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With a flavour of each of the main Lakeland valleys, and time to stop and wonder at their charms, the walk described in this book leads quickly away from the busy tourist centres to the quiet pleasures of the fell country. Designed as a scenic tour of the Lake District, the route is primarily one of valleys and passes, rather than a tick list of peaks attained. The shepherds and drovers chose their paths well, logical links from one valley to the next, and many of these ancient ways have been chosen for this walk. All footpaths and bridleways used are on established rights of way. The walk starts at the railway terminus at Windermere town, quickly leaving the crowds behind and passes through Ambleside, the Langdale valley, Coniston, Dunnerdale, Eskdale, Wasdale, Ennerdale, Buttermere, Newlands Valley, Keswick, Borrowdale, Grasmere then Ullswater, before returning back to Windermere via the Troutbeck valley.
Preface Overview map Part 1 - Introduction The Lake District landscape About the Tour When to go Accommodation Food and supplies Transport Money and costs What to take Navigation and outdoor safety Habitats and wildlife in the Lake District How to use this guide Glossary and abbreviations Part 2 - The Tour Stage 1 Windermere to Ambleside Stage 2 Ambleside to Elterwater Stage 3 Elterwater to Coniston Stage 4 Coniston to Eskdale Stage 5 Eskdale to Wasdale Stage 6 Wasdale to Black Sail Stage 7 Black Sail to Buttermere Stage 8 Buttermere to Keswick Stage 9 Keswick to Rosthwaite Stage 10 Rosthwaite to Grasmere Stage 11 Grasmere to Patterdale Stage 12 Patterdale to Windermere Part 3 - High-level alternative routes 1 Coniston to Eskdale via the Old Man and Hardknott 2 Eskdale to Wasdale Head via Scafell Pike 3 Wasdale Head to Black Sail or Buttermere via Great Gable 4 Grasmere to Patterdale via Helvellyn 5 Patterdale to Windermere via High Street Part 4 - Short walks 1 Beatrix Potter's Hill Top and Claife Heights from the Windermere ferry 2 Stock Ghyll, Scandale and High Sweden Bridge from Ambleside 3 Elterwater - A riverside walk between two pubs 4 Lake Coniston and Brantwood 5 Muncaster Fell and Ravenglass from the Eskdale railway 6 Scale force and Crummock from Buttermere village 7 The Borrowdale Yews from Rosthwaite 8 Wordsworth's Grasmere and Rydal via Loughrigg Terrace 9 Howtown and Ullswater from Glenridding Appendices Appendix 1 Useful contacts Appendix 2 Tourist Information Centres Appendix 3 Transport information Appendix 4 Selected bibliography
Jim Reid is 36 years old and lives on the northern fringe of the Lake District. Educated at Newcastle and Lancaster universities, he has made a living variously and precariously over the last fifteen years as an ecologist, school teacher, youth hostel warden, restauranteur and landscape gardener. When writing, subjects close to his heart are travel, food, nature and hillwalking.
'This scenic Tour takes the walker away from the crowds and into some of the best of the Lakeland landscape. I particularly liked the graphs which are with every walk and show you clearly the height and distance you will walk. There is also invaluable information advising you about what to take, when to go, where to go, accommodation etc etc etc. Jim Reid has written a lovely guidebook which is designed to take the sting out of the lengthy and often tedious preparations necessary for walking in the Lakes. His is an inspirational guidebook born of his own love and deep understanding of this beautiful district.' (Keswick Reminder / April 07)'This book describes a circular multi-day tour of the English Lake District. Using mainly low-level routes, it brings the walker through a selection of the busy "classic" areas and many of the quieter corners. There are also high-level options for those seeking a more challenging experience.All stages and day walks are well described and are accompanied by a detailed OS map of the walk. There is very useful information at the start of the guide for planning a trip and lots of colour photos to inspire.'(Irish Mountain Log / Summer 2007)'This new 93 mile tour takes the idea of a typical European mountain trek and adapts it to the Lake District. The author has sub-divided his route into 12 stages, there are 5 high-level alternatives that take the walker over the main peaks and also 9 half-day walks that can be undertaken from points along the route.The author spent two years researching and writing the book whilst he was a warden at one of the Lake District youth hostels.'(Strider / August 2007)'For years I've had every intention of working out a 7-10 day backpacking route in the Lake District, visiting my favourite tops and valleys and staying away from towns and villages as much as possible.Being rather slothful by nature I've often dreamed the route but never put it down on paper. Now, Jim Reid has beat me to it, and I'm grateful to him for that for what he's produced, as someone probably much more familiar with the Lakes than I am, is a wonderfully scenic tour that takes the backpacker away from the crowds and into some of the best of the Lake District hills.The route itself is 93-miles in length and Jim has divided it into 12 sections. That's not a bad walk at all, and I reckon I could fit into a week. Now, when can I go?'(TGO / October 2007)Check out the review on the following website:Cumberland News
