Cicerone The National Trails

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This inspirational guidebook looks at each of the UK’s 19 National Trails, with information that allows ease of comparison and contrast, inspiring you to find out more and to take up a long-distance challenge. Some Trails are short and easy, others much longer, many have strong themes – they may follow a coastline, or traverse ranges of hills.

Cicerone says:

This guidebook provides a comprehensive introduction to each of Britain’s magnificent National Trails walking routes through England and Wales and the official long-distance routes in Scotland, revealing what makes them so special helping you choose the best routes for you and make the most of your time along them.

In 1965 as the first National Trail in the country was opened – ‘a Pennine Way from the Peak to the Cheviots’. Together, the National Trails cover well over 5000km (3100 miles), exploring the rich, scenic, historic countryside of Britain. Some trails are short and easy, while others are long and challenging. Some have a strong theme, following rugged coastlines or meandering rivers. Others use ancient cross-country routes or follow the courses of ancient boundaries.

Author Paddy Dillon has walked all 19 routes described here not just one, but twice. The National Trails (know in Scotland as Scotland’s Great Trails) wriggle their way through some of Britain’s finest landscapes, making them readily accessible and allowing walkers to explore these areas with relative ease.

Packed with information, this guide will help you get out and walk the finest long-distance routes in the country.

• Outline schedules to allow you to compare the routes and organise your own walking itinerary.
• Basic day-by-day route descriptions illustrated with maps and profiles.
• Information on access to and from the route, maps, public transport, guidebooks, tourist information centres, accommodation and useful websites.

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: All trails can be tackled throughout the year, though many of the northern and Scottish routes can be challenging in winter conditions. Avoid the Hadrian’s Wall Path in winter, as the ground is soft and underlying archaeology easily damaged
• Difficulty: The routes vary in both length and technical difficulty, the longest being the South West Coast Path and the most difficult possibly the Pennine Way
• Must See: Broad views and unspoilt landscapes in some of Britain’s best walking areas – from thunderous breaking waves against the cliffs on the South West Coast Path to Buachaille Etive Mor at the gateway to Glen Coe

Specifications

• Edition: Second
• Number of pages: 272
• Size: 24.0 x 17.0 x 1.9cm
• Weighs 810g