Undiscovered Scotland

 

"Walking Loch Lomond and the Trossachs" by Katie Featherstone is a fabulous little book: though, having said that, while it's "little" in terms of physical size, it certainly isn't in terms of both breadth and depth of content. Cicerone's books have become the touchstone of walking guides. This one comes with colour photography and 1:50,000 OS maps and is beautifully laid out and presented. Simply handling and leafing through it brings a joy usually reserved for coffee table books with the highest production values.

But it's a walking guide, so the production values would count for little if someone hadn't put in the hard miles (and vertical distance) to ensure it gives readers the best possible advice when preparing for a walk or when out there on the hill in Scotland's ever-changeable weather. In this case it's Katie Featherstone, who has ably ensured that the third edition of this book is well up to the standard set by Ronald Turnbull in his earlier 2009 and 2018 editions.

There are 43 walks in all, including all 21 Munro summits within the area of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. They are grouped by area and between them cover quite a large chunk of the southern highlands of Scotland. Each walk comes with outline facts and an introductory paragraph or two, followed by a route description tied into the mapping. It is also possible to download GPX (GPS Exchange Format) files for your GPS for each of the walks. All in all this is a superb companion to a fascinating and relatively easily accessible area of Scotland.

The publisher's description gives a good sense of the book: "Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland’s first national park and a gateway to the Southern Highlands. From the tranquil shores of Loch Lomond and ancient oakwoods to rugged Munro summits, sweeping ridgelines and dramatic glens, the region offers some of the most varied and accessible walking in Scotland. This third edition of Walking Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is the definitive guidebook to 43 routes across the national park, ranging from gentle loch-side circuits to demanding mountain ascents, including all 21 Munros in the area. With detailed route descriptions, clear 1:50,000 OS mapping and downloadable GPX files, it provides the practical information and planning support needed for walkers of all abilities to explore with confidence."