Walking on the Orkney and Shetland Isles


Book Description

A guidebook to 80 walking routes on Scotland's Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Routes are described on the islands of Orkney (Orkney Mainland, Hoy, South Ronaldsay, Burray, Rousay, Eday, Westray, Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay) and the islands of Shetland (Shetland Mainland, West Burra, East Burra, Foula, Fair Isle, Isle of Noss, Bressay, Whalsay, Papa Stour, Muckle Roe, Out Skerries, Esha Ness, Yell, Fetlar and Unst). Routes vary in length from 1 mile to 16 miles, with something to suit all abilities. Offering a variety of landscapes together with a wealth of remarkable archaeological sites such as Skara Brae and Jarlshof, Orkney and Shetland are a walker's dream. Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by clear OS mapping and a time estimate for completing each route. The book includes plenty of information on the region's wildlife, archaeology and history, as well as practical tips such as when to go, what to take and getting to and around Orkney and Shetland. Quiet, remote and abounding in rare plants and wildlife, together with some of the world's most fascinating archaeological sites, Orkney and Shetland offer a treasure trove of natural and historic wonders, and makes an ideal walking holiday destination.




Walking in the Scottish Borders


Book Description

This guidebook provides 45 day walks in the Scottish Borders. Separated into six sections, these walks are divided between the north and south Cheviots, Tweed, Ettrick, Moffat and Manor hills and feature main centres including Wooler, Kelso, Melrose, Peebles and Moffat. The guide's seventh section outlines long distance routes, including a walk along the Border from Gretna to Berwick-on-Tweed. The Scottish Borders are rich in both history and geology. These walks explore many historical sites, from Iron Age forts on hillsides to bastles and towers dating from the Border Reivers era. The stunning and varied scenery is a result of complex geological processes; a visit to Dobb's Linn showcases preserved fossils, while the coastline at St Abbs Head features iconic folded rock formations which are home to a myriad of birds including guillemots. Each walk features 1:50,000 OS mapping, comprehensive route description and plenty of information about points of interest along the route. The walks are graded and can be easily customised with alternative start points, route variants and shortcuts. The guide's introduction offers plenty of practical information about how to get there and where to stay, while the appendices list useful contacts and tourist information centres.




The Northern Isles


Book Description

A sea kayakers guide to the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Their relative isolation, stunning scenery and Norse history make Orkney and Shetland a very special place. For the sea kayaker island archipelagos are particularly rewarding . none more so than these. Illustrated with superb colour photographs and useful maps throughout, this book is a practical guide to help you select and plan trips. It will provide inspiration for future voyages and a souvenir of journeys undertaken. As well as providing essential information on where to start and finish, distances, times and tidal information, the book does much to stimulate interest in the environment. It is full of facts and anecdotes about local history, geology, scenery, seabirds and sea mammals.




Orkney Folk Tales


Book Description

The Orkney Islands are a place of mystery and magic, where the past and the present meet, ancient standing stones walk and burial mounds are the home of the trows. Orkney Folk Tales walks the reader across invisible islands that are home to fin folk and mermaids, and seals that are often far more than they appear to be. Here Orkney witches raise storms and predict the outcome of battles, ghosts seek revenge and the Devil sits in the rafters of St Magnus Cathedral, taking notes! Using ancient tales told by the firesides of the Picts and Vikings, storyteller Tom Muir takes the reader on a magical journey where he reveals how the islands were created from the teeth of a monster, how a giant built lochs and hills in his greed for fertile land, and how the waves are controlled by the hand of a goddess.




Shetland


Book Description

The most northerly of Britain's island groups, Shetland is so far removed from the rest of the UK that it usually appears as an inset on maps. Although relatively little known to those from outside the islands, Shetland is a magnificent terrain for walkers, especially those who love to really explore and get away from the beaten track. The coastal walking here includes some of the finest in the country, with superb cliffs, towering sea stacks, caves and natural arches seemingly around every corner. Added to this is Shetland's better known claim to fame for its spectacular seabird colonies ¿ huge gannetries, moorland packed with arctic and great skuas, arctic terns in the more sheltered spots, and everyone's favourite ¿ the puffins. The islands also enjoy a dense population of otters, many seals, and a chance to see killer whales or other giants of the deep. Beyond all this natural grandeur, Shetland's history is fascinating too. The archaeological attractions are much less known than those on Orkney, but sites such as Jarlshof have amazingly preserved remains from prehistory right up to more recent times. These include iron age villages, chambered cairns, viking longhouses, pictish carvings, and impressive brochs ¿ including the most complete of all these iron-age defensive towers, on Mousa. Size 105 x 148mm




