The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild has announced their annual awards. I was encouraged to enter the digital category by various members of the guild but I didn’t win! I really don’t mind, however, because I do not write my blog to win awards, simply to enjoy writing about what I fancy and my outdoors passions! (And there is always next year!).

The awards were announced at the weekend during a dinner at the National Trust’s Chalet Pavilion, in the Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton, the Midland’s first Walkers Are Welcome town.

This year 38 guild members submitted a total of 62 entries across six categories: Guidebook (11), Outdoor Book (5), Outdoor Travel Feature (16), Technical Feature (6), Digital Production (12) and Photographic Portfolio (12).

AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

GUIDEBOOK

Category sponsored by Aquapac (www.aquapac.net)

Judged by Christina Hardyment and Paul Jackson

Winner: Walks to Waterfalls, by Vivienne Crow, published by Northern Eye.

Judges’ comments: “Part of a small but perfectly formed Top Ten series. There’s little to fault in this winning formula – clear maps and instructions, concise and well laid out with the reader very much in mind. These are great value for money at under a fiver. Of the three from this series submitted for consideration, Vivienne’s book narrowly got the nod due to some excellent photography and cover.”

Guidebook, highly commended: Lake District Mountain Bike Routes: 22 Classic Routes in the Cumbrian Fells and Dales, by Tom Hutton, published by Out There Guides

Judges comments: “Everything the biking reader could need: clear and easy to use, modern and bang on the target market; a good variation and selection of rides plus helpful details of ascents and descents. The cover also hits all the right notes.”

Guidebook, highly commended: France: Ariege, by Chris Craggs, Anne & John Arran, published by Rockfax.

Judges’ comments: “An incredible amount of work has gone into this; even though it might have a fairly limited readership, it will surely become a climber’s bible.”

Guidebook, highly commended: Cardigan Bay North: Circular Walks from the Wales Coast Path, by Sioned Bannister, published by Northern Eye.

Guidebook, highly commended: Moors & Tors: Classic Walks on the Upland Moors of the Peak District, by Dennis Kelsall, published by Northern Eye.

OUTDOOR BOOK

Category sponsored by Cordee (www.cordee.co.uk)

Judged by Christina Hardyment and Paul Jackson

Winner: Great Mountain Days in the Pennines, by Terry Marsh, published by Cicerone.

Judges’ comments: “Well considered selection of walks; simple, clear instructions; accurate and meticulous in detail, beautifully laid out. Some challenging walks but not out of reach of the average walker. So good to see the attractive Cicerone format enlarged with space to enrich the experience. There is lots of interesting information on the history and architecture encountered on the walks.”

Outdoor book, highly commended: A Peak District Anthology: A Literary Companion to Britain’s First National Park, by Roly Smith, published by Frances Lincoln.

Judges’ comments: “The format seems modest at first but once inside there is much unexpected colour and a great deal of material never previously collected together – all of it an invitation to explore or re-explore the Peak District with new eyes. Not only did the book delve into history but also came right up to date. Well researched and constructed, the book will be of great value to literary students as well as lovers of the Peak District.”

TECHNICAL FEATURE

Category sponsored by Cicerone (www.cicerone.co.uk)

Judged by Carlton Reid and Terry Fletcher

Technical feature winner: Kitting Up With a Conscience, by John Manning, published in Walk magazine (The Ramblers)

Judges’ comments: “An inventive new slant on the ‘How to…’ theme, well-researched and professionally written for those who look beyond the price tag and the fancy marketing glitz.”

Technical feature, highly commended: Selling ‘Appiness, by Terry Marsh, published in Outdoor Focus (OWPG)

Judges’ comments: “Perfectly pitched for the audience, packed with  solid information from a man who has clearly been there and got the T-shirt.”

OUTDOOR TRAVEL FEATURE

Category sponsored by Crimson (www.crimsonpublishing.co.uk)

Judged by Carlton Reid and Terry Fletcher

Outdoor travel feature winner: Walk of Art, by Judy Armstrong, published in France magazine (Archant Specialist Ltd).

Judges’ comments: “An excellent piece packed with detail, offering a novel excuse to go for a long walk through a beautiful landscape.”

Outdoor travel feature, highly commended: Spiritual Journeys, by Roger Thomas, published in Saga Magazine (Saga)

Judges’ comments: “A beautiful evocation of landscape that looked beneath the surface at the often unexplained attraction we feel to certain places. His wordplay and language was the ideal complement to his subject.”

Outdoor travel feature, highly commended: England’s Last Great Wilderness, by John Manning, published in The Great Outdoors magazine (Newsquest Specialist Media)

Judges’ comments: “Another thought-provoking piece from a writer who likes to look beyond the obvious and think about the deeper issues affecting the outdoors.”

PHOTOGRAPHY

Category sponsored by Pàramo (www.paramo.co.uk)

Judged by Nick Jenkins and Dave Willis

Photography winner: Crystal Caves of South France, by Chris Howes (portfolio)

Judges’ comments: “This portfolio comprised excellent quality photography with compositional and technical technique and was professionally and thoughtfully presented. Every photograph stood out on its own.”

Photography highly commended: Welsh Mountains, by Glyn Davies (portfolio)

Judges’ comments: “This was a portfolio that lifted its subject matter above the mundane. The lighting presented these mountains on an emotional level showing that photography is, after all, about just that – lighting.”

DIGITAL MEDIA

Category sponsored by Carnmor Design & Print (www.carnmor.co.uk/)

Judged by Craig Wareham and Rob Marriot

Digital media winner: Alf Alderson, for Church of the Open Sky (www.churchopensky.com)

Judges’ comments: “It’s modern, stylish, visually engaging, and backed up by interesting content that you want to read.”

See here to find out more about the OWPG.