a forthcoming Friends Way 2 . But there is much to enjoy on the �irst part of the route , which can easily be accomplished in a week . As usual with Rucksack guides , there are useful and informative sections on history ( including a brief but fascinating account of England in the 17th century and a biography of Fox and Quakerism ), geology , and the varied habitats which support the �lora and fauna of Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales .
Clear Lovell Johns 1:35,000 scale mapping should ensure an easy and safe passage to the experienced or even the not-soexperienced walker , but it ’ s a shame that the previous excellent Rucksack ring-bound format seems to have been abandoned , presumably on grounds of cost .
As an extra bonus , there are two day walks based on Sedburgh , one to the famously-temperance Cross Keys Inn at the foot of the Howgills , and the other a circular route to the Grade 1 listed Brig�latts Friends Meeting House , built in 1675 and where Fox preached to about 500 ‘ Friends ’ in 1677 . I have seldom experienced the peace and tranquillity I felt when I �irst visited this simple , unpretentious building .
Cycling King Alfred ’ s Way
Julia Goodfellow-Smith Self-published as e book and audio book
This is a personal description of one of Guild secretary Julia Goodfellow-Smith ’ s ‘ Bucket List ’ ambitions as outlined in her previous book , Live Your Bucket List . When she heard about the 217-mile King Alfred ’ s Way , a circular route based on the historic cathedral city of
Winchester , she thought it was the ideal way to ful�il her dream of a long-distance cycle route which would be manageable for a novice cyclist such as herself . The route , only set up a couple of years ago by Cycling UK , encircles Alfred ’ s Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex , and takes in historic monuments such as The Ridgeway , Stonehenge , Avebury , several Iron Age hillforts , and the two cathedral cities of Winchester and Salisbury .
Goodfellow-Smith undertook the route with her keen mountain-biking friend Alison , who proved to be an encouragement during some of the more dif�icult days .
But this is in no sense a day-byday route guide description of King Alfred ’ s Way , and much of the book is taken up with the author ’ s six-week preparation and training , and latterly on tips on how the reader should prepare themselves for such a journey . So the �irst thing you will need if you intend to follow in the author ’ s bike-tracks will be the appropriate OS maps , in addition to Cycling UK ’ s comprehensive guide ( which includes OS mapping ) covering the route .
The Cambrian Coast 2 : Harlech to Aberystwyth
Des Marshall Gwasg Carreg Gwalch , £ 6.95 ( pb )
The latest in Gwasg Carreg Gwalch ’ s comprehensive series of guides to the Cambrian Coast follows the southern section of the line of the picturesque Cambrian Coast Railway between Harlech and Aberystwyth .
There are no detailed routes in these guides , just enticing descriptions of some of the attractions to be found en route . In this latest guide they include Aber Mawddach ; Harlech and its commanding castle ; the port of Barmouth ; Dolgellau and Penmaenpool ; Aberdy�i and Tywyn ; Owain Glyndŵr ’ s capital , the market town of Machynlleth , and “ the capital of the Welsh language ,” Aberystwyth .
The potted essays on subjects which range from the Tal-y-llyn narrow gauge railway to one of Wales ’ greatest poets , the 14th century bard known as Dafydd ap Gwilym , who lived at Llanbadarn Fawr , just to the north of Aberystwyth .
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