Tuesday 22 February 2011

The Book That Captured Chris Townsend`s Imagination

In the March issue of TGO (The Great Outdoors) magazine, you will find an excellent article by Chris Townsend, in which he tells that whilst browsing in a bookshop he came across a new book that `looked intriguing`, and goes on to say that he found it `quite thrilling`.
He picks up on the originality in my defining the Watershed for the very first time, and on the rationalle used to do so - a geographic rationalle.
His main interest in Ribbon of Wildness though, is in the potential that it holds for inspiring The Watershed of Scotland as an entirely new long distance route for walkers and backpackers - with no waymaring, he stresses. So whether someone wanted to tackle the whole 1,200km, or simple get a lot of pleasure from walking shorter sections of it, Chris is clear that it has much to offer.
Finally, he focusses in on the environmental and landscape content of Ribbon of Wildness, and finds the argument about its` distinctive wildness entirely convincing.
So this article by Chris Townsend has come at an excellent time, not only in raising awareness about the book, but in highlighting much that it has to offer `lovers of wild places`.

Talks, Sales and Events

Since its` publication last September, Ribbon of Wildness has met with a great respone - some excellent reviews and comments (see www.ribbonofwildness.co.uk); it has indeed been well received.
Sales are good, and it is to be found in many local bookshops, Waterstones, Blackwells, and on-line. Still to crack thogh are the books sections of key outdoor shops. Some 400 copies have been sold, to date.
I`ve given a number of talks and taken part in a variety of events. With some form of display as backdrop, I find that there is no shortage of people who are keen to find out more, and discuss it. 2011 look like being the `Year of Talks` though, with about 25 already confirmed or well on the way to being so. Book and walking festivals, learned societies, local interest organisations, schools and colleges, local bookshops - the variety of interest and demand is seemingly endless. All very encouraging, with plenty of scope for more, and in 2011 I won`t be chargeing any fee!

Two favourite quotes from the reviews are:
`No other journey through Scotland can give so sublime a sense of unity - a feeling of how the Nation`s various different landscapes link together to form a coherent whole`. The Scotsman
And `Peter Wright has done lovers of wild places a great service in providing the first comprehensive description of the Watershed`. TGO