Archive for December, 2009

Great Mountain Days in Lake District – Walk Forty-Six

December 14th, 2009 in Book Catalogue, Cicerone Office by Sarah

I’d been following the weather forecast for a couple of days, and Sunday was looking to be fairly perfect walking weather. A quick flick through the pile of Cicerone guidebooks on my desk last thing on Friday, and it was decided – we were going walking on Sunday.

Looking towards Helvellyn

Looking towards Helvellyn

I had chosen walk forty-six from Mark Richards Great Mountain Days in the Lake District – Place Fell from Patterdale. Mark writes ‘Place Fell is far more than a pleasing facade, it is a wonderful ‘place’ to walk’. The prospects from its summit are majestic, and the outlooks from its roller-coaster shoreline path absolute heaven – making a very special day’s walking’ and I have to agree.

We set the alarm early, and headed out from Patterdale just before first light – it’s my favourite time of the day, and the frost scrunched under foot – it just felt magical.

After leaving the summit, we headed over in the direction of High Dodd. I made out the outline of a deer grazing about 300 yards in front of us, on closer inspection the herd must have been around 20 – 30 strong, with another herd grazing to the left of us.

I’m now back at my desk and planning some more outings for Boxing Day and New Years Day, the only problem is I’m too spoilt for choice….

Place Fell

Place Fell summit pillar


Cicerone author Commended in the Digital Camera Photographer of the Year

December 10th, 2009 in Book Catalogue, Cicerone Authors by Sarah

Cicerone author Jon Sparks was Commended in the Digital Camera Photographer of the Year 2009. Final results were announced last night (Dec 8th) at London’s Mall Galleries.

Jon’s photo entitled Photographing Lynch Tor, Dartmoor was successful in the This is Britain category. Jon commented that he was pleased to be chosen in a category seemingly dominated by urban, documentary style images but as he said in his original image caption, ‘Even in our crowded island, wild places are usually not too far away’.

An exhibition of all the winning and Commended photos is on show at the Mall Galleries until Sunday 13th December; open every day 10am–5pm. Admission is free. Mall Galleries are on the Mall, a short distance west of Admiralty Arch and just a short walk from Charing Cross Underground and main line stations; see www.mallgalleries.org.uk

The 2009 version of the Digital Camera Photographer of the Year competition was the biggest yet, attracting over 100,000 entries from 126 countries, of which around 70 made it into the final selection.

About Jon

Jon is not a complete stranger to the business of winning awards, having previously collected top honours from both the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild and the British Guild of Travel Writers. He is an experienced freelance photographer and writer specialising in subjects such as landscape and outdoor pursuits.

He’s particularly passionate about walking, climbing and cycling, but his enthusiasm encompasses almost any activity that doesn’t involve the infernal combustion engine. In the last few years he’s been ocean sailing, snorkelling, kayaking, canyoning and cross-country skiing as well as trekking, scrambling and climbing. He has also ridden bikes on everything from the boards of the Manchester Velodrome to the West Highland Way.

Jon has travelled and photographed in Pakistan, New Zealand, Canada, Morocco, and Australia, as well as most countries in Europe. He supplies images to the global libraries Corbis and Alamy and Britain on View, as well as directly from his own library.

Jon is the author of Cicerone’s Outdoor Photography guidebook.


New Titles from Cicerone

Walking in Derbyshire Walking in Derbyshire
A walking guide to Derbyshire, England, UK, including the Peak District National Park. 60 historic day walks from bases such as Glossop, Buxton, Bakewell, Matlock, Ripley, Ashbourne and Derby, to places such as Hardwick Hall, Kedleston Hall, Eyam, Chatsworth House, New Mills, Cromford, Goyt Valley and Dovedale. From 2 to 10 miles for all abilities. More »
Walking in Croatia Walking in Croatia
Mountain walking and trekking guide to Croatia, Europe with walks in the Dinaric Alps (Gorski Kotar and Velebit), Istria, Slavonia, the islands (Pelješac, Korcula, Mljet, Hvar, Brac, Lošinj and Cres) and around Zagreb. 26 routes from easy day walks to treks and via ferrata over varied terrain. Includes full background information and hut directory. More »

» More new titles
» Coming Soon

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