ISBN: 1-85284-463-9

Publisher: Cicerone

Do you like to feel the wind blowing past your ears as you grip the sullen face of rock? Perhaps you get the feeling of vertigo after you reach high heights? Does it leave the adrenaline rushing through your body and fulfil your thirst for the extreme? Are you a scrambler with a passion for the Lakes? This book by adventurer Brian Evans should suit you very nicely and fit in your rucksack too.

This is volume 2 and covers the Northern Lakes of this most beautiful of districts.

Reading about Wasdale and its fells gets you straight into the mood especially when you gaze at the wonderful photographs included in each section. Wadale Head was where the Victorians did their mountaineering. There is an inn and quite a few campsites too.

Scrambling on Iron Crag, Middlefell is easy we are told but this book also makes you aware of the dangers that lurk if you haven’t your wits about you.

The Netherbeck Gorges are spectacular and beautiful with trees that form a canopy overhead and there are pools and a waterfall. Save this particular scramble for a lazy, hot summer’s day because the atmosphere can get very oppressive between the dark walls of the gorge.

Scafell Pike is known as the highest point in Britain but when you look at the diagram inside this guide you realise that it is merely the summit of a broad fell that stretches from Great End and descends to Mickledore.

The Scafell range is complicated but interesting the author promises with a great deal of bare rock to grip. It has many crags but most are the domain for the experienced rock climbers. Don’t let this stop you - Scafell is still a good place to scramble but make sure you are equipped with a helmet in case of accidents.

Glancing at the photos of this area, it is easy to see why it’s so attractive to scramblers and climbers alike with its steep crags and ravines and wonderful quality rock just made for gripping.

Pillar Rock has a mention in this guide too. It is the pride of Ennerdale and very much the goal of many who see it as a challenge to be taken. With car parking near by it means you don’t have to trek far before you arrive at the foot of this magnificent crag that does beg to be seen with the frontal height of almost 200m.

If you only look at the photos you can see this is one hell of a monster to climb. Its almost vertical ascent in places makes you feel dizzy just looking. Ropes are required for this mountainous climb so ensure you have them to hand. The author guides you through the routes that need to be taken to ensure you achieve your goal.

Certainly one heck of a climb!

Towards the end we have areas in Patterdale that are mentioned and also some in Mardale too.

If you team this guide with the Southern Lakes one, you can pretty much cover most of the places to scramble in the Lakes. I’m sure if you have an interest in this sort of thing, you will want to have both of these guides to ensure you can really get what you want out of the great outdoors.  A handy compact companion you can’t be without.