Book Review: The Lake District: 40 favourite walks

Liz Andrew’s book is a pocket edition travel guide with a difference. It’s quirky, and has a strong focus on the literary culture of Cumbria, and those creatives who were inspired by the landscape. Being an avid reader, a closet writer and an English teacher, this made the guide an instant hit with me!

This guide book is split into the main regions of the Lake District, and contains 40 walks which are inspiring and are the epitome of Cumbrian culture. We’ve tried many of the walks, being new to the hiking scene, as they’re not all tricky climbs, but do all promise rewarding rambles in our beautiful county. We particularly enjoyed the Aira Force walk, the Wray Castle visit and exploration of the Bowder Stone and the local area. The beauty of these walks is that they’re suited for all abilities and ages.

What makes this stand out is the focus on Potter and Wordsworth! I also found out through this guide that Bill Clinton proposed to Hillary for the first time at Ennerdale in 1973! She turned him down, but agreed eventually and married him in 1975. You learn something new everyday.

I would use an OS map of your required area alongside the illustrated maps and instructions in the guide, as they are much more comprehensive than what’s provided here. That being said, the book is perfectly curated and illustrated. It really does encapsulate many of the excellent adventure that Cumbria has to offer.

We were very kindly gifted our copy of this book, but it can be purchased for RRP £6.99. It’s definitely worth the money to discover some hidden gems!