Collected Musings of a Hill Wanderer

I mentioned Rucksack Readers in an earlier post but I thought that I’d say a bit more about them. They offer a range of guidebooks covering trails in Scotland, Ireland and beyond. The idea is that you carry them in your rucksack while out on the trail. Consequently, they are waterproof and lightweight. Added bonuses are the inclusion of mapping and the ability to fold the guidebooks flat. Their Irish range includes: Dingle Way, Kerry Way and Wicklow Way. Apart from maybe the Dingle Way, I had heard of these and the guides are a welcome addition to the market. But it was the Scottish range that alerted me to some trails about which I had known nothing: Cateran Trail and Kintyre Way. Otherwise, stalwarts such as the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way are covered as are the Rob Roy Way and the Speyside Way. Going further afield, treks in Europe, Asia and South America get are featured.

Last night, there was a scary derailment on the West Coast Mainline between Oxenholme and Penrith. It’s a line that I use quite a bit and the accident does give me pause for thought; especially since I am sure to have passed the place where it happened many a time and probably will do so again in the future once all is over. Thankfully, it wasn’t a serious as it could have been but my thoughts are with those who were affected by this, particularly the family of the lady who was killed.