British hill walking guide books Lake District - Snowdonia

	*British hill walking Guide Books* *UK Lake District - Scotland, Highlands and Islands - Snowdonia* *Long Distance footpaths (LDFP)* WHY DO WE CLIMB? TECHNIQUE AND WEATHER AREA GUIDES UK SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS SCOTTISH ISLANDS ENGLAND THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT and Wainwright's Guides WALES & SNOWDONIA MUNRO ROUNDS LONG DISTANCE PATHS DISCOVERY GPS READY GUIDES (England and Wales) WALKING IN LONDON HUMOUR WORLD WALKING IN SPAIN FICTION NARRATIVES & EXPEDITIONS "GOOD READS" LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY FIELD GUIDES *In my opinion it's not possible to get the most out of the mountains without a knowledge of the flora and fauna to be found there* Search for a book in Amazon.co.uk/.com Authors A-Z
	Many walking books are published every year, but only a few become long term classics, so which walking books should every keen hillwalker own? Any list is bound to be subjective but a grounding in the skills must be essential for safe enjoyment of the hills, Mountaincraft and Leadership fits that bill. Once skills are addressed regional guides are next on the list. For those focused on the 3000' contour Butterfield must be the strongest contender. If completing the Scottish Munros is the target then the choice falls between the "official" SMC guide and Cameron McNeish's offering. Further south to the English Lake District and for me there is no contest, Wainwrightwins hands down, even if valley detail may now be a little out of date. For Snowdonia I favour The Ridges of Snowdonia. Much has been written and many maps pored over to establish which particular sets of contours comprise our definitive hills. If 2000' and a uniform definition suit you then The Nuttalls may be for you.(More information on hill classification). Once the basic information is covered, what else is there? In my opinion any day out walking is enhanced by an understanding of the wildlife around us and field guides can help us along the way to that. That just leaves those inevitable really wet days (weather!) when we need a good read or maybe just a bit of inspriation from deeds in the greater ranges. Titles markedare in my opinion amoung the best I have so far found on the topic.Some are out of print and can only be found in libraries or secondhand, but many can be ordered here at competitive prices in association with Amazon.co.uk. Note that a greyed-out button indicates book currently unavailable from Amazon (but it can be worth checking for new stocks)
	By Author	Ashton Bartlett Birkett Boardman Butterfield(h.m.) Butterfield(magic) Dickinson Diemburger Dubin Gray Greig Hemmlet Hillary Krakauer Langmuir Moran(i) Moran(ii) McNeish Muir Nuttall Parker Patterson Pegley Poucher Reynolds Simpson SMT SMC Storer St.Exupery Thesiger Uney Waite Wainwright


	Philosophy of climbing
		The Undiscovered Country Bartlett 183p.17x24cm bw *An unusual book that tries to answer that old question "why do we climb mountains?".Draws on historical information and his own experiences.* From chapter 3 on the exhilaration of mountaineering ......"mountaineering is a serious pastime, not because it is physically dangerous but because there are profound insights to be gained from it. It is serious because the appetite for those insights, or for the sheer exhileration that goes with them, can become overwhelming. Moments of intensity are addictive. Climbing can become a drug."
		Mountains of the Mind MacFarlane “Mountains of the mind” is a history of our attitudes to mountains, glaciers and wilderness, from times when most westerners only perceived beauty in tamed, fecund agricultural landscapes and mountains were regarded at best as useless, forward to our current view of them as having a terrible but sublime beauty and the attaining of their summits a value worth risking life for. The author notes the forth dimension, time, brought to the mountains by the evolution of geology, which (unlike one hundred million modern Americans), knows that the world wasn’t created, fully formed, in a week. Rather, that the long history of the planet is written in the folds and faults of our hills, “the great stone book”. Calling on the authors personal experiences in the mountains and those of the early Everest expeditions, as well as many historical literary figures such as Coleridge, the prototypical eccentric Lake District scrambler, to explore why it is that millions of people are now driven to climb in the mountains, even though (or partly because?), the price for some will be their lives. Risk is central to this analysis of why we climb, along with the aesthetic factors, the solitude and the sense of exploration, however artificial. One area where I would have liked more is simple male sex driven competitiveness, which although it can be overstated, as when mountains are compared to phalli, is a factor. However, an excellent read. *Winner, Guardian first book award.*
	Technique, weather, safety etc.
