Wainwright in Scotland

by Alfred Wainwright, Derry Brabbs (Photographer)

To accompany the major BBC television series, A Wainwright has written this exciting book which is, once again, gloriously illustrated with the stunning photographs of Derry Brabbs. Starting in the far north, Wainwright travels down the west coast, linking the highlights of the journey in a continuous route. He travels through Sutherland and Wester Ross, over to Skye and then returns to the Central Highlands. He then turns north again to Strath Spey and ends his travels in the Cairngorms. Wainwright draws on his years of experience of walking and exploring the Highlands, viewing all the mountains at close range, climbing many of them and compiling a series of pen-and-ink drawings, a number of which are included in this book. The modern traveller will be able to leave his car and follow many of the routes once trod by Britain's most famous walker.

Genres: Travel, Scotland, Nonfiction, Walking

Hardcover

First published March 21, 1988

About the author

Alfred Wainwright was born in Blackburn, Lancashire to Thomas Wainwright and Elizabeth Nixon.[citation needed] His family was relatively poor, mostly due to his stonemason father's alcoholism. He did very well at school (first in nearly every subject)[1] although he left at the age of 13. While most of his classmates were obliged to find employment in the local mills, Wainwright started work as an office boy in Blackburn Borough Engineer's Department. He spent several further years studying at night school, gaining qualifications in accountancy which enabled him to further his career at Blackburn Borough Council. Even when a child Wainwright walked a great deal, up to 20 miles at a time; he also showed a great interest in drawing and cartography, producing his own maps of England and his local area.
In 1930, at the age of 23, Wainwright saved up enough money for a week's walking holiday in the Lake District with his cousin Eric Beardsall. They arrived in Windermere and climbed the nearby hill Orrest Head, where Wainwright saw his first view of the Lakeland fells. This moment marked the start of what he would later describe as his love affair with the Lake District. In 1931 he married his first wife, Ruth Holden, a local mill worker, with whom he had a son Peter. In 1941 Wainwright was able to move closer to the fells when he took a job (and with it a pay cut) at the Borough Treasurer's office in Kendal, Westmorland. He lived and worked in the town for the rest of his life, serving as Borough Treasurer from 1948 until he retired in 1967. His first marriage ended when Ruth walked out three weeks before he retired. They later divorced. In 1970 he married Betty McNally (1922–2008), also a divorcee, who became his walking companion and who eventually carried his ashes to Innominate Tarn at the top of Haystacks.

Reviews

[David Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh boy do I want to go back up there. Especially the far north. Wainwright seems to make a good case for septuagenarians. Great photos by the way.

[J Grimsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good guide for a trip round Scotlamd

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for armchair traveling through the entire Scottish Highlands. Following along with google maps and current travel information brought the book to life.

[Grim-Anal King · Rating 4 out of 5]

The old curmudgeon sounds like an ancient relic yet his personal touch still renders his books engaging. Frankly not a whole lot has changed up here since he wrote this one so it's probably still a fairly decent guide.