Читать книгу Hillwalking in Wales - Vol 1 - Peter Hermon - Страница 7

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

The two volumes of Hillwalking in Wales are aimed at all those who derive happiness, challenge, excitement or peace of mind from walking in the Welsh hills. If you are as lucky as I am, you will enjoy all those emotions at the same time. I have tried to provide a comprehensive guide to walkers' routes up all the 2000ft mountains in Wales, at the same time indicating ways to view the mountain lakes they nurture. While it would be foolish to claim to have covered all the routes, I am not conscious of having omitted any of note.

Some of the routes are easy, others more strenuous. All tastes are catered for, from those seeking to capture something of the spirit of the hills in short half-day walks to real ‘tigers’ whose aims are to stride the long ridge walks or to bag as many summits as possible. Most of the routes cover the high ground over 2000ft, but there are lower-level expeditions as well. All are suitable for the hillwalker and no climbing skills are required. However, proper precautions are necessary in winter, as they are for any excursion into wild and remote places.

As someone who has walked the English and Welsh hills for upwards of 40 years I am often asked which I like best – Lakeland, the Pennines, Wales? To this question I always give the same simple answer: ‘I like them all best.’ Having said that, less has been written about the Welsh hills, and these books are an attempt to redress the balance.

There is another balance I would like to correct. The Welsh hills cover a vast area from the Nantlle ridge in the west to the Radnor Forest in the east, from the Carneddau in the north to the Brecon Beacons in the south. Yet it is probably true to say that 90 percent of all the hill-miles walked in Wales are within a 5-mile radius of the top of Snowdon. There is thus a whole universe of new peaks waiting to be discovered, more days in the hills to be enjoyed. So whilst denying nothing to the peaks of Snowdonia, my aim is to cover all the Welsh hills equally thoroughly.

One final point on access: please remember that all the land in Wales belongs to someone and that the legal situation is complex. Put simply, the only legal right of a hillwalker is to be on a public footpath. Many of the routes in this book extend well beyond the range of public footpaths, and though no problems on access usually arise with well-behaved parties, it is as well to remember that such access is a privilege and not a right. It should not be taken for granted. Therefore if you are ever in doubt as to whether a right of way exists or not, always seek permission from the local farmer first and then, if he agrees, please adhere to the Country Code.

Good luck and happy rambling!

Peter Hermon, 1991