Walking Forum

Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: Snowman on 15:16:39, 25/08/07

Title: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: Snowman on 15:16:39, 25/08/07
I quite often see people asking about, or being referred to guide books for various parts of the world, or UK national trails.

Because I was in the shop last week I was reminded that probably the best place to go for any of this sort of stuff is Stanfords in London (Longacre).    They do maps of just about everywhere that a map has been drawn for, and the choice of guide books is almost bewildering.   For instance I took a look and they've got an almost complete collection of Wainwrights.

I've also bought stuff through their website (www.stanfords .co uk), so if you live well away from London it doesn't matter, and the service was very good.

Just in case anyone's wondering, I have no interest, direct of indirect in the business.    Just suggesting somewhere that people can go.

S.

Title: Re: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: KIDSTYPIKE on 16:30:57, 25/08/07
I quite often see people asking about, or being referred to guide books for various parts of the world, or UK national trails.

Because I was in the shop last week I was reminded that probably the best place to go for any of this sort of stuff is Stanfords in London (Longacre).    They do maps of just about everywhere that a map has been drawn for, and the choice of guide books is almost bewildering.   For instance I took a look and they've got an almost complete collection of Wainwrights.

I've also bought stuff through their website (www.stanfords .co uk), so if you live well away from London it doesn't matter, and the service was very good.

Just in case anyone's wondering, I have no interest, direct of indirect in the business.    Just suggesting somewhere that people can go.

S.



Whilst I won't disagree with what you say about Stanfords I would think that the local library can supply enough walking guides particularly for the UK for someone to get ideas from.
If then they want further reading at least they will go into a booksellers with some information.
Title: Re: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: Snowman on 23:49:24, 25/08/07
You may be right, but I've seen an awful lot of people on this site asking where they can get information.    My intention was simply to point them to a source of that information.
Title: Re: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: Snowman on 09:30:48, 26/08/07
... and if someone is about to do an LDP, I'm sure most libraries wouldn't be particularly happy to have a mud-splattered, soaking wet copy of the Penine Way guide returned to them ... and these are they sort of guides people have been asking about.

Same comments go for maps.
Title: Re: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: KIDSTYPIKE on 20:36:04, 26/08/07
I think you missed the point of what I was saying. I said it may be best to vist your local library first to go through whatever they have THEN having had a good look at what is available by all means go and buy the guide of your choice.

Dave
Title: Re: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: Snowman on 07:53:09, 28/08/07
I think you missed the whole point of what I was saying.

In the past, on this site, people have asked where they can get guides etc.    I have therefore offered a suggestion.

It is therefore irrelevant whether they want to visit their local library or not.
Title: Re: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: darksky on 01:00:07, 20/09/07
I quite often see people asking about, or being referred to guide books for various parts of the world, or UK national trails.

Because I was in the shop last week I was reminded that probably the best place to go for any of this sort of stuff is Stanfords in London (Longacre).    They do maps of just about everywhere that a map has been drawn for, and the choice of guide books is almost bewildering.   For instance I took a look and they've got an almost complete collection of Wainwrights.

I've also bought stuff through their website (www.stanfords .co uk), so if you live well away from London it doesn't matter, and the service was very good.

Just in case anyone's wondering, I have no interest, direct of indirect in the business.    Just suggesting somewhere that people can go.

S.



Whilst I won't disagree with what you say about Stanfords I would think that the local library can supply enough walking guides particularly for the UK for someone to get ideas from.
If then they want further reading at least they will go into a booksellers with some information.
i agree the library have a good selection of maps and guide books to get some idea of what you really want.
Title: Re: Maps, Guides etc
Post by: Deerplay on 23:00:21, 20/09/07
Libraries are good but Stanfords are a specialist map shop. When looking for maps of Iran (to go climbing there) though, some years ago, the only place in the UK that had anything recent at all was Stanfords. They were only maps for pilots though, not a useful scale for anyone on the ground. Various libraries still had older  maps though. At the time Iran was politically sensitive and large scale maps unavailable. We ended up going and visiting the mountaineering club in Tehran and the helpful people there sorted us out with enough info to climb Damavand, an extinct volcano, the highest mountain in Iran and at 5610 metres higher than anything in Europe. This is my highest summit ever and yes it is a walk/hike rather than a climb. Recommended if you ever get the chance. Wanted to go back via Turkey and climb Ararat. Didn't get round to it and I believe it is still a military zone and therefore prohibited. Still one day.......... Sorry for the OT ramble.