As a keen walker, lover of the Lake District and collector of all books relating to this beautiful corner of England, I was excited to hear about a new walking book.
Published by Lake District Hotels – a family-run company which owns six hotels in some of the region’s most beautiful spots – the 15 walks detailed inside this smart volume start from their various hotels. So, you can book in to one of their properties, such as the impressive Inn on the Lake on the edge of Ullswater or the grand Lodore Falls Hotel in Borrowdale, and start walking.
Priced at £4,95 and on sale at the hotels, my first impression upon receiving this attractive pocket-sized book, titled Walk the Lakes with Lake District Hotels, was what a stunning cover photo; it certainly makes this Somerset-based journalist pine for the fresh air and stunning scenery of the Lakes.
The walks have been chosen by author Vivienne Crow, a Cumbrian-based writer and photographer, and I’m pleased to report that she’s done a good job; not just in which walks she’s selected but in the way the book has been designed.
The contents page details the location of each walk, grade and distance, ranging from 2.5 to 9 miles. Then, each walk is laid out in the same format: details of the terrain, approximate timings, height gain, diagram of the route and, finally, a more detailed, easy-to-follow breakdown of the walk itself.
The clear design means it’s the kind of walking book you can take along with you – as well as your Ordnance Survey map and compass, of course – and use rather than one of those volumes which are text-heavy and awkward to carry out on the fells.
Overall, this makes a useful addition to anyone’s collection of walking books and is ideal for those who simply want to base themselves at a smashing hotel and set out on walks from its doorstep rather than having to rely on the car.
Further information:
For more information on the book or Lake District Hotels, visit www.lakedistricthotels.net or call 0800 840 1240