A new series of special guidebooks can help walkers get the best out of new access to open countryside. The Freedom to Roam guides are jointly published by the Ramblers and Frances Lincoln. The first five titles cover the rich opportunities for walkers in the Peak and Pennine regions and are part of an ongoing series.
The handy-sized guides each outline around a dozen walks using new access land, as well as extensive practical information on the new rights of access that are currently being introduced in England and Wales. They’ve been written by Andrew Bibby and renowned Peak District expert Roly Smith, both leading outdoor writers.
The writers faced an unusual challenge: how to write a walking guide where the whole point is to take advantage of being able to roam at will over a large area rather than sticking to a fixed route. So the routes include some stretches of rights of way and other obvious paths, but in other places encourage you to strike out over the open moors. And while the accompanying Ordnance Survey map extracts highlight key points of interest along the way, the authors haven’t joined the dots for you: instead you’re left to work out your own way between them.
Besides the maps there are some breathtaking photographs, and generous quantities of background information on the history and wildlife you’re likely to encounter. You’ll also read about the role played by many of the sites visited in the history of the access movement. Public transport details are included, with many of the South Pennine and Peak District routes in particular easily reached from the major cities of the region.
All the walks are graded, although a certain amount of difficulty goes with the territory and you’ll need at least some hillwalking experience and the ability to read an OS map in order to tackle even the shortest, easiest routes. Further advice is given n the books themselves.
 | Freedom to Roam guide: Forest of Bowland with Pendle Hill and the West Pennine Moors by Andrew Bibby, ISBN 0 7112 2502 8 |
 | Freedom to Roam guide: Peak District Eastern Moors and the South by Roly Smith, ISBN 0 7112 2498 6 |
 | Freedom to Roam guide: Peak District Northern and Western Moors by Roly Smith, ISBN 0 7112 2499 4 |
 | Freedom to Roam guide: The Pennine Divide - walking the moors between Greater Manchester and Yorkshire by Andrew Bibby, ISBN 0 7112 2500 1 |
 | Freedom to Roam guide: South Pennine and the Bronte Moors including Ilkley Moor by Andrew Bibby, ISBN 0 7112 2501 X |
Special offer for website visitors
All the Freedom to Roam guides are available direct from the publisher at £6.50 each, with free postage and packing to UK addresses. To order simply call 01235 400414 quoting reference 46WMFR.
