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The Cairngorms contain the greatest area of land over 4,000 feet above sea level, the largest Caledonian pine forests and the biggest national park in Britain. This spectacular land of mountains, lochs, rivers and woods is wild and beautiful. The mountains form a series of vast sub-arctic plateaux ringed by big granite cliffs, deep lake-filled corries and long glens. High rocky passes cut through the mountains while pine and birch forests cover their lower slopes. For much of the year the mountains are snow-covered, a white wilderness that can be harsh and savage but also dramatic and awe-inspiring. For the photographer the severe weather and rugged terrain are challenging but also very rewarding.
Photographer and author Chris Townsend has lived in the Cairngorms for 20 years and photographed them in all seasons, walking over the summits in summer, skiing over them in winter and camping out at all times of the year. The results are shown in this collection of evocative and impressive images.
Chris Townsend is a writer and photographer specialising in the outdoors, especially the hills and wild places, and has completed many longs walks of over 1000 miles. He is the author of 18 books including the award-winning The Backpacker's Handbook, Scotland (World Mountain Ranges) and The Munros & Tops (the story of his walk over all Scotland's 3000 feet summits, the first time this had been done). Chris is passionate about the conservation of wild places and currently serves as the President of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
"The images are evocative and impressive but they don't portray an imaginery nirvanha, they show the Cairngorms as they are – rough and rugged, wild and hostile and how nature, left to itself will provide all the beauty you could ever want [...] As a coffee table volume you can't argue with its merits, especially at the price, but as a docummentary record at a time when Scotland's wilderness is under threar as never before it could turn out to be priceless. My Outdoors Anyone who has walked through these mountains will find this a book to treasure. Abd if you've not been yet, but always wanted to, I can't think of a better book to entice you more!"
- Andy Howell
"Will inspire many to dedicate the time needed to experience this magical range in all seasons and weather conditions."
- www.walkhighlands.co.uk
"His majestic photographs – telling the story of a single year, but doubtless assembled over many – represent the kind of riches that no amount of budget fligts to exotic locations could ever buy."
- Scotsman
"Beautifuly-presented coffee table book."
- Aberdeen Press & Journal
"An absolutely stunning evocation of Scotland's most extensive upland areas and one of the last true wildernesses in the country."
- Undiscovered Scotland
"Capturing such a huge area in all its moods is difficult but this book is the answer and there is perhaps no better interpretation in any of the books I have seen."
- Highland News
"For those of us who have been lucky enough to visit the Cairngorms, the book will revive many memories, while for those who have not it may just provide the inspiration to come and see this amazing place."
- TGO: The Great Outdoors
"Intimate and subtle."
- WALK magazine
