27th July 2008

The Near Eastern Fells and The Central Fells, titles of the new LAKELAND FELLRANGER series under Cicerone Press, will be in the shops my mid-August, with The Southern Fells and The Mid-Western Fells will be published in the early new year.

Advance copies of The Spirit of Hadrian's Wall will be available for the Emperor Hadrian Exhibition at the British Museum in August, with general release following the launch event in Hexham on 9th October - more news on this closer the time.

Great Mountain Days in the Lake District has had a tremendous start, published in April, it is due to be reprinted in September.

 

WHITE PEAK WALKS: The Northern and Southern Dales are presently the main focus of my walking research. These two titles are completely new editions of hand-drawn guides published in the mid-1980's also by Cicerone Press. I can't believe that nearly a quarter of a century has elapsed! Changes in the landscape and in recreational walking appetite brings me to this area with re-newed pleasure and energy. My delivery deadline is this coming Christmas - coinciding with the delivery of my first grand-child, thanks to Alison and Guy, quite a time for deliveries!

Damp weather in mid-July failed to hamper my walking endeavours in the White Peak where I completed ten really enjoyable walks: from Wetton, Alstonefield, Hartington, Hulme End, Minninglow, Pikehall, Birchover, Youlgrave (2) and Middleton by Youlgrave. Twenty-six explored to date out of a total of seventy, plenty of good walking to look forward to.

I usually choose to walk on my own to avoid distraction, but just occasionally I relent especially when my old chum Rod Busby from Bradford has the time to join me. Rod and I have walked together for many years, and since 1974 he has frequently featured as a distinctive foreground figure in many a drawing or photo. 'Spot Rod' could almost be a competition! For identification purposes - he features in Great Mountain Days on the Bowfell Climbers' Traverse and the summit of Great Dodd.