Here, we talk about why I wrote Celebrating the Yorkshire Dales and the future of the National Park.

You can get a copy of Celebrating the Yorkshire Dales here.

The post Yorkshire Dales: A Wounded Land appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Seems that they like it, which is very nice as it gives me a boost and pitches the book to the cavers who read the magazine.

Copies of 50 Gems of Derbyshire are available in my store now.

Apologies for the slightly curved image.

The post 50 Gems Review appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Both myself and Danny are humbled by the support we have received and in particular the review below by Dave Hadfield in League Weekly.

We thank editor Paul Bennett for allowing us to reprint it here.

“I have been transfixed this week by the harrowing story of one of my all-time favourite players.

“I admired Danny Sculthorpe so much because he was a player completely against the trend of his times.

“A ball-playing, chip-kicking prop forward? What would you do with one of those? Better for everyone all round to take them out and shoot them.

“Danny’s one-handed pass from boot level was one of the delights to savour in his chequered career, which is recalled in a compelling autobiography ‘Highs, lows and hypos’ with Mike Appleton, just out in Vertical Editions.

“I thought I knew his story pretty well, but I had little idea how he had suffered for his art.

“First of all, there is the litany of injuries, that particularly afflict players who are trying to play the game one way, when everybody else is trying to play it another.

“Just the list of ailments requiring surgery would fill several pages. Then there is his diabetes, which could account for a chapter of its own.

“Most of all though, there is the invisible ailment – the depression that dogged him for years and almost claimed his life.

“He was, as this relentlessly honest account confirms, in that classic position; bottle of gin in the back of the car, a fistful of pills and a few cans of beer to wash it down with.

“He doesn’t know quite what drew him back from the brink that day. Some inner strength that he didn’t know he had, perhaps.

“Since then, though, he has rebuilt his life and lent his experience to the game he loved through the State of Mind organisation. So he has what most of us crave – a role, a meaning to our lives after the final hooter sounds.

“That doesn’t mean he is out of the woods, but it does demonstrate that there is a pathway if you can find it. It should also help that his skills stood out like a beacon, even if they were not always appreciated at the time.

“It’s worth reading for all sorts of reasons, not least for its vivid portrayal of binge drinking and the Mad Monday phenomenon.

“The opportunity for a full day or more on the beer was probably the last thing that Danny Sculthorpe needed.

“Like many of the most intelligent players, he had streak of madness in his  personality as well.

“His survival is, in the end, an uplifting result. Unlike his great mate, Terry Newton, he had people to talk to about the pressures he was feeling.

“His book, immaculately ghosted by Mike Appleton, takes his message to a wider audience and will do a huge amount of good.”

A great review eh?  You can buy the book in my store here.

The post Highs, Lows & Hypos Review appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Firstly, having watched his Blencathra and Scafell biopics several times I had deep seated thoughts that the film-maker’s skills lie solely in portraying these landscapes in romantic masterpieces that have been widely acclaimed all over the world.

Secondly, his subject, Alan Hinkes OBE gets on my nerves a little! Bear with me…

I don’t know if this is because of his boundless energy and always buoyant character or the mountaineer’s ability to be ever cheerful with whatever is thrown at him.

He’s just so bloody happy all the time!

Perhaps that speaks more about me than Alan but it left me wanting to see a different kind of Hinkes on screen.

And boy was I pleased not to witness that in the end.

For me Abraham is a modern-day Turner in his approach to landscape filming. He combines time-lapse and drone footage with sweeping scores and angles that both baffle and amaze into every shot.

He also has a unique ability to use the very best of this updated and current way of filming with what I would call slow cinema.

His shots are as your eye would see them, nothing is manufactured, as if you were sat on a rock as the sun goes down, drinking a brew, looking upon your favourite mountain.

Terry is at his happiest and certainly most creative when filming these scenes and it’s abundantly clear in this film and all his others.

In this film, Hinkes is the theme, but it’s that love affair with the mountains which is the subject.

Alan’s enthusiasm and life story comes through in the clever way Abraham shoots and how the first and only Briton to climb all 14 of the 8,000 metre summits presents himself.

It’s a documentary yes, but there’s no chronology here. Alan begins by explaining how he came to love the outdoors so much but as soon as you’re settled in we’re off to places and events he loves like Roseberry Topping, Gaping Gill, the Black Sheep brewery and so on.

It’s Hinkes’ thoughts, coupled with Abraham’s perfect eye for a landscape, that make this picture unique.

