It takes a lot to persuade me away from lakes and mountains
when I am walking in the Lake District. It is such a beautiful place that I am
always after extensive views so have never really explored the spectacular
woodlands in the area. I have recently put that right with the help of Northern
Eye’s “Lake District Woodland Walks”, written by Vivienne Crow.
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I have to say the front cover, which features striking green
trees and a carpet of bluebells would make most people want to venture forth
and explore so it captured me immediately. The book is pocket-size and has a
selection of ten woodland walks to choose from. Each walk has a small Ordnance
Survey map of the route and then a detailed step-by-step guide to follow,
highlighting points of interest along the way and where to look out for
particular wildlife. There is also a summary at the beginning of the distance
and terrain you will encounter as well as some context to the area each walk is
based within.
The ten walks span the whole of the Lake District from
Backbarrow in the south to Bassenthwaite in the north and from Ravenglass in
the west to Staveley in the east. The distances range from just over two miles
to eight miles so there is something for everyone. At face value it is a
comprehensive guide with everything you could need. But – what are the walks
like to follow in reality? I tried one of them to find out.
The Grasmere Woods walk was my choice. I battled torrential
rain on this walk and I have to say the trees provided at least some welcome
shelter at various points! I am delighted to say the directions were very easy
to follow, even when the path wasn’t always clear (there are useful tips on
paths not to take when there is
doubt). I didn't need to refer to my OS map once (but make sure you have one with you just in case). In spite of the weather it was a lovely walk that went through rugged oak
woods, across the shore of Grasmere and along the slopes of Loughrigg on the
terrace, which has views extensive enough to even satisfy me (albeit not on
that day!)
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| The 10 walks |
The book rightly highlights the changing nature of woodlands
throughout the year. On my Grasmere walk, the colourful golds, reds and yellows
of autumn were still clinging to the trees but I am going to try it again in
the spring as Vivenne Crow mentions in this chapter that the woods leading away
from Loughrigg Terrace are “awash with bluebells” come May. It is a walking
book for all seasons.
With stunning photos peppered throughout the book and with
each walk being so well written, easy to follow and really capturing the magic
of the variety of woodlands in the Lake District, this is an excellent addition
to anyone’s walking library and at £4.99 is very good value.
It is part of a
series of top ten walks by Northern Eye books, all of which look tempting.....
Lake District Woodland
Walks is available in most Lake District bookshops or via www.northerneyebooks.co.uk
Published by Northern
Eye Books
Written by Vivienne
Crow
Price £4.99
