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Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Old 05-05-2009, 1:02 PM   #1
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Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Planning on going up there in a month or 2.

Can anyone recommend a good guide/travel booklet (there's quite a few on Amazon) for some classics walks up there.

Nothing to heavy. Just a guide with some nice maps, several classic walks (going to do scafell pike so it should have that one), best walks, places to visit etc etc.

Cheers
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Old 05-05-2009, 2:00 PM   #2
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Best books by a mile are the Wainwright books.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wainwright-A.../dp/0711224617

*Obviously you don't need to buy every one of them

http://www.stridingedge.com/catalogu...e_revised.html

Last edited by Urien Rheged; 05-05-2009 at 2:26 PM.
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Old 05-05-2009, 2:13 PM   #3
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Second that.

Funny, informative and beautifully illustrated.

The walkers choice
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Old 05-05-2009, 2:17 PM   #4
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

The 'Wainwright walks' are on BBC HD just now.
Try BBC iplayer if you've missed them.
I've got them on series link.
I'm not even into hillwalking, the programmes are still fascinating.
I also have a bit of a 'thing' about the presenter, but that's another story.
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Old 05-05-2009, 2:49 PM   #5
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Originally Posted by bowfer View Post
The 'Wainwright walks' are on BBC HD just now.
Try BBC iplayer if you've missed them.
I've got them on series link.
I'm not even into hillwalking, the programmes are still fascinating.
I also have a bit of a 'thing' about the presenter, but that's another story.
Yeah, was a good series....

...if you like the presenter she is doing another walk series where she is following old railway lines...can't remember the name but its bound to be something obvious like Railway Walks!
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Old 05-05-2009, 2:49 PM   #6
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Originally Posted by bowfer View Post
The 'Wainwright walks' are on BBC HD just now.
Try BBC iplayer if you've missed them.
I've got them on series link.
I'm not even into hillwalking, the programmes are still fascinating.
I also have a bit of a 'thing' about the presenter, but that's another story.
Aye. I've been watching the repeats (shown originally a year or 2 ago I think). Sadly only in SD though.

Want to get into hillwalking/treking and the like and seems a lovely area to start with

Cheers for the recommendations guys.

And Julia aint too bad
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Old 05-05-2009, 4:11 PM   #7
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Originally Posted by domtheone View Post
Aye. I've been watching the repeats (shown originally a year or 2 ago I think). Sadly only in SD though.

Want to get into hillwalking/treking and the like and seems a lovely area to start with

Cheers for the recommendations guys.

And Julia aint too bad
I've been watching the Coast to Coast walks series on BBC4 at the moment that Julia's been presenting.... is that the same one you've been watching?

I did the walk myself with some mates about 20 odd years ago (showing my age here) and the Lake District was definitely the most strikingly beautiful part of the walk.

There's so much to see up there it would take all week to go through where to go.

However... my own tuppence would go on visiting the Langdale Valley, Coniston, Scafell (and Pike) and Helvellyn.

If you're camping there's a great campsite (and pub) at the end of the Langdale Valley.
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Old 05-05-2009, 4:15 PM   #8
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Especially if you go in Autumn, the Borrowdale Valley (near Keswick) is stunningly beautiful.
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Old 06-05-2009, 1:19 PM   #9
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Originally Posted by Mac Man View Post
I've been watching the Coast to Coast walks series on BBC4 at the moment that Julia's been presenting.... is that the same one you've been watching?
Aye. Watching that at the moment. Think I was thinking more specifically about the Lakes one a year or 2 ago.
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Old 06-05-2009, 2:03 PM   #10
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Originally Posted by Mac Man View Post
If you're camping there's a great campsite (and pub) at the end of the Langdale Valley.
Think i've stayed in that campsite, a couple of years back, it's (or at least was) a national trust one and very cheap (book through the NT website) the (the old dugeon ghyll) pub does great chilli and is a good place to start or end a walk around great langdale.