Alan’s enthusiasm shines and you find yourself loving the quirks of his character… the knack he has of filling any silences with a quip…  “I love the Lakes me” is a personal favourite. It’s Hinkes, it is what he is, and you cannot fail to move along with it.

The culmination of this mountaineer’s career is obviously the 14 8,000ers and we are taken to Nepal to see these mountains in their glory and meet his old friends.

And this is where Terry shines. The shots of the Himalaya are crisp, moody and his best work to date. You don’t need Alan to explain was is going on because Terry nails it from his lens.

His camera becomes part of Hinkes’ psyche and it is stunning. It’s clear the two have spent considerable time together because they are in perfect sync. It’s like Terry has opened up Alan’s mind for all to see.

But… I don’t want to give too much away as that would be doing Terry and Alan a disservice. You have to see it for yourself.

Hinkes certainly deserves wider recognition for what he has achieved alongside his charity work and undying passion of getting people of all ages into the outdoors.

But I get the feeling Alan doesn’t want it. He doesn’t seek it nor does it come across as he is that perturbed about it.

He’s happy on a hill somewhere, bouncing at speed from rock to rock, excited to be alive and that is just reward for a life and career well lived.

A must watch.

Alan Hinkes, a film by Terry Abraham, is out now. You can buy the DVD here  or download it here.

Both are priced at £14.99.

The post Alan Hinkes OBE appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Chairman Patrick Chaplin wrote about the book in the latest edition of the Society’s newsletter.

A big thank you  to everyone involved in the PHS for their support and they have kindly allowed me to display their review here:

MIKE APPLETON – 25 GREAT WALKERS’ PUBS IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES

Over the years, I have read a large number of ‘pub walks’ books and found them, in the main, uninteresting. You might think this is because I am a pub-goer and have no inclination to use any pub as a base for a walk, circular or any other shape, but you would be wrong.

Just grabbing half a dozen such volumes from my bookshelves at random, I find they range from my home county of Essex (naturally), to Cornwall, North Devon, Surrey and Northamptonshire. The images in every one are black and white and, in most cases, the author omits even a brief account of the history of each pub.

Mike Appleton’s book 25 Great Walkers’ Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales breaks the mould.

Mike is an avid walker and caver and has made regular trips to the Dales ever since he travelled there years ago with his father. He admits to being obsessed with the area and its people and spends as much time there as he can. His passion for the Dales has resulted in the publication of his earlier works Yorkshire’s Three Peaks: The Inside Story of the Dales and 50 Gems of the Yorkshire Dales and now this new, pub walk-related, volume.

25 Great Walkers’ Pubs features many of the public houses that Mike has visited during his own travels in the Dales over the past three decades and it this experience, his fascinating prose and attention to detail regarding the history of each pub plus the exceptional design and presentation of his work by his publishers that, I believe, sets his book aside from the others.

Pubs featured range from the world famous Tan Hill Inn, near Reeth, the highest pub in England at 1,732 feet above sea level, to the George Inn, in the least well-known village of Hubberholme, both of which could be described as ‘in the middle of nowhere’. The Tan Hill Inn has been written about aplenty so it is good to learn about the lesser known pubs of the Dales such as the George, which, incidentally, is known as ‘the candle pub’ because of the tradition to light a candle in the window to signify that it is open.

Although I do travel to Yorkshire at least once a year, the only pub I have personally visited on the Dales is the New Inn at Appletreewick, a pub that PHS members may recall I wrote about a few issues ago, telling the story of the eccentric host John G. Showers. Therefore, I was very pleased when Mike Appleton sought permission to use some of the material from my article on the PHS website in his book. I am proud to be associated with this project if only in a small way. (In his acknowledgements Mike also mentions the Pub History Society.)

25 Great Walkers’ Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales is extremely well-written, informative and colourful being beautifully illustrated throughout and is a credit to both the author and his publisher Amberley. If, like me, you are a ‘non-walker’ this book can easily serve as a guide to some of the very best and most interesting pubs on the Dales.

Dr. Patrick Chaplin
Chairman,
Pub History Society
www.pubhistorysociety.co.uk

You can buy a signed copy of 25 Great Walkers’ Pubs in Yorkshire Dales – cheaper than anywhere else – from my store here.

The post 25 Great Walkers’ Review appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

They are usually away from the mainstream, lower budget than normal ‘features’ and allow the filmmaker and viewer the chance to get more involved in what is happening in the wild.

They also seem more real to me with documentaries in particular opening a door into a world that many of us don’t see or understand.

Terry Abraham has been pushing this form since his first ‘movie’ The Cairngorms in Winter.

