written by anonymous National Park rangers in their respective areas . The walks range from one to 10 miles in length , but there seem to be no surprises in the chosen , wellfrequented routes . The sketch maps in the books are strictly diagrammatic , and the accompanying , separately sold , maps , at a scale of about two inches to the mile , are purely locational , with no indication of the walk routes . Neither provide anything like adequate substitutes for the trusted Ordnance Survey 2½ in to the mile Explorers – as I ’ m sure most National Park rangers would agree .
100 Nature Walks and Short Walks in Beautiful Places
Both National Trust Books , £ 12.99 ( hb )
The unattributed text of 100 Nature Walks is based on the National Trust ’ s 2018 publication , Great British Seasonal Walks and features 96 walks in Trust properties in England , Wales and Northern Ireland , plus a token four in Scotland .
Short Walks in Beautiful Places was previously published by the NT as Great British Walks in 2014 and 2020 , and features 100 walks split into regional sections , plus Wales and Northern Ireland . Both books show every sign of being convenient rehashes , and in both the maps are purely diagrammatic and should really be used in conjunction with the appropriate OS Explorer map , although unfortunately this is not recommended in the books .
Favourite views
Sycamore Gap / David Taylor
The sycamore of Northumberland ' s Sycamore Gap is probably the most photographed tree in the county . This is largely thanks to a little film called Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves , starring Kevin Costner as the eponymous hero . ( Admittedly , it ’ s a fantastically photogenic spot too .) You see the tree not long into the movie , when Robin and his companion , Azeem – played by Morgan Freeman – are making their way to Nottingham from Dover . Don ' t ask why they travel through Northumberland , that ' s Hollywood for you . There ' s a fight between Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham ' s men in front of the tree . Robin naturally triumphs and then heads to Aysgarth Falls in Yorkshire . Really , don ' t ask .
There are several paths that can be taken to reach Sycamore Gap . The most demanding is to follow the rise and fall of Peel Crag from the car park at Steel Rigg . This route has the advantage that you follow the line of Hadrian ' s Wall , which is still extant for long stretches in this part of Northumberland . Peel Crag is part of the Great Whin Sill , a 295-million year old extrusion of dolerite , that can also be seen in County Durham .
You don ’ t see the sycamore until the last moment . It ' s only when you crest a steep rise after Milecastle 39 that the tree pops into view , neatly framed by the gap . Photographically , it ' s this angle that I prefer , as it avoids the – now clichéd – composition with the sycamore framed symmetrically by the surrounding hills .
outdoor focus / autumn 2021 15