Book reviews: Summer 2009
Somerville’s 100 Best Walks
Christopher Somerville £12.99, www.hauspublishing.com, ISBN 978 19 0659 821 1
Christopher Somerville, Walking Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph for more than 20 years, admits that picking 100 ‘best’ walks in Britain was no easy task. The final selection focuses on countryside and small towns rather than urban areas or big cities. As readers of his walk magazine column have come to expect, it’s beautifully written, perfectly capturing the essence of each place he visits, and peppered with personal anecdotes. It’s a joy to read, whether you attempt the walks or not. If you do, though, the numerous illustrative maps are as easy on the eye as the simple directions in the text are to follow. Rosie Hayes
The Broads: Waterways Of Norfolk And Suffolk
Jon Gibbs £16.99, www.franceslincoln.com ISBN 978 07 1122 981 5
Flatlands may have less dramatic inspiration than rugged hills, but the wide vistas have a beauty and history of their own. A short introduction to this book details the medieval peat digging, drainage channels and, more recently, tourism that have left their mark on the landscape, and Gibbs’ photographic study captures this well. Luminously soft tones and mirror-flat rivers are reflected by short but warm descriptions. Gibbs is also mindful of walkers, and notes that all the scenes he has snapped can be visited on foot. Ben Holbourn
Where To Go Wild In Britain
£25, www.dk.com, ISBN 978 14 0533 512 6
With this hugely ambitious coffee-table book, the RSPB has cleverly re-positioned itself as an authority on all aspects of Britain’s natural environment – not just birds. Essentially a directory of nature reserves and protected parks (with a predominance of RSPB reserves), each page is a collage of great photography, commentary and facts showcasing what natural wonders you can hope to see throughout the year. There are more pictures of wildlife than instructions on how best to spot them, which can make it feel a tad cursory and brochure-like at times. But it certainly inspires you to go out and explore. Dominic Bates
Focus: Mountaineering
The Mountain Skills Training Handbook
Pete Hill and Stuart Johnston, £19.99, www.davidandcharles.co.uk ISBN 978 07 1533 165 1
This popular, reliable book offers a guide to mountaineering techniques and includes sections on mountain leadership, technical skills and avalanche awareness, as well as gear lists. Endorsed by the Association of Mountain Instructors, it’s well illustrated and clearly written, and especially useful for amateur climbers.
Mountain Walking And Trekking
Alun Richardson, £7.99, www.acblack.com, ISBN 978 07 1368 687 6
Part of the new Rucksack Guide series, this little book offers useful advice on equipment and camping, as well as summary details on interpreting the weather, mountain navigation and scrambling techniques. There’s even a guide to tackling via ferrata routes. It’s inevitably sketchy in some areas. But treated as an overview, it’s an attractive and handy reference tool.
Call Out Mountain Rescue
Edited by Judy Whiteside, £9.99, www.mountain.rescue.org.uk ISBN 978 09 5017 658 1
This chunky, spiral-bound guide looks at how to avoid getting rescued in the first place! There’s lots of solid advice on preparation and safety precautions, as well as tips on what to do in an emergency. There are also fascinating chapters on the history of mountain rescue and how it actually works. A worthy volume. Andrew McCloy
