|
Showing 1 - 14 of
14 matches in All Departments
With off-road running, the ability of knowing where you are going
is a fundamental skill. Unfortunately for many runners the secrets
of navigation are akin to the secrets of the dark arts of black
magic. Specifically with the runner in mind, this book presents in
an easy to understand manner all the skills and techniques that are
required for the beginner through to the advanced user. 'Navigation
for Off-Road Runners' will give you the confidence to go further.
The mountain marathon is possibly the ultimate test of the
endurance runner's capabilities. Navigating your way across rugged
open country whilst carrying everything required for your survival
and still competing against the clock. From the more traditional
two-day events of the OMM, Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon and
Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon to the newer one-day events of the
White and Dark Peak series, these events are gaining in popularity
each year as entrants pit themselves against both the physical and
mental challenges of these competitions. This is the first full
instructional book written for those people seeking to face this
challenge, the complexities and procedures that control and govern
these events are laid open. Everything from the different types of
courses and classes of event and how to enter them, through to the
equipment required and on to the necessary training both to compete
and improve performance in these gruelling events are included
here. Written by two experienced mountain marathon competitors who
are rapidly gaining the reputation for producing the most
comprehensive instructional books, this book is set to become the
bible of all those seeking to compete the mountain marathon.
The small market town of Helmsley lies on the southern edge of the
North York Moors National Park and flowing past the edge of town
lies the River Rye. Born high on the slopes of the Cleveland Hills,
this river cuts a deep sided valley as it makes it's way through
the flat-topped Tabular Hills passing Hawnby, Rievaulx and finally
Helmsley before entering the Vale of Pickering. As it heads
north-west from Helmsley, a network of footpaths takes you through
this valley, along wooded trails and riverside fields to the
heather clad moors that line the upper reaches of this quiet,
little dale. For the walker, this presents some of the best
countryside that Yorkshire has to offer. It's little wonder that
the medieval monks chose this valley to site their monasteries and
settlements. Here history mixes with the countryside with four
thousand years of human habitation lying amongst the trees, in the
fields and across the moors. A walk here tells you much more than
where your next footstep goes.
The booklet first explains the differences between trail and fell
running. In the training section the constituent parts, namely
uphill running, downhill running, endurance running, speed training
and running over different terrain are examined with sections on
strength training and appropriate flexibility sessions for the
trail and fell runner. The section then concludes with advice on
training sessions and how to construct different types of sessions
to maximise your training. The relevant clothing and equipment for
the two types of running are explained and why some aspects are
made compulsory for all competitors in fell races. The booklet
finally concludes with a section on what to expect when you compete
in your first trail or fell race, about the registration, the
facilities, what to expect when you are out on the course and what
happens when the run is over.
The Simonside Hills were a special place for our ancestors and for
many people still are. Part of a range of sandstone hills that run
up the centre of Northumberland between the Cheviots and the sea,
these hills present a wide variety of countryside for the walker to
explore. Running between Coquetdale and Redesdale, to the east the
Hills end in the Simonside Ridge, a famous landmark of crags and
rocks. To the west, the landscape gradually changes from moorland
to rough farm pasture while in the centre the wooded bulk of
Harwood Forest dominates. Here, in this varied landscape, mankind
has left many reminders of his presence through the ages. From the
Stone Age to the 1940's, there are the remains of habitation and of
conflict. Join the author as in a series of nine walks he discovers
this special countryside.
The Hambleton Hills lie in the south-west corner of the North York
Moors National Park. This is an area that is justifiably known for
its varied landscape, a land of flat-topped hills interspersed with
wooded and tranquil valleys. To the north, the hills are
heather-clad moor inhabited by sheep and grouse, then as they
gradually run south-wards, their nature changes to more gently
rolling hills clad in woodland and fields of grain. This is a
fascinating area, one that has seen mankind take his early steps
into agriculture, the introduction of Christianity to this land,
and the successful and unsuccessful foreign invader. History has
left a pattern on this landscape, one that can be traced as you
walk. Join the author in a series of nine walks as he explores both
the countryside and history of one of the country's most popular
national parks.
The village of Osmotherley lies on the edge of the North York Moors
National Park, at the point where the rugged Cleveland Hills meet
the more gentle, rolling Hambleton Hills. This is an area with a
history that stretches back to the early days of human exploration
and settlement. A history that has left it's mark right up to the
present time. Here the walker is presented with a mixture of
landscapes to explore. The rugged, heather moorland, the rolling
grassland of the lower hills, and the forests of conifer and
broad-leaved trees that line the edges of the moors. Join the
author on a series of walks as he explores both the landscape and
the history of this part of one of the country's most popular
national parks.
