A TRAILS book author is working on his next book inspired by conversations with his late friend, fellwalker Alfred Wainwright.

Retired headteacher Ron Scholes, 88, is penning a guide to a long-distance trail based on AW's idea for a "purely Pennine Way". The title, A Pennine Odyssey - Walks and Ways, is to be published by outdoor specialists Sigma Press in early 2019.

Its pages with maps hand-drawn by Ron, begin in the Derbyshire Dales and end at the Tyne Valley and Hadrian's Wall.

Ron, who lives in Staffordshire, said: "I got to know AW in the 1970s and we had long conversations about the Pennine Way and AW’s Coast to Coast Walk. We also talked about my completion of the Cambrian Way from Cardiff to Conwy, and my aim to trek 1,360 miles from Cape Wrath in north-west Scotland to Land’s End, which I completed in 1990.

"My ideas for Ravenber Way and Walking in Eden were enthusiastically received by AW, and many of his observations and suggestions were used to improve the variety and interest of the walks. Sadly, he didn’t see them in print as he passed away in 1991, but his wife Betty wrote the foreword to The Ravenber Way.

"A Pennine Odyssey will include AW’s Pennine Way start and finish points, as well as existing and alternative Pennine routes. I’m also including anecdotes and memories of our friendship.”

Carlisle-born author Hunter Davies has written the foreword to the new book.

For more on Ron, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, visit www.facebook.com/RonScholesWalking or follow him on Twitter @Scholes1Ron

Photo captions:

Photo 1: Ron at Chapel Porth in Cornwall, nearing the end of his trek from Cape Wrath in the Scottish Highlands, the most north-westerly point in mainland Britain, to Land’s End.

Photo 2: Ron at start of his 450-mile walk from Norfolk to Hadrian’s Wall in 2010.

Photo used with kind permission of the Staffordshire Sentinel

Notes to editors:

Ron’s walking books are published by Sigma Press and Landmark. Examples of Wainwright’s letters to Ron are included in the book The Wainwright Letters (2011), edited by Hunter Davies.