What an insight mountaineering books brought to me as a young lad. It opened my eyes to what could be done in this wee country and abroad. Some of the writing is of it’s time but what an insight into the world of mountaineering.
One of the most amazing books I have read was W.H. Murray Mountaineering in Scotland’ and ‘Undiscovered Scotland’ are two of the greatest classics in mountaineering literature, brought together here in one volume. If mountaineering books are to be measured by their inspirational value then W.H. Murray’s two great Scottish classics top the list for climbers and walkers. Bill Murray’s vivid descriptions of his Scottish climbing adventures, on ice and rock climbs, mountain walks and scrambles, have an immediacy that transports the reader to some of the most classic and sought after itineraries in Britain.
Callout – Hamish MacInnes this book really changed my life. It is at times a hard read due to the often sadness and tragedies involved. Some of the tales are brutal but it is the other side of mountain Rescue that is not often spoken about. I got this book just as I joined Mountain Rescue from my father. It means so much to me and is a classic.
Callout – Is the earliest of Hamish’s volumes dealing with Mountain Rescue, this is probably still the best. Worth a look to anyone whose spent any time in the Scottish hills, especially those around Glencoe.
Hamish’s Mountain Walk – this book was so informative to me when I was doing the Big Walks across Scotland it is also full of the history and tales of the areas. It’s a wonderful insight into a time before the massive influence of so many guide books and the internet.
Hamish Brown was the first walker and climber to complete the Munros in a single round. By his own rules he did it self-powered except where ferries were required and with the aid of his trusty fold away bike. The year was 1974, and the roads of Scotland carried only a fraction of the traffic they do today, windmill farms were unheard of, crafting was more vibrant than it is today, and a strong Scottish mountaineering tradition was already established. Four years later Hamish s Mountain Walk appeared and was an immediate success, inspiring not only climbers but also readers fascinated by the history, geology, plant life and lore of one of Europe s most remote and unspoiled regions. Many walkers and authors would follow in Hamish Brown s boot prints, but none could bring the freshness and few could touch the depth of knowledge and experience. Now the book returns, re-imagined in modern fonts, with a new introduction and appendix and with two brilliant full colour plate sections provided by the author from his photography over four decades. This new volume is destined to further inspire and guide new generations of hillwalkers about the Scottish hills in this new era.
About the Author
Hamish Brown is a mountaineer, lecturer, photographer and poet who has written or edited a score of books. Born in Colombo, early travels took him to Ireland, Japan and Malaya. He pioneered outdoor education at Braehead School in Fife, later becoming the County Advisor in Outdoor Education. Breaking bounds he set off in 1974 on the challenge of climbing the Munros in a single effort which led to the classic Hamish s Mountain Walk, which covers not only a remarkable feat but delves deeply into every aspect of the country he loves.
Martin Moran was a wonderful writer and o was privileged to meet him often. A very humble man but a true mountaineer. His wonderful tale of his journey over all the Munroes in winter is a classic. If you love mountaineering on winter this is the book for you. It is full of great advice and snippets. Martin has left a great legacy .
The winter completion of the Munros in a single push was not only a tremendous team effort but also Martin and Joy’s great love story. It was an amazing Odyssey and The Munros in Winter is a superb account.’
Cold Climbs – This wonderful book did so much to inspire me and many others. The essays are inspirational many by well known climbers. It takes you all over the UK and opens your eyes to the joys of winter climbing. We took a copy with us to Canada in 1984 and gave it to the Alpine Club of Canada. This book has inspired so many.
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Aye, got all of those. Predictable for any Scottish winter climber I suppose. Also, importantly, ‘Climbing Ice’ by Yvon Chouinard. I had read so many extracts from it but it took me a long time to find a copy. Eventually, an airline pilot climbing partner found one languishing anonymously in the golf section of a Miami bookshop. I had no idea there were icy golf courses in Florida.
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As always your funny
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