Taking it's name from the river which starts with the joining of
several small streams at Wearhead, the dale stretches from the high
moors above Killhope to the flatter, lower lands just east of
Wolsingham. The scenery changes as the river travels down the dale,
from the bleak, heather clad moors and rocky outcrops to gently
undulating stone walled fields. The river itself changing too, from
a small rocky rushing flow of water it gradually absorbs
tributaries on it's descent through the dale to become wider and
slower as it becomes, ultimately, one of the great rivers of the
North of England. Weardale is basically a farming area, although
for centuries the wealth of it's minerals and underlying stone have
created industries that in the past have created both riches and
poverty for it's inhabitants. One of the lead dales of the North
Pennines, which made Britain the centre of the world's lead
industry during the 18th and 19th centuries, lead was only one of
the underground treasures which kept the extraction industries
going well into the 20th century when they finally met their
demise. Today the population of the dale is much smaller than it
was two hundred years ago and, aside from agriculture which is
still a vital part of the dale's economy, much of the dale is
benefiting from an increasing growth in tourism. In particular, the
walker can experience here a full and varied landscape from the
fields and meadows of the lower dale, the purple clad heather
grouse moors in summer and, at the top end of the dale, one of the
wildest and bleakest unspoilt natural landscapes in Britain.
Weardale is very much an under appreciated and relatively
undiscovered part of Britain and for the walker, who can really
understand what this valley can offer, then long may it be so. The
nine walks in this book have all been designed to explore the
woods, hills and moors while showcasing the landscape and history
of this dale.
Weardale, the valley of the Prince Bishops. Following the success
of his previous two books, 'Walks from Stanhope' and 'Walking in
Weardale', the author continues his exploration of this beautiful
but rugged little dale. One of the former 'lead dales' of the North
Pennines and also one of the birth places of the North East's iron
and steel industry, this is an area that is rich in industrial
history. With these industries now gone, Weardale is rapidly
gaining a reputation for its natural beauty and becoming a magnet
for discerning walkers. Join the author in another series of nine
walks as he explores the countryside of this dale, from the lower
grazing pastures surrounding Wolsingham up to the high, windswept
moors of the Pennine watershed and discover what makes this valley
so special.
Rising in the North Pennines, on the Durham/Northumberland border,
two rivers, the East and West Allen, flow northwards to join and
then, ultimately, enter the River South Tyne. Here, within sight of
the high Pennines, these rivers have created two rugged little
valleys that for centuries were part of the 'lead dales', the North
Pennines Orefield that dominated the world's lead industry. Here
the landscape has a different look and feel to it than the other
more popular walking areas of Northumberland such as the Cheviot
Hills or Hadrian's Wall. Travelling from the high moors to the
wooded valleys, join the author as, in a series of nine walks, he
explores both the landscape and the heritage of these two dales and
discovers what makes them so special.
The River Tees is one of the major rivers of the north and in it's
upper reaches is a heaven for walkers. Here the river descends from
the high Pennines, flowing between high moorland peaks as it makes
it's way down the valley. Then as the hills gradually lose their
height and become less stern, the wildness that characterises the
upper dales gives way to pastureland, woodland and pleasing
riverbank walks. However, don't just think of Teesdale as the main
river valley. The major tributaries of the Tees all flow in from
the west, these being the rivers Balder, Lune and Greta, while on
the eastern side an ample number of smaller becks and streams flow
in giving a number of hidden side-valleys that can be a joy to
explore. Together with the main river valley, this presents a vast
area to walk in for those willing to step away from the popular
Pennine and Teesdale Ways. While there are elements of both these
national trails included in the routes of a couple of these walks,
in the main this guide book takes you away from the more frequented
areas and presents a mixture of countryside. Here you can venture
onto the wild open moors, explore wooded side-valleys and stroll
along the riverbanks of the rugged but beautiful River Tees itself.
But the countryside of Teesdale is not just about the scenery,
splendid though that is. Like many upland areas of the north, lack
of cultivation and ploughing has meant that the hills have retained
much of the history that has been lost on lower-lying ground. If
you know where to look, then a walk through Teesdale can be a
fascinating education. In many ways Teesdale is one of the original
'open-air museums'.
The small village of Gunnerside lies in the heart of Swaledale,
which is regarded by many as the most stunning of all the Yorkshire
Dales. Originally settled by the Vikings in the dark years
following the end of the Roman occupation, Gunnerside has seen many
changes over the millennia but nowadays it is perhaps best known
for being one of the traditional, stone built little villages that
inhabit these rugged dales. However,step away from the well-worn
tourist trail to discover the country surrounding it and you will
find a rich and varied heritage lying hidden amongst the fields and
moors of this landscape. In this series of eight walks starting
from the village, the author explores the countryside surrounding
it and the legacy that a hard and stern history has left behind.
|
|