Hannah Collingridge

Yet another wonderful collection from the publisher’s ‘Mountain Walks’ series of pocket-size guides, offering walks to suit all abilities and levels of fitness, from very challenging routes to a low level one nature trail which is suitable for wheelchair/powered scooter users. As always in this series, apart from the integrated OS maps and detailed directions for each walk, the book is full of useful information about how to navigate safely, including, if you are using mobile phone/GPS technology, the need to take physical maps and a compass (and know how to use them!) in case your device either runs out of power or you’re unable to get a signal!
There is also plenty of useful advice about wearing the right sort of clothing, being prepared for sometimes quite dramatic changes in weather conditions, the best foods to eat to ensure your energy levels are maintained, particularly on long, challenging walks. Also included is information about how to contact the rescue services in case of an accident or emergency; respecting the countryside code; walking with dogs; parking responsibly; public transport; places to get refreshments etc. The area around these three peaks is geologically fascinating and I appreciated the fact that insights into this rich limestone country were included in the walks, encouraging walkers to give thought to where they are putting their feet!
Over more decades than I like to be reminded of, I’ve done lots of walking in this area so although I haven’t yet been able to follow any of the routes described before writing this review, I know many of them well enough to believe in the accuracy of the descriptions. In the past I’ve tackled the Three Peaks Challenge and like the fact that both the clockwise and anti-clockwise versions are included because I’ve done both, enjoying the fact that the different views afforded add a different dimension to the challenge.
This collection includes the even more challenging ‘Super Three Peaks’ route, which is approximately four miles longer, has an additional two hundred metres of ascent, requires greater navigational skills and has fewer easy bail-out options. When I read this, and knowing that a super-fit friend, always looking out for the next challenge, was intending to tackle the Three Peaks challenge during the May Bank Holiday weekend, I ‘persuaded’ him to do a test run of this alternative route! He reported back that he’d enjoyed a wonderful (if rather tiring!) day in the hills and had managed to complete the route in twelve and a half hours so, as the guide suggests a timeline of 11 – 16 hours, he felt very satisfied when he came to take his boots off ! Although he always takes an appropriate OS map, he also took the guidebook and said how much he appreciated not only the very clear directions (he didn’t get lost once!) but also all the additional information about the route and the lovely photographs.
With thanks to Vertebrate Publishing for sending me a copy of the paperback version to review.… (meer)