If you walk on Sundays you will usually be OK.
    There were a lot of small changes to be made to the descriptions – particularly to the signposted paths around Mallaig, where a number of alterations have been made to the routes – and two routes were added.  The first is the short walk from the A884 Lochaline road to Loch Arienas.  The second is the Silver Walk: a four mile lineal path along the southern shore of Loch Moidart, linking the coast path past Castle Tioram with the forest walks at Ardmolich.  The Castle Tioram path – one of the finest short walks in the west Highlands – has been completely renovated.
    Other highlights of the area include the magnificent views from the top of Ben Resipole, the 'Singing Sands' at Kentra (centre left), the lineal paths along the northern edge of Ardnamurchan and the Small Isles.  The latter – Rum, Eigg (bottom left), Canna and Muck – are a particular pleasure.  Pick a good day for the trip and leave as much time for your visit as possible – there is more to explore on all of them than you would expect.  Links to the ferry services can be found on our Links page.
For further details about Walks Mallaig & Ardnamurchan, or to buy a copy click here.

NEW EDITION JULY 09

Walks Western Isles
Author: Luke Williams
(rewalked 2009 Richard Hallewell & Becky Coope)

Walks Western Isles was entirely rewalked over a wonderfully sunny fortnight in May of this year.  This was my first trip to the islands, and although I was expecting some stunning scenery I was taken aback by the sheer quality of the walking.  The scale of the islands is larger than you might expect (a fortnight is not really long enough to do them full justice), so it is useful to know what kind of walking to expect where.  
    In general, Lewis – the most populous part of the islands – comprises an area of broad, empty moorland edged by dramatic sea cliffs.  Most of the walks are coastal, and we have added a reference to the extension of the Ness Coastal Path south to Dail.  Lewis also includes the grounds of Lews Castle, in Stornoway – the only significant area of woodland in the islands.  New signposts are being deployed on the paths through the grounds, so the route description may alter from that in the guide, but it is worth visiting anyway: the coastal path may be the best short walk from any town centre in Scotland.  The island of Great Bernera has a wonderful coastal route, ending by the spectacular beach at Bostadh (left centre).
    Harris is more rugged and mountainous, and there are some fine hill paths – notably the spectacular route from Urgha to Reinigeadal – and a selection of magnificent sandy bays and beaches.  Harris also includes the highest point on the islands: An Cliseam (2621ft/799m).
    Over the Sound of Harris and you are in the mass of islands around North Uist.  There are some low hills, but this is largely a landscape of moorland, lochs, islands and beaches.  We have altered the descriptions for the routes on the beautiful island of Berneray, as well as adding one additional route passing Loch Buirgh and continuing to the island's western beach (bottom left).  A highlight of the area is the long walk over the mudflats to the island of Vallay.
    Continue south, over the low island of Benbecula, and you are in South Uist.  There are some rugged hills on the east of the island, but the walks in the guide are principally in the machair (sandy grassland) and dunes behind the endless beaches down the island's west coast.
    Further south yet are the smaller islands of Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay.   New fences are being erected on the latter two – for dune protection – and these can cut across routes.  On Vatersay, in particular, it is unclear whether or not stiles are going to be built.  No matter: even if you have to avoid the western beach the walk passes others on the island, and it is such a magical spot that it is worth the visit anyway.
    As I say, the walking in the Western isles is not sufficiently trumpeted.  The coastal walks in particular – given the right weather! – would be hard to beat.
     For further details about Walks Western Isles, or to buy a copy click here.