BOOK REVIEWS

• 200 Challenging Walks by Richard Gilbert
• Exploring the Landscape of Assynt
• The John Muir Tail by Alan Castle
• Annapurna, A Trekker’s Guide by Kev Reynolds
• Backpacker’s Britain by Graham Uney
• Escape from Lucania by Dave Roberts

200 Challenging Walks In Britain and Ireland
By Richard Gilbert

Published by Baton Wicks, Paper Back. 224 Pages. Full Colour. 32 Photos. 200 maps. Price £14.99. ISBN 1-898573-64-6.

This is a companion field guide to the other large format books from Richard (Big Walks, Classic Walks and Wild Walks). First published in 1990 this second reprint includes an extra detailed account of the traverse of the Cuillin Ridge of Skye – undoubtedly the toughest mountain excursion in the British Isles.

We often underrate the sheer quality and diversity of British walking which is generally free from tree cover (thus giving extensive views), enjoys constant variations in weather (and is thus never boring), has pubs and cafes easily available, and is replete with relics of the past; castles, churches, quaint villages, long barrows, stone circles and the like. Visitors from abroad especially like this aspect of our hills, particularly the Americans. It is also very varied within a small area so that someone could come to the British Isles and visit Cornwall, the Lake District, Scotland and Ireland in one trip and get a very rich experience. Home users have here a very rich and varied challenge ... far broader than just Munro or Corbett bagging.

Kevin Howett

Exploring the Landscape of Assynt
A Walkers Guide and Map showing the rocks and landscape of Assynt and Inverpolly
By the Natural Environment Research Council

Published by The British Geological Survey. Full Colour. ISBN 085272471-3

A small book with a good selection of walks which concentrate on the natural history of the area and allow the visitor to explore some of the more interesting aspects of this area such as the Moine Thrust, The Bone Caves, the Knockan Limestone and Stack Polly sandstone and the animals and plants that live and have lived on them.

It comes complete with a 1:50,000 geological map of the area which shows the walks and the peculiar geology. Worth getting if you are visiting for a second time and wish to be directed to some of the wonders of the area.

Kevin Howett

Annapurna, A Trekker’s Guide
By Kev Reynolds

Published by Cicerone. Paper Back. 272 pages. Full Colour. ISBN 1-85284-397-7. Price £14.

Perhaps more than Chomolungma, Annapurna’s daunting and remote appearance attracts trekkers to journey into its ‘Sanctuary’. Indeed the name itself is enough to draw the adventurous to it. This guide by freelance writer, photographer, lecturer and trek leader, with a vast experience of trekking in the nether regions of Nepal covers the classic Annapurna Sanctuary (into the heart of the twelve 7000m summits of the Annapurna Himal) as well as one of the great walks of the world, the Annapurna Circuit. There is also the Pilgrim’s Trail through the deepest valley in the world and as a taster, the Ghandruk Foothill Trek offering what is now a popular first trek for many to view these stunning mountains from the safety of the foothill villages.

Kevin Howett

The John Muir Trail
By Alan Castle

Published by Cicerone. Paper Back. 220pages. Full colour. ISBN 1-85284-396-9. Price £14

The Californian High Sierra Mountains are truly stunning. With their mix of high mountains, often of bare scoured granite, alpine meadows and stunning forested valleys of amazing Sequoia trees (amongst the biggest and oldest living plants on earth), they can lay claim to be the ‘prettiest’ place to walk and climb in the world? John Muir was certainly taken by their beauty and championed their conservation, with large parts of the range now contained within national Parks (Sequoia and Kings Canyon) as well the Wilderness area that bears his name.

The route starts in the most famous of all the American National Parks, Yosemite, passes through the equally stunning Tuolumne Meadows and through all the rest of the wilderness areas to finish at Mount Whitney. A distance of 233 miles with 46,000ft of ascent, usually completed in 21 days. If you fancy loosing yourself in the Sierra Nevada, get this guide.

Kevin Howett

Backpacker’s Britain, Volume 2: Wales
By Graham Uney

Published by Cicerone. Paper Back. 224pages. Full colour. ISBN 1-85284-408-6. Price £10.

25 walks from Snowdon in the north, the Arans and Cadair Idris in the middle, to the Beacons in the south. These are excellent circular or semicircular walks taking in some of the best landscapes of Cumru and are between 1 and 3 day hikes. There are not many outstanding landscape photos to make your mouth water, but there are some excellent wildlife shots. Maps are clear and accurate and as far as I can tell the spellings of those unpronounceable names seem correct (although after 3 years living in Wales and trying to learn the language I gave up!).

Kevin Howett

Out in Paperback:

Escape from Lucania
By Dave Roberts

Published by TimeWarner. Paper Back. 206pages. 15 b/w prints. ISBN 0-7515-3476-5. Price £7.99

A true tale of survival in the wilds of Alaska and an excellent read. This was winner of the Banff Mountain Book of the Year Award in 2003 and hailed by many as ranking with the best mountaineering literature of all time.

Kevin Howett