Sport

Ultramarathons don''t leave much room for mistakes. Don''t learn the hard way: get a jump on training for an ultramarathon with Hal Koerner''s Field Guide to Ultrarunning, a comprehensive handbook to running 30 to 100 miles and beyond, written by one of the most experienced and recognized athletes in the sport. Hal Koerner is among America''s best ultrarunners with podium results in more than 90 ultramarathons. In his smart, down-to-earth handbook, Koerner shares hard-earned wisdom, field-tested habits, and insider tips to help you prepare for your ultra. You''ll find guidance on exactly what you need to know to prepare for ultramarathon, including: best gear for ultrarunning; fueling and hydration guidelines; choosing an ultra; trail-running technique; first-aid advice; beating altitude, storms, and heat; race-day game plans; crew and pacer tips; mental strategies to get you to the finish line The guide offers three detailed training plans to prepare for 50K, 50-mile to 100K, and 100-

Read more less

Complete an entire marathon with energy to spare. Nancy Clark shows you how in this book, offering you the best advice on topics such as balancing carbohydrates, carbohydrate loading, protein and fat in your diet, choosing the best snacks and losing weight while staying energetic. You'll learn what, when, and how to eat so you'll enjoy not only the process of training for the marathon but also participating in the marathon itself - with energy to spare!

Read more less

The Round: In Bob Graham's Footsteps by Steve Chilton is not only a history of the Bob Graham Round, but also an exploration of the what, why and how of this classic fell endurance challenge. After covering the genesis of the Bob Graham Round in detail, it documents its development from a more-or-less idle challenge to its present status as a rite of passage for endurance runners. Interspersed with this detail of the round are extensive profiles of many of the event’s most significant individuals: innovators, record setters, recorders and supporters. Some links to resources for potential Bob Graham Round completers are be included. The Round is emphatically not a ‘how to’ guide, but it is a terrific follow up to Steve Chilton’s hugely popular first book, It’s a Hill, Get Over It.

Read more less

This is Book 19 in the exciting new series of full-colour "Pocket Walks", being small, practical sized guidebooks aimed at the less serious rambler. Full colour photographs and colourful sketch maps accompany each of the well described walks, with the bonus of making it an attractive souvenir of the area. Principal feature is that all walks are less than five miles in length (though averaging 4 miles each, they are all very definitely worthwhile outings), making them ideal for families, leisure walkers, and those constrained by either time or other limitations. Concise route descriptions are complemented by ample background information. This title deals with Sedbergh and Dentdale in the north-western corner of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Twenty superb walks use starting points such as Sedbergh, Cautley, Howgill and Dent. Places visited include Garsdale, Carlingill, Deepdale, Cautley Crag and the Howgill Fells. This is launched in unison with Swaledale, which completes our coverage of the entire Yorkshire Dales. Also published at the same time are Ribble Valley and Around Pendle, both in Lancashire.

Read more less

When Andrew Strauss's team seized the world title in the summer of 2011 they finally recovered what had been lost at the Adelaide Oval in 1959. This tale of England's preceding triumph and loss is recounted through the memoirs of many of the star players when England had last been top of the world. Bent Arms and Dodgy Wickets tells the story of English cricket's slow recovery from the Second World War, of its brief time of triumph and of its undignified fall from grace - a tale of fluctuating fortunes reflected upon by great names including Hutton, Compton and Trueman, Lindwall and Miller, McGlew and Weekes. The title refers to the sporting controversies of the time - suspect bowling actions and poor pitches - as Britain declined as an imperial power, and English cricket was hampered by class snobbery, anachronistic fixations and an uncompetitive domestic game.

Read more less

When England cricket captain Tony Greig announced that he intended to make the West Indies 'grovel', he lit a fire that burned as intensely as the sunshine that made 1976 one of the most memorable summers in British history. Spurred on by what they saw as a deeply offensive remark, especially from a white South African, Clive Lloyd's touring team vowed to make Greig pay. In Viv Richards, emerging as the world's most exciting batsman, and fast bowlers Michael Holding and Andy Roberts they had the players to do it. Featuring interviews with key figures from English and West Indian cricket, Grovel!: The Story and Legacy of the Summer of 1976 provides a fascinating study of the events and social issues surrounding one of the sport's most controversial and colourful tours - as well as addressing the decline of West Indies cricket and its loss of support in the new century.

