The Hillwalking Bible
The definitive reference to hillwalking for all walkers, with everything they need to know to explore the countryside with confidence.
Fellwalking, hillwalking, hiking or simply going for a stroll – a walk in some wild country is the world's favourite leisure activity. And the British Isles, with our green and craggy hills, heather-clad moors, meandering rivers and thousands of miles of beautiful coastline, is one of the best places in the world to go walking.
Whether you're just getting started or are looking to widen your horizons, this book is your ultimate companion, map and inspiration. In his humorous and engaging style, walker and guidebook writer Ronald Turnbull reveals all... Begin your journey with 16 hand-picked routes that will take you from the craggy valleys of the Peak District via wildest Wales and the much loved Lakeland fells to the majestic Scottish mountains. Then you'll be ready to step out with confidence into the hills adn the wilderness, the sea cliffs, riverbanks, moorlands and woodlands of the UK's enchanting islands.
Contents
Introduction
Mistakes, and how to make them
How to use this book
Walk 1: Walla Crag
On not climbing Cat Bells
First Steps
1. Gearing up
map
Compass
Left boot, and right boot
Waterproof jacket
Rucksack
Other stuff to stuff in the sack
Things to ask for for Christmas (maybe)
Ronald's Rucksack
2 Understanding Maps
The shape of Schiehallion
Contour lines
Summits and saddle points
Re-entrants and spurs
Different sorts of mapping
Means and ways: path markings on maps
Access and rights to roam
3 Choosing the right route
Low level routes
Mountain ground
4 On Not Getting Lost
Finding the way with compass and map
Don't stand next to the synchrotron
Finding the way with a mapping app
App Happy
Phone for navigation
Following a preset route
Or let the phone take control
Devouring the hamburger: the rest of the menus
Other appropriate apps
On getting lost
5 Looking after the mountain
Path masters
Cars and effect
6 Children and/or dogs
Children on hills
Adventuring again
Dogs
7 Getting serious: Scrambling
Going High with the Pumpkin Person
Scrambling stratagems
Walk 2: Blencathra by Halls Fell
8 Getting serious: Winter Walking
No snow go
Let it snow
A bit of Snow-how
9 When things go wrong
Awkward moments for those left at home
Where to go
England
Peak District
Walk 3 White Peak: Hartington valleys
Walk 4 Dark Peak: Kinder Scout
Lake District
Walk 5: Great Gable
On Not Going Up Scafell Pike
Yorkshire Dales
Walk 6: Ingleborough
England's coastlines
Walk 7: Jurassic Fantastic, Durdle Door to Osmington
Wales
Snowdonia
Walk 8: Moel Siabod
The great scarp: Brecon Beacons
Walk 9: Pen y Fan horseshoe
Welsh coast
Scotland
Southern Uplands and other lower level walking
The Munros
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Walk 10 A first Munro: Ben Lomond
More Munros
Walk 11 A second Munro: Meall nan Tarmachan
The Cairngorms
Wester Ross
The Cuillin
Scotland's other islands
Northern Ireland
Mountains of Mourne
Antrim Coast
Wider Horizons
10 long distance walking
My favourite multi-day walks
Walk 12: In the steps of Cuthbert's Corpse
Hiking hostel to hostel
Walk 13: Tour de Scafell Pikes
11 Backpacking and wild camping
Tent or Bivvy Bag?
Packing light
Making backpacking bearable
Site specific
Routes roundup
Walk 14: West of the West Highland Way
12 Running up that Hill
13 Walking Abroad
Boots and bikini
Ways and means
Hut to Hut
Walk 15: Stubaital Höhenweg
14 Lists of Hills
15 More app & map
Clicking out routes on the computer
Snapping to your path
A walk in the Mamores
Walk 16: Stob Coire a' Chairn and Am Bodach, Mamores
16 More map and compass
So, how to take a bearing?
Grid references
Finding the way stone-age style
17 Winter skills
Crampons
Winter and rough weather