Big Trail guides ‘ideal reference’ for long distance

THE second of these guides to Big Trails in Great Britain and Ireland has just been published by Vertebrate but I felt it best to review both books as together they cover 50 of the best long-distance walks in these countries.

Several of the trails are household names – Cleveland Way, Dales Way, Offa’s Dyke Path, Pennine Way, Wainwright’s Coast to Coast and the West Highland Way. However, there are many other lesser known trails that look very exciting for the long distance walker or walking holidays. Amongst these are the Channel Islands Way circumnavigating the five islands of Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Jersey and Sark a total of 165 kilometres (103 miles) over eight days walking plus travel times between the islands. Also, there are walks around the Isle of Anglesey (201 kilometres – 125 miles), Isle of Arran (103 kilometres – 65 miles), and Isle of Wight (113 kilometres – 79 miles). Locally, there is the Lady Anne’s Way (154 kilometres – 96 miles) from Skipton Castle, which she was instrumental in restoring after the Civil War, through to Penrith passing a further four of her castles on route. Also in Yorkshire is the Yorkshire Wolds Way in Volume 2 from the Humber Bridge to Filey (124 kilometres – 77 miles) which can then be extended by adding the Cleveland Way in Volume 1 (174 kilometres – 109 miles) up the Yorkshire coast from Filey to Redcar and then inland over the North York Moors to Helmsley.

Volume 1 has 14 walks in England, four in Ireland, three in Scotland, three in Wales and one on the Isle of Man, with distances ranging from 986 kilometres (616 miles) for the South West Coastal Path to be covered in 47 days walking to 53 kilometres (33 miles) for the Causeway Coast Path in Northern Ireland over three days walking.

Volume 2 has nine walks in England, three in Ireland, five in Scotland, seven in Wales and one in the Channel Islands.

The distances here range from 578 kilometres (361 miles) for the Beara-Breifne Way in Ireland to 80 kilometres (50 miles) Burren Way in County Clare, Ireland over 24 and four days respectively.

Volume 1 has six circular walks and 19 linear walks whilst Volume 2 has eight circular walks and 17 linear walks.

Details are also given for trekkers and runners who will naturally take less time than walkers to complete these routes.

A chart at the end of each book lists all the walks, distances, ascents and time to complete the walk in either days or hours for walkers, trekkers and runners. There are also symbols showing facilities on the route such as type of accommodation available, type of terrain encountered, types of paths and waymarking details. Kit Lists, Hiking with Children, Safety & Rescue, Insurance and Emergencies are also covered in the first eleven pages of the books.

For anyone with a perchance for long distance walking and those thinking of a walking holiday, these two books provide the ideal reference to suit all types of walkers plus trekkers and runners as well.

by John Burland