Mountain Walking – Snowdonia – 40 of the finest routes in Snowdonia by Terry Fletcher. Published by Cicerone £14.95

WHEN this new publication from Cicerone Books arrived and I started reading it, it transported me back forty years to the mid 70s when I attended my Mountain Leadership Training and Evaluation Courses at the Plas y Brenin Outdoor Centre near Capel Curig and also to Scout camps I had organised and led at Bala some forty eight miles further south.

Many of the northern areas in the book – the Carneddau, the Glyderau, Snowdon and its satellites, the Eifioneed and the Moelwyns were visited during my Mountain Leadership Training Board weeks in 1975 as training exercises and during the assessment week the following year, whilst the Rhinogs was the area where I took part in the Karrimor Mountain Marathon in 1979. Walks around Bala were completed during the Scout camp there in 1978 with the 9th Airedale Scouts.

The book has been compiled by Terry Fletcher, best known as the former editor of Dalesman and Cumbria magazines, who has been walking and climbing in these parts of Wales for over 50 years. The book is divided into nine sections, with mostly four or five walks in each section (two smaller sections have two walks each whilst the Glyderau has seven walks) with the 40 walks ranging from three miles and 230 feet of climbing up to 12½ miles with 3350 feet of climbing and all distances and ascents in between.

The book concludes with a two day walk over the fifteen Welsh 3000s, covering 31 miles and 13,000 feet of climbing which Terry describes as “one of the most demanding challenges of British walking”.

Each walk has a detailed map of the route to be undertaken and an excellent route description. At the beginning of the book there are details of the Geology, History, Transport, Accommodation, Equipment, Mountain Rescue, Use of the Guide and Place Names, whilst at the end there are appendices of a Route Summary Table, a Welsh/English Glossary and a list of useful contacts. The 220 page book is also punctuated with 110 full colour photographs taken on the various routes.

For both newcomers to Welsh mountaineering and also seasoned veterans this is a superb pocket sized publication that is easily followed and will lead to many happy days in these magnificent mountains of Northern Wales.

by John Burland