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Walking Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
paperback: 174 x 117mm also available as ebook at same pricefull colour pictures and sketch maps
Cicerone 2007: £13: ISBN 978 1 85284 530 8
The hills and glens of the Trossachs and Loch Lomond make up Scotland's first national park: they are the first of the Highlands and easiest to get to if approaching from the cities of the south. They are also first in the affections of many hill-goers. Slightly less savage than the mountains further north, on a slightly smaller scale, they have a rugged charm that's all their own. Their ridges are wrinkly schist and grassy picnic places, their lower slopes are oakwoods, and small ferries cruise the long romantic lochs between.
This book suggests the most straighforward routes to each of the area's 21 Munro summits of 3000ft (910m) and over, but seeks out also the wilder and less walked-on ways around the back. It covers the slightly smaller but equally worthwhile hills that this area is especially rich in, from the Cobbler to the Luss Hills and Ben Ledi. As commercial plantations are cleared to reveal native oak and pine and open water, the national park is steadily improving as a place for lower-level walks as well.
With their easy access, convenient shops and accommodation, and public transport by road, rail and water, these slightly less-daunting mountains make an excellent introduction to the Scottish Highlands. From Lomond's bonnie banks to the Hill of the Fairies, from Arrochar Alps to lowly Ben A'an, and whether you take the high road or the low, here is some of Scotland's best, and best-loved, hill country.
• over 60 routes, all illustrated with OS mapping
• multi-route coverage for the Cobbler, Arrochar Alps, and Ben Lui
• routes to all 21 Munros and to 30 lesser hills
• selected scrambling routes include all three tops of the Cobbler
• woodland and lochside walks
• notes on access, public transport and accommodation
extracts and some pictures on the Cicerone Press website
reviews
I found this book a very interesting read. I learned a lot abaout the area in which I have lived for 40 years. There is nothing complicated about the author's writing style. It all makes sense and there is nothing dated about any of the descriptions: it's bang up to date. The sturdy plastic cover means it will wear quite well in the top of a rucksack, adn the short, informative rout accounts makes it very practiocal to take on the hill and refer to as the walk unfolds.
Overall, a quality publication, superbly illustrated, extremely informative, and written by someone with authority, wide knowledge and passion for the hills. I would recommend this book for anyone planning to spend a few days walking in the National Park. I suspect too that many people living in the area would find a few gems of knowledge and new routes to explore up their local hills. Dr Bob Sharp AMI (Association of Mountain Instructors) Log September 2009
second review second reviewer
