The National Trails - Great British Walks

This inspirational guidebook looks at each of the National Trails in turn, through England, Wales and Scotland, describing what makes each of them so special and providing the practical information to help you plan your route. A definitive reference to the best of British walking.

'Dillon's knowledge and enthusiasm oozes on every page. He begins by giving practical advice on how to prepare for trail walking, the best time of year to go, finding accommodation, which maps to use and what to do in an emergency. Then he takes us on a step-by-step tour of each route totalling over 3,100 miles.

For each route he details the highlights and characteristics before suggesting a daily itinerary. Along with the basic trail description, Dillon imparts interesting historical facts along the way. Illustrated with Dillon's own tempting pictures, he finishes each trail with an information panel identifying tourist information contacts, map options and lists of where to go for further information.

An enjoyable read in its own right, it's a great introduction to Britain's finest footpaths.'

(Countryfile magazine / February 2008)

'This book covers the 15 national trails of England, Wales plus four long-distance in Scotland. Paddy looks at each of them all in turn, unravelling their themes, what makes them special and to help us plan our next long walk.

This is the book to savour as you start thinking about your next walk and where to go. I have to say that having had the book for over a week now, I find a great wish to walk them all, that is, those not yet done.

This is the book you should have when you start considering your next adventure or for those days when the weather is foul and you are feeling low. It will remind you what a wonderful land we live in and what delightful walks we have.'

(South West Coast Path Association / Autumn 2007)

'Although the book details the various routes on a day-to-day basis, this is not a guide that is intended to be carried in a pack. But it is immensely useful in planning, and Paddy has thoughtfully included incidental information based on his vast knowledge of the routes that would count as ‘Top Tips’ in a conventional travel guidebook. This certainly helps with the planning and logistics, while Paddy’s way with words and his enthusiasm for the landscapes through which the routes travel are more than enough to motivate those planning next year’s hols, and to remind those of us who write the detailed guidebooks that maybe we should be out there too, doing revisions.

This is a typically thorough Dillon work, and a book that usefully fills a gap in the market. My one regret is that I didn’t think of it first.'

(Terry Marsh, Outdoor Writers & Photographers Guild, Nov 2007)

'Finally, here's a guide that brings together information on all 19 long-distance paths that make up our National Trail network. This chunky tome is ideal for planning your next season's hikes at home. Coverage includes useful practical information, public transport ideas and map numbers.

Paddy's writing is easy to read and there is some tempting imagery. I was bearly through the introduction before my feet were itching, thinking about which of these national treasures to walk.'

(Walk magazine / Winter 2007)

'Are you planning to walk one of the 19 National Trails? Perhaps you have already walked some and, having caught the bug, want to do more. If so then this has to be the book for you. Every now and again a book comes on the market you know at a glance is something special. This is the feeling I got when this latest offering landed on my desk.

Paddy is one of this country's most prolific guidebook writers. He has been afflicted by wanderlust for many a year and has produced almost 40 books covering routes both home and abroad. He has walked all the National Trails of Britain twice and thus has the pedigree for producing a general book abut them.'

(Strider / December 2007)

'Continuing their theme of larger format books, Cicerone have produced this sumptuious guide to the nation's official long distance paths. Written by Paddy Dillon - a prolific writer and walker with over forty books to his name - and generously illustrated with the authors photographs, the book gives both general information on how to plan and organise your multi-day walking as well as more detailed information on each trail.'

(Walking Wales Magazine / Issue 1 2008)

'This clearly designed, concisely written and well illustrated guide will take you from the Great Glen to Land's End, from the North Norfolk coast and the North Downs to St Davids Head.

Maps, schedules, distances, sites of interest and useful tips make this the perfect tool for choosing which route to follow.'

(The Lady / February 2008)

"What a prolific and accomplished writer Paddy Dillon is! Prolific in the forty-odd books and the innumerable magazine articles and contributions to other books that he has to his name, and accomplished in the fact that he is not only a thoroughgoing researcher and writer but he also does his own (excellent) photography and generates his own (again excellent) maps. This latest publication is a tour de force succinctly providing all the critical information an intending walker needs to have about the 5,000 Km of Britain’s National Trails.

The excellent OS Landranger maps that are recommended make it unnecessary to give any step-by-step directions, even if space allowed, but in the text Paddy has woven overall route guidance into a naturally flowing, educational and entertaining descriptive narrative."

(Irish Mountain Log - Spring 2008)

Check out the review on the following websites:

www.walkingbritain.co.uk

www.bookpleasures.com