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This is one of the best guide books on Snowdonia that I have had the pleasure to read.

Snowdonia by J Rawson Review

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ISBN 1-84114-429-0 £14.99 - Available from book sellers

Halsgrove Web Page

Every so often you come across a guide book that you just read from cover to cover and can’t put down. This is how Snowdonia by Jerry Rawson took my fancy one cold and wet day, when perusing the shelves of a book shop in Ruthin, Denbighshire. I had taken refuge from a particularly heavy downpour and the lady, whose shop it was, didn’t seem to mind about my grubby boots, or my sodden rucksack and instantly made me feel at home.

A welcoming log fire was burning in the grate and I took Snowdonia down from the shelves and drew up a willow back chair by the fire.

That must have been about half past two and so engrossed was I in the pages of the book, that I did not realize that the afternoon had slipped by unnoticed and the shop would soon be closing.

Ah I hear you say, but what about the book? Well I am coming to that.

Firstly let me say that Jerry Rawson has a very good way of explaining things, unlike some guide books that

leave you wondering what the author is trying to say ,or describe, which inevitably leads to apathy on the part of the reader. From the first page the author captivates you with his eloquent prose as he begins to describe the mountains and hills of Snowdonia. The book is beautifully produced and has a wealth of colour photographs and diagrams that have been painstakingly drawn, to give the reader the feeling that they are actually there walking the routes with the author.

The book offers a wide variety of walks, some of which are easy and will appeal to those new to hill walking, to the more challenging routes and scrambles, which may appeal to those who have been walking the hills for some time.

Having lived in Snowdonia these past 22 years, I found myself quickly becoming engrossed in this book, keen to experience the routes that this obviously competent walker and climber was laying out before me.

The book is divided up into chapters about each mountain range, such as The Carneddau, Tryfan and the Glyderau, The Snowdon Range,The Nantlle Hills, The Moelwyn Hills, The Berwyn, Aran, Arenig, and Dyfi Hills, The Rhinogau, Cadair Idris and The Lleyn Peninsula.

Within each chapter are the walks themselves, amply described and with a map and photographs to illustrate features that you might hope to observe on the walk yourself.

Each walk also has an information box giving a map reference for start/finish, The length of the walk in Km and miles, An estimated time to complete the walk and the elevation that must be climbed, Grading with phrases such as Very Difficult, Difficult, or Moderate. OS Maps required for the walk. Refreshments and Public Transport where available.

With over 40 years of walking and climbing experience under his belt, a large part of it spent in Snowdonia,

Jerry Rawson gives the reader the confidence to leave the comfort of the arm chair and to go and walk the routes that he describes. He details the routes in fair weather and his delightful photographs show Snowdonia’s mountains in all their glory. He does, very wisely however, caution the walker to take care and to respect the hills and the weather and their own capabilities. He stresses how quickly the weather can change from warm and sunny to cold and wet and in winter the slopes of the Carneddau often resemble those of the arctic with blizzards and freezing temperatures.

As an experienced mountaineer, he warns the reader that many of the walks and scrambles that can be made with care in the warmer months, will require crampons and ice axe in winter and the skills to use them.

Since first coming across this book, I have enjoyed walking some of the routes described and am pleased to report that what I read in the book translated well to what I saw on the ground.

This is an excellent read and a worthwhile edition to any hiker or climber’s bookshelf. (Ed)

A map of the Ogwen Valleywalk

from Snowdonia by Jerry Rawson

Hardback, 24 Walks, 272 Colour Photographs