Undiscovered Scotland

 

"Great Glen Way: Walk or cycle the Great Glen Way" by Jacquetta Megarry and Sandra Bardwell is the sixth edition of this excellent guide. The Great Glen Way runs for 77 miles (124 km) along Scotland's Great Glen between Fort William and Inverness. It follows the line of the Caledonian Canal and passes several lochs, including Loch Ness with its famous monster legend, and Urquhart Castle. Most of the route is straightforward, following canal towpaths and disused railway trackbeds, though there are some demanding gradients in the northern half and the final section into Inverness is 20 miles long. The route can be biked or hiked, or ridden on horseback: or followed - on the lochs and canals - by canoe.

This is one of a range of books produced by Rucksack Readers in their very distinctive and highly practical style. Designed, as the name implies, to be rucksack-friendly, these guidebooks cover some of Britain, Ireland and the world's finest long-distance walks and most inspiring mountains. They are tough, spiral-bound, lightweight, and, perhaps most important of all to anyone venturing into the outdoors in Scotland, printed on waterproof paper. This volume differs from previous Rucksack Readers we've seen in being rather slimmer and with the spiral binding down the side rather than across the top. In our view both these changes make it even more usable.

This book begins with a key to the mapping inside the attractive cover. We then move on to a section on planning and preparation, covering everything from navigation to packing; and another on background information, covering geology, the Caledonian Canal, history, mountains, and habitats and wildlife. The heart of the book looks at "The Way in Detail" and does exactly what it promises. Clear maps and detailed instructions ensure the walker has everything they need in once place and at their fingertips. At the back of the book is a reference section with a range of helpful contacts and sources of additional information.

Combine the quality of the content with beautiful presentation and good colour photography throughout and the end result is a book that's a pleasure to use - or just to browse - and an essential companion for anyone wanting to tackle the Great Glen Way.