THE pictorial guide book to Alfred Wainwright's 1938 Pennine Journey is to have a new publisher.
The Pennine Journey Supporters Club, which promotes the 247-mile circular walk from Settle to Hadrian's Wall and back again, says it has been told by Frances Lincoln that they will not be printing any more editions after current stocks have sold. The decision is for 'commercial reasons'.
The guide book was edited by David Pitt, chairman of the supporters club, who lives with his wife Heather, club treasurer and secretary, at Latrigg, near Penrith.
Long-distance walker David told the Gazette: "Whilst it is sad that the relationship with Frances Lincoln has now ended, the decision in 2006 by John Nicoll, then managing director, to commission the pictorial guide book will never be forgotten and was unquestionably the major factor that has led to this modern re-creation of Alfred Wainwright’s 1938 Pennine Journey."
The club is delighted that Sigma Press, an independent publisher of walking and cycling books, is to keep the guide in print for Wainwright admirers and future 'journeyers' who want to walk in his footsteps.
Jane Evans, joint owner of Sigma Press, said: “We are pleased to become involved in ensuring this lovely guide book to what will surely become a very popular long-distance footpath remains available to future walkers - particularly so given the journey’s current positive situation following the completion of the waymarking of the route and, now, its inclusion on future Explorer and Landranger maps.”
The Ordnance Survey recently confirmed that Explorer maps covering the entire Pennine Journey route will be available by September, with Landranger maps to follow in February 2016.
The 18-day walk begins and ends in Settle and takes in Ingleton, Sedbergh, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby on its way up to Hadrian's Wall.
Publication of AW's narrative description of his 1938 trek - A Pennine Journey, The Story of a Long Walk in 1938’ - is unaffected by the decision regarding the pictorial guide book.
Broadcaster Eric Robinson, chairman of the Wainwright Society, described it as Wainwright's "best single book, a wonderful piece of writing".
For more about the Pennine Journey Supporters Club, visit www.penninejourney.org.uk
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