Read more less

The Outer Hebrides are a place apart, an island chain stretching almost 200km from the Butt of Lewis to Barra Head with some of Britain's most mesmerising beaches, dramatic mountain ranges, wonderful wildlife, a long and fascinating history and a rich and vibrant Gaelic culture. This book features 40 mostly moderate walks, with many ideal for families, which take in magnificent sweeps of sand, soaring sea cliffs and memorable hill ascents, as well as celebrated cultural sights such as the haunting Standing Stones at Callanish and the blackhouse village of Na Gearrannan.

Read more less

Loch Ness, with its legendary monster, is the most famous of all lochs. It holds more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined and the countryside around it features an equally great variety of walks, with more waymarked trails and easy routes suitable for families than many other parts of the Highlands. Further north lies the magnificent Glen Affric - Scotland's most beautiful glen. This is a wonderful area of the Highlands for walkers, having the highest mountains north of the Great Glen but also some splendid lower-level and forest walks. To the east is the fertile Black Isle, packed with charming villages and some fine beaches, whilst further north still is Dingwall, a gateway to the spectacular Northern Highlands.

Read more less

Sitting just off the north coast of Scotland, between the Atlantic and the North Sea, Orkney is probably the only place where, in the space of a single day, you can walk along a golden beach with seabirds and seals, clamber over wartime ruins, descend into ancient tombs or wander around a house that is older than the Pyramids. With rugged cliffs, rolling waves, prehistoric sites and stunning wildlife, Orkney is a wonderful place to go for a walk. This guide of 40 walks from Pocket Mountains will help you make the most of it.

Read more less

This Scottish Mountaineering Club climbers' guidebook details all the climbing to be found on the sea-cliffs and outcrops on the magical Isle of Skye. It is an up to date and fully comprehensive guide to what is an increasingly popular area, on an already popular island. It is a companion volume to the 2011 guide to the Cuillin mountains of Skye, from the SMC. It is written by one of the recognised experts in this area. It is full colour throughout with action pictures and detailed photo-diagrams. User friendly in a successful and well presented format, this title includes page marker ribbon to ease the location of climbs.

Read more less

Mountaineering in the Ecrins Massif showcases the Ecrins' most beautiful summits through a selection of the area's best lower grade snow, rock and mixed climbs.Authors Frederic Chevaillot, Paul Grobel and Jean-Rene Minelli have chosen 25 classic Ecrins routes – graded between F and AD – that have come to be regarded as classics due to their quality, their altitude or, simply, their easy access.These routes provide the essential pleasures of mountaineering: getting off the beaten track, enjoying the pure mountain air and delighting in the charms of the high mountains. Most of these routes are at the boundary between hiking and technical alpinism and should be within the capabilities of any fit hiker-mountaineer.Routes and peaks featured include: the Aiguille du Goleon; the north ridge of the Aiguille Dibona; the south ridge of Pic Coolidge; the north-east face of the Meije Orientale; and the traverse of the Barre des Ecrins ridge, plus many more.Each route features a detailed and comprehensive route description, a sketch map and a route summary detailing the start point, difficulty, timings, height gain, best time of year and the gear required. A conscious decision was made to limit the selection to relatively easy climbs, and so the routes described in this book – a mere fraction of the climbs in the magnificent Ecrins Massif – should be within the capabilities of almost all mountaineers.

