o u t d o o r
FOCUS
autumn 2017
FROM THE EDITOR...
David Taylor
T
here’s something slightly melancholy
about the month of August. Autumn
isn’t yet upon us but it’s definitely
tapping at the door wanting to come
in. As I write this there is condensation on
the windows and a definite chill in the air.
(The central heating sprung unbidden into
life a few days ago too, a reliable sign that
the season is about to change.) Any plans
for summer that haven’t yet been fulfilled
will soon need to be put in a drawer to
await another year.
The inexorable passing of time has
been put in sharp relief this summer by
the sad loss of Walt Unsworth and Nick
Channer, two prolific writers and steadfast
champions of the outdoors. You can read
tributes to both men by their peers in this
issue of Outdoor Focus.
Elsewhere you can read about the The
Man from Alaska and his friendship with
Kev Reynolds; Andrew White talks about
Walks around Britain and the challenges
and joys of making a TV series; and
Ronald Turnbull celebrates the Lake
District and its World Heritage status.
On the subject of the Lakes, I hope to
see you at the OWPG AGM weekend in
October. We’ll raise a glass there to those
that are gone but not forgotten.
If you’d like to submit ideas for articles for the autumn
issue please contact me for further details. The
deadline for all contributions is 15 November.
Cover shot
Allan Hartley
Taken last year in the Sexten-Sesto
Dolomites on a round tour of the
Paternkofel’s. The plan was that with
a lady photographer friend we’d
climb the Paternkofel and then do
the round tour following WWI paths
looking for alternative views of the
three Towers of Drei Zinnen or Tre
Cime Di Laverado, sounds better in
Italian. I snapped this group as they
caught us up, only noticing the dog
in the rucksack when they’d passed.
www.allanhartley.co.uk
3
CONTENTS
3 / Walt Unsworth
A tribute to Walt Unsworth, a father
fi gure of British outdoor writing,
who sadly died this summer.
7 / Gallery
The monthly themed gallery
showcasing the works of OWPG’s
photographers. This month’s
theme: The Dizzy Heights.
9 / Wordsmith
Kev Reynolds, the man with the
world’s best job, writes about The
Man from Alaska.
10 / Andrew White
Outdoor Focus talks to Andrew
White, the presenter of the popular
TV show Walks Around Britain.
12 / Book reviews
Roly Smith reviews Heart of the
Cotswolds, Border Abbeys Way,
Walking the Hebridean Way, Wild
Guide: Scotland and Hadrian’s
Highway: Parts One and Two.
10
14 / Doing it for ourselves
Andrew Bibby writes about
Gritstone, Britain’s fi rst authors’
publishing co-operative
15 / Peaked interest
News from the Peak District,
including details about the Sheffi eld
Walking Festival in September.
16
16 / Unesco goes Alfresco
Ronald Turnbull considers the news
that the Lake District has been
granted World Heritage Site status.
1 Sunrise time 06.13
Sunrise direction 76°
SEP Sunset time 19.46
Sunset direction 284°
15 Sunrise time 06.35
Sunrise direction 84°
SEP
Sunset time 19.14
Sunset direction 275°
1 Sunrise time 07.01
Sunrise direction 94°
OCT Sunset time 18.37
Sunset direction 265°
15 Sunrise time 07.24
Sunrise direction 103°
OCT
Sunset time 18.06
Sunset direction 257°
1 Sunrise time 06.54
Sunrise direction 113°
NOV Sunset time 16.33
Sunset direction 247°
15 Sunrise time 07.18
Sunrise direction 120°
NOV
Sunset time 16.10
Sunset direction 240°
Sunset/Sunrise times and direction correct for London. Times in BST (GMT from 1 Nov)
The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild is the only UK-based
association of media professionals working largely or entirely on outdoor
subjects. Our members cover every fi eld of activity and all corners of
the globe. They include writers, journalists, fi lm makers, photographers,
publishers and editors, all with a passionate interest in the outdoors. For
more information visit www.owpg.org.uk.
2 Outdoor focus | autumn 2017
7
Editing/design: David Taylor
[email protected]
ISSN 2043-8591 (print)
ISSN 2043-8605 (online)