I have an affection for this programme  as it saved my soul, the life of my cat and probably, at the very least, any bits of crockery that could have been smashed within a short radius

Liverpool were playing my team Everton at Anfield a couple of years ago and I had a funny feeling things wouldn’t go our way. I downloaded  Cairngorms, popped in my earphones and went away for just over an hour and half. I was transported, via a magnificent soundtrack, into Britain’s artic with Chris Townsend, stunning scenery and an even better presentation from Abraham.

As the final credits rolled, I flipped on BBC Sport and swore several times at what I saw. Liverpool 4 Everton 0. But it didn’t bother me as much. Terry and the Cairngorms had saved my sanity.

His next film  Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike was clearly bigger budget and thus a bigger project to boot – and it stepped up the game. Swept away up and down England’s highest mountain, this was a masterpiece, with humour, character and simply brilliant film-making. My personal favourite moment is Alan Hinkes’ sheer enthusiasm coming through as he takes to the peak – and Terry’s use of time-lapse alongside a soundtrack that makes your hair stand on end. Yes, it was sentimental at times, but it worked.

There’s no way he could better that, could he?

If Scafell Pike was as close to the perfect outdoor essay you could get then I am simply lost for words on the next film in the series –  Life of the Mountain: Blencathra  as it raises the bar once again.

It’s clear when Terry takes on a project it is fully immersive. He spends hours on the hill. The conduit of the landscape helps tell the story and Terry is a happier man  on the fell behind the camera, than in front of it.

This is a much more  intimate portrait of one of the Lake District’s most famous fells. Terry is  the region’s Nan Shepherd. It feels less intimidating in terms of scale than Scafell and therefore a lot more personal and real.

I’m purposely not going to reveal spoilers about the film – that is something Terry has asked all his reviewers to d0 – and it would be wrong. People simply need to sit for two hours and enjoy  another breathtaking view of this country.

Characters abound once more, but unlike  Scafell,  the hero is Blencathra or ‘saddleback’ itself. We’re never far away from the mountain and its stunning vista, nooks, crannies, features and admiration. This isn’t just a year in the life, it is a love story.

Love of a geological and physical feature and those who interact with it everyday. Terry pulls out every trick in his arsenal to display  his and the locals’  affection for  Blencathra but it never becomes too much or over-worked. The aerial footage in particular – an oft overused form these days – compliments rather than dominates.

I also prefer the angle of  conservation  and environment that perhaps  Scafell    slightly lacked. There is more ‘human’ in this.

The music too is absolutely stunning. Shamelessly, it made me fill up at times and married with Terry’s endless talent for not only getting the right shot at the right time, but also perfecting a style of editing that any filmmaker would have to applaud, it has you out of your seat.

Terry is going places. Helvellyn is next to be given the Abraham treatment, but in all seriousness, he should  have people beating a path to his door  with work offers. I would love him to have a crack at the Cuillin on Skye.

This is a must see and I’m humbled to have the opportunity to view it before any one else.

The DVD of the film will be out from May 14 from  www.stridingedge.com  and on Amazon for £14.99. It will also be on Blu Ray.

For other screenings and information click here.

The post Life Of A Mountain: Blencathra appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Not only was 50 Gems of the Yorkshire Dales released but 25 Great Walkers’ Pubs of the Yorkshire Dales was commissioned and 5-9 microadventures became the norm!

In March, the first of those 5-9 microadventures didn’t quite go according to plan. A visit to Ingleborough in full winter conditions had us retreating in a whiteout. Knowing when to turn back is a vital part of being a competent walker.

I was also invited to join the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild – a great honour!

The wintry weather didn’t beat me in the end though and at the end of the month a bivvy at the Cheese Press Stone was a real highlight of the year.

The Stone is one of the 50 Gems of the Yorkshire Dales and that book was officially launched at Inglesport in May. Several copies were sold as visitors to the area discovered some gems they hadn’t known about!

The Store wrote:

We were delighted to be contacted by Mike Appleton, the author of 50 Gems of the Yorkshire Dales, as a book signing was definitely something new for Inglesport in our 37 years of trading.

The publisher Amberley Books were in contact every step of the way supplying us with flyers and posters for the store window.

Mike and Amberley books built up the tension and suspense via Twitter, Facebook and local press and the Yorkshire Post produced a great two page spread on the area a week before the event.

Before the launch we had people coming into the store, calling via telephone and contacting us on social media asking for a copy to be reserved.

On the day of the event Mike turned up about a hour before launch, introduced himself to the staff explaining his passion for the area and the reasons for promotion.

He also explained the following day that he intended to lead a walk to one of the gems and everyone was welcome to come along.