Read more less

Comprehensive, illustrated guidebook to the magical land of Ladakh in the far north of India, beyond the Himalayas. Up to date information on hotels and transport and practical advice on planning and budgeting your trip. Detailed explanatory descriptions of the regions' famous Buddhist monasteries and other sights besides the stupendous road journeys to Ladakh from Manali and Kashmir, with entire sections on these two regions. There are extensive sections on Zanskar, Nubra, and the Pangong-Tsomoriri lakes, besides a chapter on the treks in Ladakh. Also included is a detailed introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and a section on the people and history of Ladakh. Apart from a foldout map of the Ladakh-Kashmir region at the back, there are some 25 other maps in the books, and about 270 colour photographs.

Read more less

From the thousands of matches ever played by Manchester United, stretching from their roots as Newton Heath to the present-day colossus that has racked up more league titles and FA Cups to their name than any other club, here are 50 of United's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Manchester United Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in everything from the dark days of Munich to the unmatched League/FA Cup/Champions League Treble. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Tommy Taylor, Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton, George Best, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes - springs to life in a thrilling selection of hard-fought derby matches, landmark European nights, and league and cup exploits. In all, a journey through the highlights of United history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

Read more less

Most of us can watch an old episode of the holiday programme Wish You Were Here without it having the life-changing effect that it had on postman Edward Buckingham. For Ed, a young man from humble origins in Cornwall, the draw of Kilimanjaro and the high mountains of the world would change his life forever. It would also very nearly end his life during a fall from high on Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world.Drawn to high places, Ed embarked on a journey that would take him to the summit of the highest mountain on every continent. His seven summits actually involved ten summits - he climbed the highest summit in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, and the highest in Continental Europe, Mount Elbrus, as well as summiting Australia s Mount Kosciusko and the far more remote Papua New Guinea summit of Carstenz Pyramid, the highest point in Australasia. And, of course, Cho Oyu.In 7 Summits, Ed tells of hardship and near-death experiences on Cho Oyu, the sheer scale and suffering in being the first Cornishman to ascend Everest, as well as his final summit, Mount Vinson in Antarctica. Ed develops as a man throughout his quest. Always humble, working hard for the Royal Mail delivering post to fund his trips, on his early trip to Aconcagua and on his first attempt on Mont Blanc he is very much a novice mountaineer, but his passion for the outdoors and willingness to help his fellow climbers is always there. During his fifteen-year quest Ed's experience grows, particularly in the sub-Arctic of Alaska, where his ascent of Denali tested his stamina and equipment to the limit. At the culmination of his quest, he emerges as a capable climber, fit and strong and by sheer determination has become a world-class athlete, running full and ultra marathons, climbing mountains and delivering post.

Read more less

Got, Not Got: The Lost World of West Ham United is an Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to the Boleyn's fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mud and magic - as well as a Hammers-mad childhood of miniature tabletop games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. The book recalls a more innocent era of football, lingering longingly over relics from the good old days - West Ham stickers and petrol freebies, league ladders, big-match programmes and much more - revisiting lost football culture, treasures and pleasures that are 100 per cent claret and blue. If you were a Junior Hammer, one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from Bobby Moore lifting the World Cup to the early days of the Premier League, then this is the book to recall the mavericks - Peters and Hurst, Best and Brooking, Bonds and Cottee - and the marvels of the Lost World of Football.

Read more less

This is the story of the greatest achievement in the history of international football. After decades of failure, Spain won Euro 2008 and then the World Cup in 2010. At Euro 2012 they became the first team to win three consecutive tournament titles. This book has remarkable eyewitness accounts and new interviews with star players.

Read more less

In the popular Wales Coast Path: Top 10 Walks series this attractive and cleverly structured guide gives walkers ten of the finest short circular walks along the South Wales Coast section of the Wales Coast Path in a popular pocketable format. With clear information, an overview and introduction for each walk, large scale Ordnance Survey maps, superb eye-grabbing panoramic photographs, and interpretation of points of interest along the way, these guides set a new standard in clarity and ease-of-use. Featured walks include: Margam Country Park, Kenfig Burrows, Merthyr-mawr WarrenOgmore & St Brides Major, Nash Point & St Donat's, Llantwit Major, Porthkerry Country Park, Cardiff Bay, Nash & Uskmouth and Redwick.