		Mountaincraft and Leadership E.Langmuir Cordee 362p 15x21cm bw Definitive guide for all hillgoers. Navigation, hillwalking, camping, conservation, security, river crossing, weather, exposure, rescue, leadership (yes, that includes everyone who walks in a group, however informal), snow and ice, avalanches, snow holes etc. All described with the help of clear line drawings. see also a potential newer replacement:-
		Hillwalking, the official handbook of the mountain leader and walking group scheme - Long
		Scotlands Winter Mountains M.Moran David & Charles 310p 19x26cm colour "How to" volume from the author of "The Munros in Winter". Weather and snow conditions, navigation, winter skills, clothing, gully and ice climbing, the use of skis etc. All related to and explained in the context of specific Scottish examples.
		A chance in a million? Barton & Wright SMT 122p 21x15cm bw Scottish Avalanches, a history and accounts of some recent occurences with a detailed analysis of their anatomy and how to decrease the risk of being caught.
		Mountain Weather Pedgley 112p 12x18cm bw Everything you need to know about British mountain weather in one handy pocket sized book Weather for Hillwalkers and Climbers Thomas, Banks.
	Guides
		UK The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Butterfield Diadem Vol 1 21x25cm 320p colour The 3000ft. mountains (including tops) of British Isles. Also available in pocket size version.The 3000ft. limit obviously excludes most of the English Lake District but Ireland is a bonus. Usefully describes the general characteristics of each area at beginning of each chapter. Often gives more than one route to the hills. Access information and many good photographs. If your only interest is the Munros, tops and 'furths' this could be your sole guide book.The "volume 1" in the title of recent copies relates to an abandoned plan to cover the lower hills in a second volume. See also The magic of the Munros
		Great British Ridge Walks Bill Birkett 192p 26.5x23.5cm colour This attractively presented volume covers 50 ridge walks - 10 in Wales, 14 in the Lake District and 26 in Scotland. Each route is introduced by about half a page of the usual factual information, in this case extending to geology, flora and fauna and an assesment of both summer and winter difficulties, (scrambles are graded down to 0.25). An attractive line drawing of the ridge in question is then followed by a narrative and photos which often focus on the immediate underfoot quality of ground rather than distant views. These give a good feel for the qualities of the walk. Being most familiar with the ELD I went to this section first and could find little to argue with except the listing of the departed bunkhouse at Wasdale Head and the inclusion of the Langdales which to me do not make a ridge. There are some unusual ideas such as the Scafells from Eskdale via Pen and Cam Spout Crag, possibly the hardest way to tackle these two hills. I have in fact enjoyed this book as much as a reminder of past walks as for an inspiration for future ones which for me will include two out of his five Skye walks, Trotternish and the Red Cuillin. With one Cairngorm exception the rest of the Scottish walks run down the west coast from Foinaven to Arran.The Welsh section is firmly in Snowdonia with Cadair Idris the most southern outpost. Looking at the Carneddau route - Pen Yr Ole Wen to Pen Yr Helgi Du - I could immediatly visualise the route from the ridge drawing and the three photos gave a good impression of the route in summer. The Bwlch Eryl Farchog scramble is graded 0.25 but the similar one ascending Pen Yr Ole Wen is not mentioned. As the book usually gives winter grades I was surprised that no mention was made of the exhausting nature of this route under snow.Overall a very enjoyable and inspirational book to browse in, if not on the essential reading list.
