now where was I

I don't have a lot of time today, so here's my other book: Walk Britain, which is the handbook of the Ramblers' Association. There's a fairly large proportion of the book referring the reader to the various chapters and local groups of Ramblers. But it also has all the stuff about accommodation as well as recommending some inner-city walks.

There is a good section on what to wear for a long walk. It explains about the "wicking" strategy of dress - i.e. wearing quick-drying fabrics that draw sweat off your body and out through the fabric to evaporate and leave your clothing dry. And it even gives details of the best gear available, as voted for by readers of the guide. I find info like this very helpful because, who knew about smart fabric? Well maybe you did, but I didn't. And now I do.

What makes this book indispensable to me, however, is the bit about maps and compasses. It even teaches you how to use a compass. I'm not sure I would trust my ability just from what I pick up from a book, though. I'm beginning to think I'll be needing a course. But probably not for my first walk.