Read more less

Blowers, Bubbles & Balls breaks away from Henry Blofeld's more conventional journalistic style and is a selection of short stories and anecdotes about some of the more unusual experiences he has encountered throughout his career as a cricket commentator and writer. A light-hearted and lightweight string of anecdotes by international media gadfly, Henry 'Blofly' Blofeld, which has marginally more about wine and women than cricket. However, Blofeld does introduce a few episodes such as his odyssey to the Sydney Hill to meet the owners of the 'Bespectacled Henry Blofly Stand' banner.His stories take the reader around the world and behind the scenes with the cricketing fraternity. From England to Australia, from South America to India and back to the West Indies, Henry tells of his much publicised run-in with Ian Botham, and frankly discusses his relationship with Dennis Lillee. These jolly, jaunty japes and tales are sometimes witty, sometimes racy, sometimes spicy, and occasionally incredulous, but never are they dull.

Read more less

This attractive and cleverly structured guide gives walkers ten of the finest walks to the most amazing viewpoints in the Lake District National Park in a popular, pocketable format. With clear information, an overview and introduction for each walk, expertly written numbered directions, large scale Ordnance Survey maps, superb eye-grabbing panoramic photographs, and interpretation of points of interest along the way, these guides set a new standard in clarity and ease-of-use.Featured walks include: Gummer's How, Carron Crag, Orrest Head, Wastwater, Rannerdale Knotts, Low Fell, Hallin Fell, Walla Crag, Latrigg and Great Mell Fell.

Read more less

Alan Rae was the physio at Hearts for over 20 years. He joined the club in 1982, languishing in the First Division and looking at the prospect of part time football. In that time he has seen 8 managers come and go as well as 3 owners and too many players to mention. Six years after leaving 'The Jambos' he has penned a memoir of his time at Hearts. He has anecdotes about home games, European games and even pre and post season tours abroad. Woven into these memories is the medical knowledge of a true professional, from players suffering career threatening injuries to managers for whom the pain of losing is physical as well as mental.

Read more less

The Ultimate Guide to The Munros is a guidebook with a difference. Rather than telling the reader which are the 'best' routes, it describes all practicable ascent routes up all the Munros, and rates them in terms of difficulty and quality (using comprehensive grading systems). This enables the reader to make his/her own choices from a range of route options. Providing everything a prospective hill walker could want, The Ultimate Guide to the Munros also makes extensive use of annotated digital photographs and OS maps and includes everything about a route from the amount of effort required to local history, weather conditions and the best tea-rooms in the vicinity.

Read more less

Think the Munros are too difficult? Think again. Meet Baffies, the entertainments convenor of the Go-Take-a-Hike Mountaineering Club. Named after his footwear of choice [Baffies is a Scottish word for slippers], he is gifted in the art of finding the easiest way up any given mountain. This is the second in the Baffies’ Easy Munro Guide series of reliable rucksack guides to some of the more easily tackled Munros. Twenty-five routes, each covering one main Munro, all with detailed maps and full colour throughout – this lightly humorous and opinionated book will tell you everything you need to reach the summit.

Read more less

The story of one obsessive fan's unlikely ambition: to bowl just one ball at his childhood hero, Sachin Tendulkar. From the very first time he'd ever watched the 'Little Master' bat, as a 12-year-old boy, Adam Carroll-Smith had been transfixed. He dreamed not just of bowling to Tendulkar, but of actually knocking over his off stump. Just one problem: he was never really much of a cricketer. However, determined not to let such a small detail stand in his way - and eager to settle an old score with a childhood chum - Carroll-Smith earnestly set about achieving the unthinkable during India's 2011 tour of England. A hilarious summer ensued as he attempted to live out his fantasy, fending off the attentions of over-zealous fellow fans, crazed Italian spiritualists and his meddling best friend - not to mention the dozens of blazered officials and luminous-jacketed stewards standing between him and his hero.

