back to Book Reviews

Walking with Wordsworth in the Lake District
Norman and June Buckley
ISBN 978-0-7112-2931-0
Frances Lincoln £8.99 (£7.19 to Society members)

Three years ago, Norman and Jean Buckley wrote a book of walks based on the places in the Lake District associated with Beatrix Potter.

Having recently read Hunter Davies’s book about William Wordsworth, I was delighted when this new book from Norman and Jean arrived through my letterbox. Norman and Jean have produced twenty walks ranging from two to twelve miles in length, all of which have associations with Wordsworth and his works.

Many well-known areas of the Lake District are covered: Grasmere, naturally, as Wordsworth lived here for most of his life and is buried in the churchyard, plus Rydal, Lodore, Loughrigg, the Duddon Valley, Loweswater and Ullswater to name but a few.

The book is accompanied by maps, clear route directions, advice on car parking and refreshment establishments encountered on or at the end of the walks. The walks are also illustrated with numerous coloured photographs. Most of the walks are circular, whilst the few linear walks have details of how to return to the starting point by bus or boat, which AW would certainly have appreciated. Each of the chapters contains details of Wordsworth’s links with the area being walked.

This book is totally absorbing from cover to cover, and for any lover of the Lake District it is well worth buying.

reviewed by John Burland - Member No. 2