Book Review: 1001 Walking Tips by Paul Besley

 

1001 Tips is a guide to walking with a difference. Rather than a conventional manual format it consists of succinct tips grouped under various subjects. The tips are very short, few running longer than three or four lines. Every type of walking is covered – urban walking, hillwalking, long-distance walking, winter walking and more. Every walking related topic is here too, everything from fitness and training to winter safety.

Some tips are practical dos and don’ts, some instructional, some informative, some light-hearted (such as have a snowball fight or build a snowman during a winter walk). There’s a huge mix here. Novices can learn much, those with more experience will learn something too – and probably disagree with some of the advice! It’s a good book for arguing over. I’m pleased too to see that there are tips on conservation and taking care of the countryside. This isn’t just a how-to book. 

 

You could read this book straight through, cover to cover, but it’s not really designed for that. I think it’s a book to dip into, to browse, to use for reference, to refresh your knowledge. Going winter walking for the first time (or the first time in a while)? Read the 80 tips in that section. Thinking of long-distance walking. There are 113 tips for that.

The author is well qualified to write the book. He’s a writer on landscape and walking and a walking guide with a particular interest in the Peak District and South Pennines. He’s written four walks guides to the area and is a volunteer ranger for the Peak District National Park and a member of Woodhead Mountain Rescue.  He’s also a good photographer and the book is illustrated with his photographs.

Entertaining, informative, and well-presented this is a book that deserves a place on every walker’s bookshelf. It's published by Vertebrate and costs £25.