Read more less

A dozen Sheffield United legends come together to tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Blades fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the red-and-white shirt...Tony Currie recalls scoring the goal of his career in a 1975 victory against West Ham; Alan Kelly recounts his penalty shoot-out heroics which secured an FA Cup semi-final place. Dane Whitehouse waxes lyrical about scoring to beat Wednesday at Hillsborough - while Phil Jagielka takes us back to that joyous Bramall Lane afternoon when United beat Hull to set up promotion back to the Premier League. Blades greats Colin Grainger, Len Badger and cult hero Bob Booker also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for Sheffield United.

Read more less

Walking South Yorkshire is a collection of 30 circular walks, between 2 and 8 miles (3 and 13 km) in length, that explore the ancient woodland and rural visitor attractions around Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley.Attractions visited include: Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wentworth Castle Gardens, Stainborough Park, Cannon Hall Museum, Old Moor RSPB Reserve, Monk Bretton Priory, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Worsbrough Mill, Rockley Blast Furnace, Wentworth Woodhouse, the Waterloo Pottery Kiln, Catcliffe Glass Cone, Graves Park Animal Farm, Roche Abbey and the Chesterfield Canal.Written by local walker, Rob Haslam, each walk features detailed route directions, combined with a thorough insight into the county's rich, yet little-known, heritage of ancient woodland. All walks can be reached by public transport from Sheffield, Meadowhall, Rotherham and Barnsley, feature Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps and information on public transport, car parking, history, refreshments and terrain.

Read more less

Great British Bike Rides is a celebration of British road cycling.Author Dave Barter brings together 40 of the best road rides in England, Scotland and Wales, searching out the country's most celebrated routes, toughest climbs and most scenic roads.The rides are challenging, they are adventurous, and they are quintessentially British – tackle the classic Fred Whitton in the English Lake District; pit yourself against fearsome climbs inspired by the Dragon Ride in Wales; and feast upon Scotland's stunning scenery following wild roads through Assynt and across Skye.Already a fanatical cyclist, author Dave Barter packed in his job and hit the road, embarking on a 9000-mile tour of Britain to bring together the best riding the country has to offer. His cycle routes are devised specifically for this book, enchaining unforgettable climbs, quiet roads and stunning scenery.Each ride is accompanied by detailed route information, bespoke mapping and a statistical breakdown including every detail the committed cyclist requires. The book is complemented with a set of downloadable GPX files to further aid navigation.Join the cycling revolution and discover the best road cycling in Great Britain.

Read more less

Mountaineering in the Mont Blanc Range showcases the most beautiful lower grade snow, ice and mixed climbs (F to AD+) in the seemingly inexhaustible Mont Blanc Range. The routes described in this book should be within the capabilities of almost all mountaineers.Reflecting all recent changed topographical conditions due to the steady glacial retreat created by climate change, authors Jean-Louis Laroche and Florence Lelong have selected 36 climbs from across the range, which are easily accessible from well appointed mountain huts, useful telepheriques and mountain railways.The routes described are an ideal introduction to the climbing in this magnificent area. They are on snow or mixed ground and, distributed among the main glacier basins, they will enable you to visit a representative selection of summits along the full length of the range. Among them are some of the finest classics, including: the North Face of the Tete Blanche; the Whymper Route on the Aiguille d'Argentiere; the Cosmiques Ridge of the Aiguille du Midi; the Normal Route, Contamine-Grisolle, and Chere Couloir on the Mont Blanc du Tacul; and of course a choice of routes on Mont Blanc itself.Each route features a detailed and comprehensive route description, a sketch map and a route summary detailing the start point, difficulty, timings, height gain, best time of year and the gear required. Beautifully illustrated with photos that show both the lie of the land and also the haunting beauty of the fabulous peaks of the Mont Blanc Range, this guide clearly indicates alpinism's continued popularity to climbers of all ages.

