Undiscovered Scotland

 

We were highly impressed by the first in the series of Ralph Storer's "Baffies' Easy Munro Guide", which covered the Southern Highlands. So impressed, in fact, that we said that "within the covers of this slim volume is a truly outstanding guide book". We stand by that view, which is just as well as we see it repeated back at us within the cover of this book, the second in the series, which covers the Central Highlands. And we should say right up front that the second book is, as we had hoped it would be, more of the same and every bit as good as its predecessor.

Ralph Storer is currently perhaps best known for his series of area guides which together make up "The Ultimate Guide to the Munros". So what, exactly, is "Baffies' Easy Munro Guide?" Baffies is the Entertainments Convenor of the Go-Take-A-Hike Mountaineering Club, a man who is allergic to exertion, prone to lassitude, suffers from altitude sickness above 600m, blisters easily and bleeds readily. The idea of an easy Munro guide is little short of genius. An obvious market comprises people like me: whose advancing years and receding fitness mean that the scale of challenges tackled have to be measured. These guides will also, however, prove ideal for those just starting out in the hills, and those walking with families who want the assurance they will not come face to face with an "airy" ridge at some point in their day. Best of all is the thought that these are books destined actually to be used by people getting out into the hills.

This second guide in the series covers the area traditionally known in guides to Scottish mountains as the Central Highlands, and describes in detail easy walking routes up over 25 Munros. The author assures readers that the routes chosen require no rock climbing, no scrambling, no tightrope walking, no technical expertise whatsoever: simply the ability to put one foot in front of the other...and repeat. Each walk is well mapped, and the descriptions and excellent colour photographs mesh together to provide clear and easy to follow guidance. There are also the obligatory sections on subjects such as access, weather and safety.