Our top ten Christmas book recommendations

November 02, 2020 4 min read

 Soak up a bit of festive cheer with these ten top Christmas book recommendations. Excellent for gift giving and for cosying up with if your outdoor adventures have been postponed this winter. All these books, and all other books on our website (excluding special editions), are available with 20% off and free UK shipping. Plus, if you sign up to our newsletter, you'll get an extra 5% off your purchase.

 

To Live

What's inside? On 25 January 2018, Élisabeth Revol and her climbing partner Tomasz Mackiewicz summited Nanga Parbat, the killer mountain. But their euphoria was short-lived. As soon as they reached the top, their adventure turned into a nightmare as Tomek was struck by blindness. In her own words, Élisabeth tells the story of this tragedy and the extraordinary rescue operation that resounded across the globe.

Perfect for ... Anybody inspired by the human drive for success and survival and wants to find out more about one of the most piognant mountaineering stories to filter into national consciousness in recent years. 

Winter 8000

What's inside? For the first time, award-winning author Bernadette McDonald tells the story of how Poland’s ice warriors made winter their own, perfecting what they dubbed ‘the art of suffering’ as they fought their way to the summit of Everest in the winter of 1980 – the first 8,000-metre peak they climbed this way but by no means their last.

Perfect for ... Anyone who seeks to understand the lengths humans will go to distinguish themselves among their peers - even battling weeks of freezing temperatures and psychological tourment. This is adventure at its most extreme.

Bothy Tales

What's inside? In Bothy Tales, the follow-up to The Last Hillwalker from bestselling mountain writer John D. Burns, travel with the author to secret places hidden amongst the British hills and share his passion for the wonderful wilderness of our uplands.

Perfect for ... Anyone who has an interest in the Scottish Highlands and would like to know more about the isolated mountain shelters in the Highland's remote glens.

Classic Rock

What's inside? First published in 1978, Classic Rock represented the absolute best of British climbing at that time, quickly establishing itself as a must-have publication. It is a celebration of 80 of the best lower-grade routes in the UK, bringing them to life through a superb selection of photographs, anecdotes and essays from some of the most accomplished climbers of the day.

Perfect for ... Anyone who has a keen interest in rock climbing or is thinking about taking up the sport.

Big Trails: Great Britain & Ireland

What's inside? A revolutionary guide to the best long-distance trails in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. The book has been designed to cater for the way people like to complete long-distance trails today, whether that be walking, running, trekking or hiking.

Perfect for ... Anyone looking for an inspirational and unique guide to the most iconic long-distance trails in the British Isles. Especially if you find that most guides don't cater for the speed you'd like to complete these trails and you want to more accurately plan your journey time and accommodation points.

The Beaches of Wales

What's inside? The Beaches of Wales by Alistair Hare is the first guide to every beach and cove around the Welsh coastline. Listing approximately 500 named beaches, this book offers something for everyone – from secret beaches and remote coves to dog-friendly beaches, surf beaches and more. It is an invaluable guide for families, holidaymakers, anglers, surfers and other watersports enthusiasts.

Perfect for ... Anybody looking for beautiful beaches to visit once travel is permitted again. Particularly if you want to find out about those hidden gems where even on the busiest of weekends you can find an uncrowded coastline.

Waymaking

What's inside? Waymaking is an anthology of prose, poetry and artwork by women who are inspired by wild places, adventure and landscape. With contributions from adventurers including Alpinist magazine editor Katie Ives, multi-award-winning author Bernadette McDonald, adventurers Sarah Outen and Anna McNuff, renowned filmmaker Jen Randall and many more, Waymaking is an inspiring and pivotal work published in an era when wilderness conservation and gender equality are at the fore.

Perfect for ... Anybody who has been searching for outdoor literature written by women and an alternative perspective on the adventure genre that isn't always about pushing higher, harder or faster but being immersed in wild landscapes and a part of a larger adventure.

Hard Rock

What's inside? Hard Rock is the best of British rock climbing. Featuring over fifty crags and sixty-nine routes in England, Scotland and Wales, it epitomises all that is great about traditional climbing in Great Britain.

Perfect for ... Climbers of any age looking to be inspired by the book's timeless collection of world-class routes. 

Wild Light

What's inside? A stunning panoramic exploration of the Scottish landscape by award-winning photographer Craig Aitchison.

Perfect for ... Anyone who treasures the Scottish mountain landscape.

Scottish Island Bagging

What's inside? Scottish Island Bagging by Helen and Paul Webster, founders of Walkhighlands, is a guide to the magical islands of Scotland. Focusing on the ninety-nine islands that have regular trips or means of access for visitors, plus fifty-five other islands which have no regular transport but are still of significant size or interest, the authors have described the best ways to experience each one.

Perfect for ... Wildlife enthusiasts, foodies, hillwalkers, history buffs, you name it. When it comes to things to see and do, the isands of Scotland have it all.