Read more less

This is a thoroughly modern book on the traditional open canoe. It covers all aspects of the open canoe, from design to wilderness travel. What really sets it apart is its focus on canoeing techniques. Ray Goodwin is the UK's best known and (many would go so far as to say) foremost canoe coach. By introducing some of the latest canoeing performance skills, based on what he has discovered through decades of coaching and guiding, he sets out to inspire a new generation of paddlers. Through clear language and the use of photographs acquired over many years of paddling around the world, he shares some real insights of the reality of canoeing; sometimes gritty, but always enthralling. New in the 2nd edition is a section on 'vision pattern', a method for creating a mental map of a rapid. There is an expanded and re-written chapter on canoeing with children. There are more techniques for improvised sailing and more on advanced lining and tracking. It describes new solo rescue techniques and has many new inspirational canoe expedition examples.

Read more less

Cycling in the Peak District - Off-Road Trails and Quiet Lanes is a guidebook for the leisure cyclist, mountain biker and family rider. It is for the cyclist who values fun, good views and lunch stops over grimaces, a racing heartbeat and aching legs. It is a book of enjoyable cycle rides. Eighteen routes, between 9 and 23km in length, explore the traffic-free lanes and off-road trails of the Peak District.Taking in quiet roads, dedicated cycleways and some of the more amenable off-road riding in the area, the routes explore every corner of the Peak; limestone dales, open moors, gritstone crags and tiny villages – they're all there. Never too long, too difficult or too remote, they are great fun and are challenging for riders of all ages and abilities. The guide also includes suggestions on where to ride with children and a section on where to ride along dedicated cycleways away from the traffic.Written by local riders Tom Fenton and Jon Barton, the rides are clearly described using step-by-step instructions and feature original maps, route profiles and local information.

Read more less

Oxford United On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's rollercoaster past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable U's diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation as Headington in 1893 through to more recent flirtations with the First Division and the Conference, the United faithful have witnessed promotions and relegations, breathtaking Cup runs and Wembley triumph - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Ron and Graham Atkinson, John Aldridge, Maurice Kyle and Dean Saunders all loom larger than life. Revisit 20th April 1986, when Oxford won the Milk Cup final. 2nd June 1962, when the Yellows were elected into the Football League. Or 8th February 1975, when the U's beat Man U in front of 16,000 fans, plus thousands more on that evening's Match of the Day.

Read more less

Oldham Athletic On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's rollercoaster past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of Latics history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian formation through to the Premier League era, the Boundary Park faithful have witnessed championships, promotions and relegations, hard-fought Lancashire derbies, breathtaking Cup runs, a Wembley trip and a re-election saga - all featured here. All-time greats including Eric Gemmell and Andy Ritchie, Bobby Johnstone, Roger Palmer and Andy Goram all loom larger than life. Revisit 10 April 1994, when the Latics were 13 minutes away from winning the League Cup. 24 April 1915: a 2-0 defeat by Liverpool that left Oldham runners-up in the League. Or 25 October 1989, when at one point the scoreboard read Frankie Bunn 6 Scarborough 0!

Read more less

Plymouth Argyle Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Pilgrims. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the 90-year-old director who was registered as a squad member? How about the two London-born midfielders called Lee Hodges who both played for the club? Or the penalty kick that ended up in the hippo pen at Plymouth Zoo, Home Park's 70s neighbour? Do you know which Greens forward let young children swing from his outstretched arms? Which Pilgrim became a saint by saving a baby from drowning? Or how long Sean McCarthy wore his undergarments before celebrating his 200th goal? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of green-and-white history close to their heart.

Read more less

The official guide to this superb National Trail, published in conjunction with Walk Unlimited. Comprehensive, this is the only companion you need to walk this well-loved path. Since it opened in 2003, Hadrian’s Wall Path has become one of Britain’s most popular long-distance paths. Its 84 miles are a convenient week’s walking, shadowing for the most part the historic line of Hadrian’s Wall in its spectacular progress across the superbly wild landscape of the north of England. Starting in what used to be Tyneside’s shipbuilding heart, and joining Newcastle in the east with Carlisle in the west, it takes you via the extraordinary Roman forts of Vindolanda and Housesteads, close to handsome towns like Hexham and Corbridge, to finish on the lonely shores of the Solway Firth with views of Scotland.