Walking the Munros Vol 2 - Northern Highlands and the Cairngorms


Book Description

Volume two of Walking the Munros, this guidebook describes 70 challenging and inspiring routes up Scotland's iconic 3000ft+ mountains within the Northern Highlands, the Cairngorms and the Isle of Skye. The routes, which range from 7 to 46km (with the option to reduce walking distance on some of the longer routes by cycling the approach), cover 143 Munro summits, offering half and full-day walk and scramble options. Clear and concise route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100K mapping, together with invaluable practical information on access, parking, accommodation and more. Also included are two handy indexes of the Munros - listed alphabetically and by height - a perfect resource for peak-baggers. This guide incorporates both popular and lesser-known routes, and celebrates the raw and rugged beauty of these majestic mountains.




Walking the Ribble Way


Book Description

Guidebook to walking the Ribble Way, a 72 mile route following the Ribble valley, from the estuary mouth near Preston to the river's source on Cam Fell in the Yorkshire Dales. The book contains OS map extracts and full route description split into 7 convenient stages, with suggestions for day walkers.




Walking Ben Lawers, Rannoch and Atholl


Book Description

The south-eastern Grampians of the former county of Perthshire may be grassier and less rugged than other Scottish mountains, but they are just as big. The routes in this guide take you to the summits of these 'jolly green giants' - covering all of the region's Munros, often by unconventional routes, as well as several Corbetts and smaller hills - and also over the Atholl passes, along rivers and through the woods of Perthshire's 'Big Tree Country'. The 80 walks comprise a mixture of low-level, mid-level and mountain routes and are graded by both length and difficulty. Many are demanding, crossing remote, uneven, steep and/or pathless terrain, but also included are gentler walks on clear paths taking in local features of interest. The route description is illustrated with clear mapping (a mixture of OS 1:50,000 and smaller-scale maps for the longer routes) and the route summary table and grading information make it easy to choose an appropriate route. There is a wealth of information about the landscape and the region's fascinating history. Finally, appendices cover local facilities and access to the hills during the deer-stalking season. With highlights including the mighty Ben Lawers, Beinn Dorain, Ben Alder and Beinn a' Ghlo; Schiehallion; the great rivers Tay and Garry; the Birks of Aberfeldy; and old drovers' routes over the passes of Minigaig and Gaick, Perthshire has plenty to offer. And with historic towns, such as Perth and Pitlochry, and attractive villages, this is an ideal base for a walking holiday.




The Outrun: A Memoir


Book Description

“It’s wild writing: sexy, unguarded, raw, and ardent … highly recommended.”—The Millions After a decade of heavy partying and hard drinking in London, Amy Liptrot returns home to Orkney, a remote island off the north of Scotland. The Outrun maps Amy’s inspiring recovery as she walks along windy coasts, swims in icy Atlantic waters, tracks Orkney’s wildlife, and reconnects with her parents, revisiting and rediscovering the place that shaped her. A Guardian Best Nonfiction Book of 2016 Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller New Statesman Book of the Year




Walking the Dales Way


Book Description

A fully waymarked trail from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere, the Dales Way links two of England's most celebrated national parks, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. Well served for accommodation and facilities, and with easy walking on riverside paths, it is one of the gentlest multi-day walks in Britain and therefore an ideal introduction to long-distance walking. It can be comfortably completed in 6-8 days. The guide offers comprehensive notes on local points of interest, as well as an overview of Dales geology, history, plants and wildlife to enhance the walking experience. The practical information is all there too, including when to go, how to get there and what to take, making for an ideal companion to enjoying this delightful route. Presented in six daily stages of 7-19 miles (with suggestions for alternative schedules), this guide describes the Way in both directions, with the main route description running from south to north. Step-by-step route description is accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping, and a trek planner, showing where facilities are available, is included to facilitate planning. Accommodation listings and useful contacts can be found in the appendices. A separate, conveniently sized map booklet located in the back-cover sleeve provides all the OS 1:25,000 mapping needed to complete the trail.