		The Scottish Highlands
	Munros Corbetts Tables	The Munros (3000ft)and the Corbetts (2000ft) Scottish Mountaineering Club. av 200p 15x24cm colour Authoritative guide books covering Scottish Highlands. Photo and description of each hill with discussion of routes. Sketch maps show ridges but not routes. Munro's Tables Munros, Corbetts, Donalds and Grahams listed by Height, area and name.With sketch maps and illustrations. *Related pages:-* *Classification of hills*
		SMC Regional Guides Access, public transport, accomodation, geology, the hills with sketch maps, walks, climbing:-
		The Southern Highlands South of Loch Rannoch to Glasgow
		The Central Highlands South of the Great Glen to Loch Rannoch and Dalmally
		The Northwest Highlands North of the Great Glen
		The Cairngorms
		The Southern Uplands
		The Munroist's Companion From 100 years of the SMC journal
		The Munros Cameron McNeish Lomond 228p 20x27cm colour Alternative guide to the Munros. Has the advantage that routes are shown on the sketch maps for ease of comprehension.Attractive sketch maps and photographs.
		100 Best Routes On Scottish Mountains Storer 224p 13x20cm bw Each route is graded 1-5 for technical difficulty, terrain, navigation and seriousness.
		Heading for the Scottish hills SMT *176p.15x21cm bw* Essential factual infomation (estate telephone numbers etc.) on access during shooting seasons for highland hillgoers. *Related pages:-* *Scottish highlands photos.* *Aonach Eagach the easy way*
		The Scottish Islands General The Islands of Scotland including Skye - SMC illustrated b&w and colour Each island or group is described with principal hills listed. Access, transport and accommodation are followed by a general description. Major hills are then described in detail (with sketch maps of the major groups) followed by walks and rock climbing possibilities. A very good starting point for exploring the island hills. The Scottish Islands - Hamish Haswell-Smith A comprehensive guide to every Scottish island of 100 acres or more. Size, height, ownership, population, geology, history, wildlife, access, points of interest, sketch maps (with wrecks, shallows and anchorages) and watercolour illustrations. "why do we experience such a thrill at being surrounded by water, cut off from the rest of mankind. Imprisoned in a miniature world? Is it because an island is of human scale, easy to comprehend, safe and defensible when the world beyond is big and terrifying? Who hasn't dreamed of being marooned on the proverbial desert island? For generations islands has been the theme of literature and poetry and more recently of radio and film. Utopia, Atlantis, Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Desert Island Discs......." HHS "the acknowledged rosetta stone of island hopping" Sunday Times.
		Western Isles Isle of Skye - A Walker’s guide – Terry Marsh - Cicerone Skye is rightly famed for the Black Cuillin, the UK’s most difficult mountain range, much of which is out of the reach of those without good scrambling skills. However, there is more to Skye than the Black Cuillin and this guide gives a good selection of walks all across the island including the long Trotternish ridge with its weird rock formations. Helpful indications are given of where the non scrambler can venture and not venture. Routes in the Cuillin are included where they can be completed (or partly completed) without the use of hands for more than steadying the feet.
		Walking in the Hebrides - Roger Redfern - Cicerone This book covers the Hebridean Islands from Arran in the south through 20 of the islands to Lewis in the north. Naturally Skye and the Cuillin cannot be given comprehensive coverage but are included. Arran, Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Oronsay,Mull, Coll, Tiree, Muck, Eigg, Rhum, Canna, Skye, Soay, Barra, Benbecula, the Uists, Harris and St.Kilda
		Skye 360 Walking the Coastline - Dempster The coast of Skye as a long walk or broken down into sections
		Northern Isles - Orkney - Shetland The Orkney Guide book – Tait Not specifically a walking guide, this well illustrated book (the author is a local photographer) mentions walks in the general (comprehensive) text and provides a list of suggested walks. Includes: Natural environment – history – activities – flora and fauna including cetaceans and birds – gazetteer for Orkney Mainland and seventeen islands and groups of islands – reference section including walks and where to watch birds. Accomodation and restaurant guides. The northern Isles are rich in wildlife and a good field guide is a must. Those willing to invest in a specific volume should consider “A naturalist’s Shetland” (fairly expensive) “Was it a whale?” (inexpensive) will also be useful on ferry crossings.
		see also:- Orkney and Shetland - Penrith Good general (non walking) overview of the two island groups with lots of useful addresses.
