The round of the nine 2000ft peaks in the Ochils, and others easily reached such as Ben Lomond, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin, Ben Ledi and Benvane, are all included in a reissue, after 12 years, of this handy and practical book.
There was some criticism of the Ochils material in the earlier edition because it wrongly included Dumyat in the main route. Even now, Andrew Gannel Hill is on the map covering the walk, but not in the text. Nevertheless, map and text together make it clear that the nine are Innerdownie, Whitewisp, Tarmangie, King's Seat, Andrew Gannel, the Law, Ben Cleuch, Ben Ever and Blairdenon. Dumyat can be included as an optional extra.
The book covers 86 walks in Scotland, including the islands, 64 walks in England, 32 in Wales and 18 in Ireland. Most are long and challenging and they include the traverse of the Cuillin ridge in Skye.
There are clear maps, accommodation and transport information, and 32 evocative colour photographs.
Richard Gilbert is a highly experienced mountaineer, writer and photographer, and knows his stuff. Hill gangrels will nitpick over this or that point, but it is good to see this useful book in print again.
FotO president Rennie McOwan has contributed one of his own essays on Dumyat to Call of the Wild, a new book published on behalf of the Outdoor Writers' Guild (OWG) to mark its 25th anniversary.
The book's 25 essays cover the British Isles including Ireland and are written from the point of view of walkers, climbers, canoeists, artists and those interested in other outdoor pursuits.
The 128pp hardback anthology is edited by OWG president Roly Smith, includes 100 colour photographs, has a foreword by OWG member Sir Christian Bonington, and is dedicated to founder OWG member and former chairman Derryck Draper, who died suddenly last year. It is published by Rucksack Readers of Dunblane, cost £12.50.
The latest in the occasional series of Tiso discount evenings is on Tuesday 1 November, 6pm-9pm at the shop in Murray Place, Stirling. FotO members are invited to come along and avail themselves of the 25% discount on mountaineering and climbing equipment (hardware, harnesses, ropes, rock shoes etc), the 15% discount on clothes, footwear and other equipment, and the 10% discount on books, GPSs and kayaks.