Written by Chris Gore & Richard Staton
pb Vertebrate Graphics
www.v-graphics.co.uk

The Lake District boasts some of the best mtb’ing in the country, but the good trails aren’t always easy to find, so that puts a lot of pressure on a book like this. Fortunately this one stacks up well, with 27 excellent routes of various grades, from high mountain crossings to sheltered valley outings. It uses Harvey mapping, which is clear and easy to follow, and allows simple coordinates to be entered into a GPS. We found the descriptions simple and effective.
We liked the playlist-style Top 10s, which include downhills, singletrack and climbs; and also the suggestions of how to extend or link each route with others, allowing the reader to tailor-make various rides beyond the ones actually described.
It contains a decent amount of additional information including pubs, cafes, bike shops etc, as well as some interesting reading on matters such as safety, clothing and what to carry, which could be particularly useful for riders new to the high mountains.
It’s a pocket-sized book, so could be carried, but it’s seriously thick and heavy. An alternative is to buy the optional CD and print the route/map. Overall we really like it but it’s expensive, and that goes up to a massive £21 if you buy the CD as well.

MBR RATING: 8/10