Rob Haslam

Biography
I created and wrote the White Peak Way in 1980 to initiate a flexible and interesting week-long walk around the Peak National Park that included as many of the scenic highlights as possible. Having lived on the fringes all my life I knew the area intimately and saw the opportunity of providing something unique, a long distance path that offered walkers a choice of B&B, youth hostel or campsite/barn at the end of every stage.

After publication in 1982, YHA quickly cottoned on and were quick to instigate the first booking bureau for LDPs. It is now one of nine, details of which can be found at www.yha.org.uk . Contours Walking Holidays also organise independent WPW walks. www.contours.co.uk .

In 1989 and 1991 I combined my work with my hobby and organised two charity walks on the WPW which raised over £33,000 for the Heart Transplant Unit at the hospital where I work.

I now write fiction and am currently searching for an agent to handle my first novel, but thanks to the WPW I was recently commissioned by the Chesterfield & NE Derbyshire Group of the Ramblers' Association to write the guide and website for the Chesterfield Round Walk, which came out in the summer of 2005.