Edit: Just remembered a website you can get some free walks on,not all lake district though...
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/routes/...t.aspx?sp=&v=7

Last edited by Stream62; 06-05-2009 at 2:29 PM.
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Old 06-05-2009, 4:01 PM   #11
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Originally Posted by Stream62 View Post
Think i've stayed in that campsite, a couple of years back, it's (or at least was) a national trust one and very cheap (book through the NT website) the (the old dugeon ghyll) pub does great chilli and is a good place to start or end a walk around great langdale.
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That's the one. Stunning location.... and doesn't seem to attract the hordes of daytrippers that amble around so much of the Lakes.
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Old 07-05-2009, 9:12 AM   #12
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Originally Posted by Mac Man View Post
That's the one. Stunning location.... and doesn't seem to attract the hordes of daytrippers that amble around so much of the Lakes.
Attracts a lot of rain though

From what I remember it is a little of the beaten track and down a bit of a smaller road than some of the other places in the lakes...
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Old 07-05-2009, 11:56 AM   #13
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Old Dungeon Ghyll is great. I'd recommend the walk up Bowfell but going up the valley between the Band and Crinkle Crags mostly following Hell Gill. You'll come out on top at Three Tarns then head up to peak Bowfell. Come down, go past Angle Tarn which is probably the best place in the Lake District and follow Mickleden back to the pub for a well deserved pint after quite a strenuous descent.

A bit like this route A Lake District Walk - Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Great Langdale but following Hell Gill up in the middle rather than going up Crinkle Crags.

For Scafell, take the Corridor route up.

Last edited by eviljohn2; 07-05-2009 at 11:59 AM.
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Old 07-05-2009, 12:20 PM   #14
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

I remember doing the route up Jack's Rake many years ago with my school's hiking club (oh how times have changed... can't imagine teachers taking 12-14 year olds up this ascent nowadays ). And then up onto Pavey Ark, over to the Pikes and then down one of the scree slopes back into the valley (which I think is banned now due to erosion) and then on to Elterwater.

Happy days. And yes... it did rain a lot.
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Old 07-05-2009, 12:47 PM   #15
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Good website eviljohn, not seen that before, 100% free which is great.
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Old 07-05-2009, 3:45 PM   #16
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Quote:
Originally Posted by eviljohn2 View Post
For Scafell, take the Corridor route up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stream62 View Post
Good website eviljohn, not seen that before, 100% free which is great.

Aye. Found that website the other day whilst browsing.

Some good walks on that site.
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Old 07-05-2009, 6:59 PM   #17
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

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Best books by a mile are the Wainwright books.
They are indeed very enjoyable to read, but be careful - the routes described may not be in places as accessible or safe as when Wainwright wrote the books. Check with local walkers before you set off.

Sorry to sound a misery guts, but having had two of my closest friends die in fellwalking accidents in the Lake District, and having a father who was in a mountain rescue team in the Lake District and hearing his various stories of walkers/climbers in distress, can I please beg you to follow sensible precautions, such as letting someone know where you're going and likely to be back? It's not being babyish, it's common sense. And if you're not used to walking in the fells, start with some of the gentler walks - some of them are tougher than they look.

I don't want to deter anyone from enjoying the Lake District - it truly is special, and practically any part of it yields special delights. But please be careful. I have no personal especial fave walks, but I would make the obvious comment that if you want to avoid crowds, Hawkshead, Bowness, Coniston, etc, are best avoided unless you're after provisions. Having said that, Hawkshead is pretty even with the tourists and Kendal has a decent enough shopping centre if you need to stock up on more than basics.

Quote:
then down one of the scree slopes back into the valley (which I think is banned now due to erosion)
I think you're right that it's now banned (it's a good few years since I lived in Cumbria, but I think the ban came in just before I left). A shame in some respects as scree riding is one of the biggest thrills of your life if you get it right. Of course if you get it wrong, you become more intimately acquainted with Cumbrian geology than you'd probably really want.

Last edited by andrew markwort; 07-05-2009 at 7:07 PM.
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Old 13-07-2009, 5:00 PM   #18
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Just going to bump the old thread.

Back last night from the Lake District.

Couple of warm up walks on Friday, ambled around (stayed in Ambleside) on Sat and then Sunday (of course it had to be the worst day weather wise) did Scafell Pike with clould cover from 800 metres meanign visibility of around 50 yds at the summit

Fantastic walk (Corridor route), Stunning Location.

Definately going back

Had a Wainwright book with me and 2 x Ordnance Survey maps which, imo, were essential for a novice. Not only in confirming where we were at all times but to highlight everything around us.
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Old 15-07-2009, 6:15 PM   #19
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Re: Recommend me a guide book for walks in the Lake District

Go on the AA website and type in walks on the search. First link will bring up a search engine for walks. They are very good. You can also buy books with them all in.

They are graded for difficulty, etc.
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