Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #139309 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-16
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
This second volume of a two-part series of guides to the Munros detailing the routes to 145 Munros in the Cairngorms and northern highlands (north of the Great Glen). A comprehensive introduction indicates the history of the Munros and includes vital information to make your quest as successful as possible. It includes detailed route descriptions around each of the 145 Munros (all the popular routes included), with sketch map for each route. All routes are prefaced by a wealth of information about Gaelic names, accommodation and access. Useful feature is the 10-figure grid refererences for key points such as summits and start point of awkward descent lines. It includes travel and other information on making the most of your walks and your stay in the area. An appendix listing all the Munros covered in the guide is also present. It features outstanding full-colour photography, and a hard-wearing, waterproof PVC cover. Part of a two-part series; volume 1 covers the southern Munros.

Customer Reviews

Expected better
I saw this book in a bookshop had a quick flick through and bought it later on Amazon.

The book is a nice size for putting in the ruck sack or even trouser pocket and has a water proofed cover which I'm sure most people will know is a very good idea for a Highland guide book!

The book is also very well laid out with nice maps (no replacement for OS maps though) and many photographs.

Unfortunately though, this book as not as impressive as it first looks.

Route times are very optimistic (sometimes by hours), the distance and ascent figures are also underestimated and the routes themselves are often very long, demanding and definately not for beginners. The authors chosen routes can also be a little strange, often choosing to descend near vertical slopes (at best crippling on the knees, at worse possibly dangerous) when paths exist nearby.

As has been mentioned the Gaelic pronunciations are consistantly wrong and sometimes even laughable (especially the pronounciation of Buachaille Etive Mor!) and although there are many pictures, they are often not of the best quality and several of them are incorrectly captioned.

Overall the book is well set out, a handy size and the authors writing is fine but there are just too many 'factual' mistakes in this volume to truly recommend it.

Wonderful book
What a fantastic little piece of kit this book is. Small, waterproof, well laid out and easy to follow. Munros are broken down into areas with all the information you could ever need.
Each walking route starts with a helpful list giving, Distance, Ascent, Maps needed, Where to park the car, Start point, Accommodation and Access numbers for the appropriate estate. This is followed by a detailed route giving map referances and estimated times.
The author has a straightforward and positive attitude towards walking, unlike Cameron Mcneish, who in my opinion has a pompus and arrogant attitude towards certain types of walker.
The only downside I have with the book is the route times. I dont believe for a second some of the times he has in the book. I have done over 50 munros using the book, class myself as a fit person but still cant see some of the times he has marked down. Besides this the book is a wonderful read and a great buy.

Slipshod
First the good bits. My comments apply to both volumes.The books are in a durable water resistant format. Ideal for the pocket or sac. They contain enough ideas to keep you happy in the Scottish hills for years.
The author's style is breezy and will certainly make you get the boots out. I found some of his estimates and descriptions to be on the optimistic side, he is perhaps too much of a climber for a hillwalker's book. It is always difficult to translate one's own experience into a general guideline.
Now the bad bits. He consistently refers to YHA hostels. There are many such references throughout the two volumes. There are no YHA Hostels in Scotland. The youth hostels in Scotland are run by the Scottish Youth Hostel Association and are referred to in every other publication you will meet as SYHA hostels. This implies bad editing for these books. Accuracy is very important in a book of this type. I wonder what other errors may have passed unnoticed.
There is one other point which grated on my nerves. The author supplies a hint to pronunciation for all the Munros. Gaelic pronunciatition is a vexed problem but there is a little booklet produced by O.S. which gives the received pronunciation for those who are not native Gaelic speakers. The author, however has chosen to give his version. I can assure anyone who uses his attempts that they will be the life and soul of any hostel common room. He or she will be asked to pronounce every Gaelic name on the map. They are far and away the worst attempt I have ever seen. Three out of five is the best I can do.