'The winter completion of the Munros in a single push was not only a tremendous team effort but also Martin and Joy's great love story. It was an amazing Odyssey and The Munros in Winter is a superb account.' Sir Chris BoningtonIn 1984 Martin Moran became the first person to conquer the Munros in a single winter journey. In this gripping narrative he recounts his legendary achievement.
Hell of a Journey describes what is arguably the last great journey to be undertaken in Britain: the entire Scottish Highlands on foot in one winter. On one level it is a vivid and evocative account of a remarkable trek - never attempted before - on another it celebrates the uniqueness of the Highlands, the scenery and ecology of 'the last wilderness in Europe'. The challenge Mike Cawthorne set himself was to climb all 135 of Scotland's 1,000-metre peaks, which stretch in an unbroken chain through the heart of the Highlands, from Sutherland to the Eastern Cairngorms, down to Loch Lomond, and west to Glencoe. His route traversed the most spectacular landscape in Scotland, linking every portion of wilderness, and was completed in the midst of the harshest winter conditions imaginable. Acclaimed on its first publication in 2000, this edition contains an epilogue in which Mike Cawthorne reflects on his trek and wonders what has changed since he carried it out. He warns that 'wild land in Scotland has never been under greater threat'. Hell of a Journey is a reminder of what we could so easily lose forever.
The Munros consist of 277 Scottish mountains over 3000 feet in height. They are enjoying unprecedented popularity as hikers and vacationers flock to the area to enjoy the magnificent scenery. It has been estimated that most good weekends, even in the winter, attract close to 50,000 visitors. Cameron McNeish, editor of The Great Outdoors magazine, provides an essential reference for readers either planning a trip to the region or wishing to relive the adventures they enjoyed there.
The mountains provide the spiritual nourishment so essential to a truer understanding of the hills and, ultimately, ourselves. Munro bagging is a headily addictive pursuit, with the holy-grail of 'compleation' the ultimate aim, currently achieved by around 7,000 Munroists. It all began in 1891 when Sir Hugh Munro's Tables of 3,000-foot Scottish mountains appeared in The Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal. Since then, this innocent compilation of hills has become a hallowed hit-list. Andrew Dempster traces the meandering course of this cult activity, which has gone from trickle to torrent in the space of a century. From early map-makers to current record-breakers, from the why and the wry to wildness and well-being, The Munros: A History explores the compulsions and philosophies underpinning the Munro phenomenon.
Moonwalker is a unique story, the memoir of a man whose love of Scotland's mountains would override his body-clock and all conventional notions of health and safety. When Alan Rowan finished his shifts as a sub-editor at a national newspaper at midnight, he knew he was too jacked up on deadline adrenaline to attempt sleep. At the same time, he was starting to worry if he would ever complete his ambition to reach the summit of every Munro in Scotland those peaks of over 3000ft. One crazy night, he decided upon a single solution to both problems. He would begin his ascents in the middle of the night, see the sun rise above the clouds and then come down the mountain just as everyone else was going up. We see Alan's transformation from desk jockey to midnight mountaineer, meet dodgy car salesmen, rabid sheepdogs, charging deer, superstitious Germans and crooked confectioners - all the while seeing the best of Scotland in a unique light. Moonwalker is funny and touching; at once a deeply personal memoir and a riotous travelogue.
Volume two of Walking the Munros, this guidebook describes 70 challenging and inspiring routes up Scotland's iconic 3000ft+ mountains within the Northern Highlands, the Cairngorms and the Isle of Skye. The routes, which range from 7 to 46km (with the option to reduce walking distance on some of the longer routes by cycling the approach), cover 143 Munro summits, offering half and full-day walk and scramble options. Clear and concise route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100K mapping, together with invaluable practical information on access, parking, accommodation and more. Also included are two handy indexes of the Munros - listed alphabetically and by height - a perfect resource for peak-baggers. This guide incorporates both popular and lesser-known routes, and celebrates the raw and rugged beauty of these majestic mountains.
Half of a two-volume set describing challenging and inspiring routes to climb Scotland's 282 3000ft+ mountains, this guide covers the southern, central and western Highlands (south of the Great Glen), taking in stunning areas such as Glen Coe, Glen Shee, Lochaber and Mull. 69 demanding and inspiring routes are described, covering 139 Munro mountains. Including both popular and lesser-known routes, the guide is ideal both for Munro-baggers and those who simply love great mountain walking. This volume includes the iconic Ben Nevis, Buachaille Etive Mor and Aonach Eagach ridge as well as the Mamores, Grey Corries and Arrochar Alps. Volume 2 details the other 143 Munros, covering the northern Highlands, Cairngorms and Isle of Skye. The half-day and full-day walks and scrambles range from 7km to 48km (with the option to reduce walking distance on some of the longer routes by cycling the approach). Detailed route description and 1:100K mapping is accompanied by information on difficulty, mapping, parking, access and nearby accommodation. The guide also includes handy lists of the Munros, by height and alphabetically - perfect for peak-baggers - as well as useful details on Gaelic names.