		Orkney on foot – Barratt A selection of walks for the serious rambler
		Shetland – Blackadder/Baxter A general guide book to the group, very well produced with good photo's by Colin Baxter, attractive maps and drawings. The appendices alone are invaluable, especially the landscape guide, rating beaches for accessibility, beauty and importantly, available wind shelter for each wind direction,
		See also:- The Shetland Guide book – Tait Another general guide
		Walks on Orkney – Welsh
		Walks on Shetland – Welsh
		Walking the coastline of Shetland - Guy
		Westside Eastside Unst Yell Fetlar Northmavine South Mainland Series of guides, each of about 20 walks, both point to point and circular. Illustrated with colour and b&w photos, diagrams and sketch maps. *Related pages:-* *Shetland photos, natural history books, walks and places to visit* *Scottish Islands photos*
	Eastern (second edition) Eastern (first edition, SH) Far Eastern(second edition) Far Eastern(first edition, SH) Central (second edition) Central (first edition) Southern (second edition) Southern (first edition) Northern N.Western Western Outlying *first edition refers to "non Justy" not actual first editions*	English Lake District Wainwright's guides. first published Westmoreland Gazette. 12x16cm bw Famous hand drawn and written exhaustive guide to the Lake District in seven volumes plus an additional volume for minor fells (hardback, pocket size). The Eastern Fells is now available as a revised "second edition" updated without losing the essential character of the books. Chris Jesty has updated information such as car parks and paths actually in use on the ground are shown in red, text changes are achieved by use of a "Wainwright" font. Areas covered by guides:- FE High Street,E Helvellyn, C north from Langdales, S south of Wasdale inc. Scafell Pike and Coniston fells, NW Grasmore, W north of Wasdale, inc Pillar.N Skiddaw, Blencathra and "back o' Skiddaw" (Image is a photo of part of the 30th page of the Scafell Pike section)
		Special edition presentation set of all seven Wainwright guides While I love the Wainwright guides those looking for something new that accomodates GPS waypoints might like to look at the Discovery Walking Guides UK series Walk! the Lake District South North *Related pages:-* *Wainwright* *The Lake district in photos* *Wasdale*
		England The Mountains of England Nuttall Cicerone av 300p 12x17cm bw showerproof cover The 2000 ft. mountains ("Nuttalls") of England and Wales in two (pocket sized) volumes. Reminiscent of the Wainwright guides in format and illustration. The Nuttalls have spend much time and energy in surveying the hills to establish the "Nuttall" list. *Related pages:-* *Classification of hills*
		Long distance paths The LDFP network offers both a series of challenges for the ambitious walker or a resource of well marked day or weekend walks, depending on how you approach them. National Trail Guides Excellent guides with OS map extracts of the entire routes. North Hadrian's Wall 81 miles The Pennine Way 256 miles The first long distance footpath, opened in 1965. A wild, tough walk along the backbone of England.Highest point Cross Fell 893m (2947ft). Pennine Way - South Pennine Way - North Cleveland Way 110 miles Yorkshire Wolds Way 79 miles East Peddar's Way/Norfolk Coast 93 miles South North Downs Way 123-130 miles South Downs Way 99 miles South West Coast path The Thames path The Ridgeway 85 miles. Ancient track along the chalk downs created to avoid the then forested lower ground. Evidence of its age abounds in "white horses" and standing stones. Wales Pembrokeshire Coast path 186 miles Glyndwr's Way (mid Wales) 132 miles Wainwright's Coast to Coast (Lake District)190 miles "AW" never intended walkers to follow his exact route, in which case the guide book was probably a mistake! St Bees Head to Robin Hood Bay. Hand written and drawn in the same style as the famous Lake District guides. The Long Distance Walkers Handbook A comprehensive directory of UK long-distance paths. With maps.Endorsed by LDWA Long Distance Paths - South East England The south east might at first seem unpromising walking country, but for the many who live in the area, the "home" walks offer a valuable rescource for weekend walking. This book details the 17 major routes of the area. I recommend the Greensand Way, the the Saxon Shore Way and the Thames Path as three to try first. The North Downs Way is often seen as the premier walk of SE England, but although much of the walk is on the historic Pilgrims Way, I find the proximity of roads, especially since the building of the M25, make it not a first choice. Discovery GPS ready Walking Guides to England & Wales
