I can’t recall when I first heard about the UK’s classic Big Rounds, the Ramsay Round in Scotland, the Bob Graham Round in England and the Paddy Buckley Round in Wales. However, what I have noticed is that these rounds appear to have become increasingly popular goals among the people I know, or those I follow on-line. Indeed, I have recently written about a number of record-breaking rounds.
It is timely, therefore, that a new book, The Big Rounds, written by David Lintern has been published. It will be available for sale mid-August at Cicerone and other book retailers.
The book is a guide to Britain’s three most challenging long-distance mountain rounds – great circular tours of the Lake District, Snowdonia and Lochaber.
My thoughts: The Big Rounds
David has produced an impressively comprehensive guide to walking or running the Big Rounds, with maps and detailed route information. He has completed all three rounds and has produced extremely thorough content about how to do the rounds.
The book will be useful for walkers and runners who are keen to do the rounds – and also an inspirational read for those who like to walk or run in the hills and mountains and want to find out more about these classic routes.
It is what you might call an excellent coffee table book, as well as being a very useful guide.
David has also interviewed some of the top rounds runners who offer great insights, including Jasmin Paris, Nicky Spinks, Charlie Ramsay, Jim Mann and Paddy Buckley.
The introductory section to the book offers useful information about skills, fitness, equipment and safety, as well as details about history, impact and accessibility of doing the three classic mountain rounds.
The book is then split into sections on each round with information about the background to each route as well as superb detail on each stage of the round.
There is also a fascinating runner’s story for each of the rounds.
Each round in the book includes the “rules” of the round, if you are keen to do a sub-24 hour completion – and who to tell about this is you achieve it.
An appendix includes “the firsts of the rounds” and “other rounds”, plus lots of other interesting bits and pieces.
The photography – David is a writer and a photographer – adds to the appeal of the book. Flicking through the book I stop frequently at fantastic photos of amazing places. I doubt I will ever attempt to do a round in one go but I am now keen to walk or run sections of each.
The book is beautifully produced and published by Cicerone and available for sale at £18.95 from mid August. You can order now if you wish at a price of £17.06.