Undiscovered Scotland

 

An inspiring collection of 30 multi-day backpacking routes, that takes you along rugged coastlines from Shetland to Knoydart and across mountain ridges from the northern tip of Skye to Glen Affric. A superb book, whether for armchair walkers in Winter dreaming of the better weather: or as a practical guide once that better weather arrives!

The routes are sorted geographically, from Shetland in the north to Rum in the South. Each route comprises one or more maps giving an outline of the route; a day-by-day route description; background on sources of tourist information, on transport, on accommodation and supplies, and on overnight options and escape routes; plus an introductory section setting out total and daily distances, total and daily height gained, maps needed to complete the route, and start and finish points.

Two themes recur throughout the book: wild coastlines and lonely summits. Not every walk has a coastal element, though many of them do: and every walk involves hills, and more usually mountains. Walks vary in length from 24km to 71km, with height gains ranging from 380m on Orkney to 4610m around Glen Shiel. Each route is graded from Easy (suitable for regular hillwalkers) through Moderate and Strenuous to Challenging (suitable only for experienced and fit mountain walkers). Most of the routes are intended to take 2 days, though three 3-day routes and a 5-day route are also described.

The book starts with an introduction covering various aspects of backpacking, looking at equipment, food, navigation and safety in the hills, plus a number of issues of particular relevance to Scotland such as access legislation, wild camping, and deer-stalking.