		London walks
		Wales The Ridges of Snowdonia Ashton Cicerone 12x17cm 244p showerproof bw All the ridge walks with some off-beat narratives
		The Welsh Peaks Poucher Constable ISBN-0094651507 12x18cm 426p bw Now rather old but some accurate descriptions
		The Mountains of Wales Nuttall Cicerone av 300p 12x17cm bw showerproof cover The 2000 ft. mountains ("Nuttalls") of England and Wales in two (pocket sized) volumes. Reminiscent of the Wainwright guides in format and illustration. The Nuttalls have spend much time and energy in surveying the hills to establish the "Nuttall" list.
		The High Summits of Wales Graham Uney Guide to the Welsh mountains that qualify as "Hewitts" plus an account of climbing the 137 summits in a single "round".* A possible alternative to the Nuttallbook. However, the format and soft cover will not lend it to being carried on the hill, unlike the Nuttall book with its plastic coated cover. A review in TGO voiced a concern that the book would lead to overuse erosion by summit baggers, but as many of these hills are relatively unpopular the reverse may prove to be the case if attention is spread away from the most popular hills in Snowdonia. The Illustrations, recent and old photographs, etchings, paintings and some period tinted postcards, are very interesting and set the book apart from the run of guides. I found the maps a little 'muddy' in appearance as they have relief shading and aforestation in tones of grey, but still a useful addition to the library of anyone who wishes to explore Wales beyond the usual Snowdonian hills. *Hills of 2000ft with drop of 30m all round.Wales 137, England 178
		*Related pages:-* *Discovery GPS ready Walking Guides to England & Wales* *Snowdonia photos* *Nantlle Ridge*
	Humour
		The Ascent of Rum Doodle Amusing send up of the standard expedition account.
		The First Fifty Muriel Gray Corgi Listed here as humour but this is only part of the plot of this account of her first fifty Munros by the presenter of Scottish television's "Munro show". "Munro bagging without a beard".
	Good Reads	"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx The motivations that drive us to the hills are not unique to hillwalking and sometimes there can be more to learn from a seemingly unrelated subject than from a bloodless guidebook.
		Wind, Sand and Stars St.Exupery Picador Autobiographic account of early mail flights across the Andes and Pyrennees. On an approching cyclone above the Andes.. "The sky was blue.Pure blue.Too blue.A hard blue sky that shone over the scraped and barren world while the fleshless vertebrae of the mountain chain flashed in the sunlight" "In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away, when a body has been stripped down to its nakedness" This early flying account has the spirit of mountaineering, even if the epics take place in the clouds above rather than on the mountains.
		Arabian Sands Thesiger Riveting classic account of Thesigers life amoungst the Bedu of the Empty Quarter.An insight into the culture of desert arabs and how they survived in a hostile environment. On losing some meat in the desert.... "I was angry, because this was the last meat we were likely to have for very many days.Musallim followed the tracks, and unearthed most of the meat where the fox had buried it under a bush.We brushed the sand off it, thankful to have recovered it." The Marsh Arabs "Each night as I lay down to sleep, a cloud of mosquitos settled on my face and a weight of fleas moved under my blanket, but I accepted this as a small price for the contentmemt I had found" "The Marsh Arabs" *Next page*

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