Read more less

Ken Wilson’s Classic Rock is one of the most popular and iconic works of climbing literature ever written. Along with Hard Rock and Extreme Rock, it has acquired legendary status. First published in 1978, Classic Rock represented the absolute best of British climbing at that time, quickly establishing itself as a must-have publication. It is a celebration of 80 of the best lower-grade routes in Great Britain, bringing them to life through a superb selection of photographs, anecdotes and essays from some of the most accomplished climbers of the day. ‘Ticking’ the book became an instant and obvious challenge, and remains so to this day (Wilson wasn’t a fan, describing it as ‘puerile ticking’). Any climber working his or her way through the book will be taken on a tour of the finest routes on the best cliffs and crags to be found throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Many of the routes in the book were established over a century ago. At that time the Victorian and Edwardian alpinists, flushed with successes abroad, sought harder challenges at home. With their well-honed confidence, they went straight for the biggest cliffs of Scotland. Anyone seeking to retrace their steps will immediately be transported to bold lines of weakness up otherwise daunting precipices! Before long these pioneers trailed their hemp ropes and balanced their hobnail boots up the sea cliffs of Cornwall and the gritstone edges of the Pennines, and the crags of the Lake District and North Wales. These climbers provided us with a great national treasure – a repository of adventure and spectacle that can provide a lifetime’s enjoyment and challenge. An ascent of a great historic route will rarely disappoint. Such routes retain much of their original challenge, unsullied by the pitons and bolts often found on their continental equivalents. They take bold, logical lines up otherwise difficult cliffs – usually cleaned and stabilised by years of use. Classic Rock provides a mere sampling of these treasures. This latest edition has been transformed with over 300 new colour photos. These sit alongside archive images to create an inspirational dialogue between today’s climbers and those of history. Fifty-five chapters, contributed by acclaimed climbers and writers such as Jim Perrin, Paul Nunn and Angela Soper, describe the finest classic rock climbs in Britain.

Read more less

From the creators of the original C2C, this is a new cycle route through the Southern Uplands of Scotland, from coast to coast.Linking Annan on the Solway Firth and South Queensferry on the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, the Scottish C2C is a 122 mile signed cycle route. It is a mix of country lanes, high quality cycle paths and seaside promenades with two challenging climbs, over the classic Devils Beef Tub and through the Moorfoot Hills before opening out onto a panoramic view of the Lothians, Edinburgh Castle, and the Firth of Forth. It finishes under the mighty Forth Bridge.This is the complete guide, including maps, directions, attractions along the way, accommodation and much more.

Read more less

This is the updated 2nd edition, now in full colour. "Scrambles & Easy Climbs in the Lake District" is about the appreciation of rock, the exhilaration of climbing, and the sheer pleasure of doing it in some of the most beautiful places on earth. By discarding the arbitrary division between scrambles and rock-climbs, the books makes its readers free to explore all the Lake District's rocky places. This book, by two experienced rock-climbers, Jon Sparks and Judith Brown, also offers sound advice on how to get started and how to progress; routes that are safe in the wet, and those that should be saved for perfect conditions; and, where to eat, drink and sleep between the ascents. But above all you'll find 69 routes, from scrambling Grade 1 to rock-climbing V.Diff, which explore the many faces of Lakeland rock. There is no better way to spend a Lakeland day than climbing Scafell Pike via the Esk Gorge, Thor's Buttress and Ill Crags. "Scrambles & Easy Climbs" offers a score of such expeditions, from valley floor to airy summit, with hands on rock almost all the way. Less arduous, but equally enjoyable, are days on valley crags like Shepherd's or stand-alone scrambles like Cam Crag Ridge. You can clamber on sunny Pikes Crag high above Wasdale Head; potter about above the oak woods of the Duddon valley; or climb Kirk Fell the wet way, through the waterfalls of Ill Gill.

Read more less