THE short list for the 2012 Cumbria and Lakeland Book of the Year awards has been revealed.

Judges have whittled the 55 entries down to 21 books covering a diverse range of subjects, including the lives of Lakeland folk, tales from Eden, Cumbrian foxhounds and the story of Ferry Inn, Windermere.

Former Westmorland Gazette reporter Ian Boydon makes the list with his book Mountain Biking in the Lake District, published by Cicerone Press, Milnthorpe.

Judges are the author and columnist Hunter Davies, broadcaster and writer Eric Robson and BBC News broadcaster Fiona Armstrong.

Mr Hunter, a founder of the awards, described the 2012 awards as a ‘vintage year’.

He said: "It really has been the best year since we began. The quality is tremendous - the research and the writing and the illustrations. I feel rather humbled, especially as so many have been self-published, which takes time and effort as well as money.

“I have also been amazed by the subject matter on topics I have never seen whole books about before - and of course all of them Cumbrian.

The awards will be presented at a charity lunch at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal on July 10.

1 A Guide to the Milestones, Mileposts and Toll Buildings of Cumbria by Colin Smith. Published by Brow Bottom Enterprises

2 Across the Oceans by Margaret Shepherd. Published by Bookcase, Carlisle

3 Away My Lads, Away by Jill Mason Published by Jill Mason, Kings Lynn, Norfolk

4 Black Wednesday by Gordon Routledge Published by Bookcase, Carlisle

5 Christopher at the Lakes edited by Steve Matthews Published by Bookcase, Carlisle

6 Dear Mary, Love Percy edited by Mary Burkett and David Cross Published by Skiddaw Press, Cockermouth

7 Escape to the Lakes by Robert Gambles Published by Bookcase, Carlisle

8 Gable – Biography of a Lake District Mountain and its Upper Valley by Malcolm Craig Published by Sigma Press, Ammanford

9 Houses of the Lake District by Christopher Holliday and Clive Boursnell Published by Frances Lincoln Publishers, London

10 Jack’s Yak by Keith Richardson Published by River Greta Writer

11 Lakeland Lives by Patrick Hoyte Published by Patrick Hoyte, Wootton Courtenay, Somerset

12 Let the Giants Live – Stories to Share from the Eden Valley by Jacqueline Harris Published by Penrith Action for Community Transition

13 Mardale – Echoes and Reflections of a Lost Lake District Community by Shap Local History Society. Published by Shap Local History Society

14 Mountain Biking in the Lake District by Ian Boydon Published by Cicerone Press, Milnthorpe

15 Spectral Army of Souther Field by Steve Matthews Published by Bookcase, Carlisle

16 The Collected Tales of a Lakeland Lad by Len Hayton Published by Leonard and Jean Hayton, Levens, Cumbria

17 The English Lakes - A History by Ian Thompson Published by Bloomsbury Publishing, London

18 The Ferry Inn on Windermere by Ian L Muir Published by Hayloft Publishing Ltd, Kirkby Stephen

19 The Man Who Couldn’t Stop Drawing by Chris Wadsworth Published by Studio Publications, London

20 Tour of the English Lakes by John R Murray Published by Frances Lincoln Publishers, London

21 Walking in Cumbria’s Eden Valley by Vivienne Crow. Published by Cicerone, Milnthorpe