Fellwalking with Wainwright: 18 of the Author's Favourite Walks in Lakeland [Hardcover]

 

 

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Purists (a breed whom AW understood well) will probably argue that the only genuine article is the original set of seven Pictorial Guides.

If they do, they are partially missing the point. The original guides are the core, and literally the source, of many of the Wainwright books which followed them. This is one of those books. Wainwright's text is enhanced by a smattering of his exquisite draughtsmanship, and by the beautiful Derry Brabbs photographs. In a recent TV interview, Brabbs showed that he has a good handle on AW's strengths and foibles.

As a very average fellwalker, and a late starter, I yesterday reached the point where I have completed half of the 18 walks in this book. The book was the biggest single inspiration to get me this far. Someone on a recent TV programme (this may have been Derry Brabbs again)called Wainwright a "trudger". Nothing wrong with trudging if it gets you there, and you use the experience to enthral generations of trudgers by your description of the routes.

I highly recommend this book as probably being the best of all the 'coffee table' books written after the Pictorial Guides. However, the original edition (1984- this edition above is the 2006 edition even though it says 1984) is better but if you cannot find one then buy this one instead.

Lovers of the English Lake District almost universally love Alfred Wainwright's wonderful volumes of `Pictorial Guides' detailing individual fells in guidebook format. In more narrative style this `Fellwalking with Wainwright' AW links some of the fells together or he describes combined ascent-descent routes to give 18 circular walks claimed as "the author's favourite walks in Lakeland". Any such choice is inevitably subjective, but having done all 18 I can vouch for their top quality. If his already sizeable book could have been increased to a `top-twenty' I would have liked AW to include a short circuit of Grasmoor and Whiteside from Lanthwaite Green, plus the superb but longer ridge walk around Ennerdale's summits from Great Borne to Crag Fell - incorporating his beloved Haystacks. Other subjective issues would be a preference for Birkness Combe rather than Burtness Combe, or Pavey Arc rather than Ark - but I dare not contradict AW. However I can fill a gap in his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Lake District by naming his 2 unknown gullies on Great End (page 184) where G and H are respectively One Pitch Gully and Window Gully.

This highly visual `Fellwalking with Wainwright' is an updated version of the 1984 edition when photographer Derry Brabbs first collaborated with Wainwright. There are some new illustrations and it has been brought up to date with minor revisions like a warning of rock-fall dangers on Lord's Rake (page 199). Photographs are of a variable nature as can be assessed from Scafell views of rock features on Scafell (pages 200 & 201) but the subject matter is exemplary. There are many traditional vistas together with aspects directly relating to the walks, plus unusual views as the buttress of Steeple (page 23). Being a coffee-table book the full page and double page spreads are especially stunning as demonstrated by Dow Crag from Goat's Water (page 148) and Dove Crag with a sprinkling of snow (pages 50 & 51). Captions are excellent for stating where photographs are taken from as well as the views, and the illustrations dovetail smoothly with the text. Interspersed with Derry Brabbs' photographs are AW's own wonderful sketches for which he is famous. These embrace scenes with or without dotted lines indicating routes, plus his panorama outline diagrams, or a combination as the view South from Skiddaw Little Man (page 97). Also included are thumbnail sketches of features such as rock pinnacles, summit cairns and the like together with flora and fauna. Some have been superseded as the cairn on Pike O'Blisco where rebuilding is not to the original standard (page 117) and Charmer's gravestone below Dow Crag is now firmly replanted (page 147).

From a cautious rambler it is somewhat surprising to have Wainwright describe Sharp Edge on Blencathra in descent (page 84) albeit "shuffling along it in a sitting position". I applaud this more adventurous approach but wonder why AW gives no warning of difficulties with Skiddaw slate's notorious nature when wet, particularly as he feels obliged to advise a detour of Crinkle Crags' Bad Step (page 120), and he is sufficiently wary not to mention Pavey Ark's glorious Jack's Rake. Subjective matters cannot undermine the even-handed and equitable presentation of `Fellwalking with Wainwright'. For readers using the book as an introduction to Lakeland I can guarantee there is no better selection of circular walks than these favourites of Alfred Wainwright. Those already aware of the area may have yet further subjective challenges of their own, but they cannot fail to be captivated by the engaging text and magnificent illustrations which with every chapter will transport them to a memorable Lakeland. `Fellwalking with Wainwright' is a wonderful 5-star publication.

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5.0 out of 5 stars wainwright book
wainwright's 18 greatest walking book was in excellent condition, I quickly received item and would definitely buy from them again

Published 5 months ago by Ms. L. K. Kershaw

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic for every fellwalker's collection
Not an alternative to the classic series of guides but as a supplement to them this is an idiosyncratic and personal view from a master. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Nick

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