All in all we noticed an increase in footfall of customers old and new and the publication has been a good seller for ourselves and will be enjoyed by many over the coming years.

We would like to thank Mike and Amberley Books for making the launch a success and also for choosing our store for the event.

Good luck with any future ventures.

You can read about one of the Gems here.

Positive reviews for the book followed in June with both the Yorkshire Post and Westmorland Gazette featuring it heavily in their publications.

Wanderlust also carried the book on its website in a special feature  and will cover it in a special guide to the UK released in the new year.

In July,    another microadventure followed as well as a spot of iPhone caving  and a month later some serious underground travel followed – this time to Buttersett Mines.

25 Great Walkers’ Pubs of the Yorkshire Dales was also commissioned by Amberley.

In October, a visit to one of those pubs – the iconic Tan Hill Inn – brought probably the best bivvy and microadventure of the year.

And another pub visit to the Game Cock Inn in Austwick saw  a fantastic bimble  around Norber and its erratics.

25 Pubs is now with its proofreader and there will be an extract here shortly!

Just a few highlights of a busy here year… more to follow in 2016!

Remember…

Prices in the  Mascarandy Shop  are cheaper than Amazon – and the money goes direct to the author rather than a huge corporation!

Yorkshire’s Three Peaks – The Inside Story of the Dales  is now just a tenner too.

The post A Busy Year! appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

The Dalesman said it was ‘a little gem of a book’ whilst Descent Magazine found the book’s style ‘engaging’.

To buy this  book click here.

The post 50 Gems – Reviews appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Firstly, it’s amazing how past lives and past projects continue not only to reappear in my world but cause me to rethink, reflect and smile. With the announcement that Ice Hockey star Tony Hand MBE would be playing in his final season before retiring I was approached by ‘Slapshot Scotland’ who asked if we would consider updating the Tony Hand: A Life in British Ice Hockey autobiography.

He’d asked a number of people who agreed that bringing the tome bang up to date would be a fitting tribute to the Scot’s story. Tony was the first British born player to be drafted into the NHL and has scored more points than any other player in this country… and that description belittles his contribution to the sport really.

I’m hoping to make this project a reality after learning that Mr Hand would indeed be interested too. Watch this space.

Interestingly, the original book finished as ‘Sir Tony hand’ signed on as Player-Coach at Manchester Phoenix. That club has been in the Elite League, moved to the English Premier League, won the playoffs and are current champions too. He’s also been the Head Coach of Great Britain.

So yes, it does need updating!

Speaking of the ‘original’, sales have picked up since Tony announced his impending retirement and I received a tweet about a review from Ashley March who is Director of Comm. for @RiverKingsLNAH, Journalist for Sports Energy & @CCHLNETWORK amongst others according to her Twitter biog. She had reviewed the book and her writing certainly captures what both myself and Tony intended when we scribed it many moons ago. Check it out here.

Secondly, the PR and reviews for Yorkshire’s Three Peaks: The Inside Story of the Dales continue apace.

Last weekend, I headed up to Horton-in-Ribblesdale for the first day’s shooting on a documentary about the book and the area. I was joined by two film makers from St Helens and we worked on the slopes of Pen-y-ghent and in Chapel-le-Dale.

It was a superb experience and a real eye opener. Firstly, it’s amazing how long you stay in one place to get the right shot for a scene. We spent probably more than three hours on the hill but to be fair both Mike and Geoff made the experience very rewarding. They left me free with the mic to record my thoughts and also took me through how to talk to the camera, appear natural and not be afraid to get things wrong. I can’t wait for the next installment.

They also didn’t mind working with walls covered in moss, Max the dog and in the cold. And boy for a summer’s day it was cold.

The short radio documentary I have prepared on the book is pretty much good to go now too; with just the links and tweaks in production left to complete.

The latest review of the book was written by the team at Grough and you can read it here.

In my view editor Bob gets it pretty much spot on but I’m not sure I agree with his point about ‘there is little to reflect the viewpoint of the thousands of walkers who undertake the challenge or indeed those who just come for a quiet walk up one or other of the fells or an amble along some of the lower-level routes.’

Pretty much every interview in the book is with a person who walks on the fells and the book is written by a fell walker… but I certainly respect his viewpoint.

Thirdly… Speaking of challenges, more so the National Three Peaks Challenge, Terry Abraham has written this fantastic blog on the challenge which covers Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.

Many of you will know I am very anti ‘challenge walks’ on the hills and peaks and I’m not sure how covering three mountains in England, Scotland and Wales, in 24 hours, can be sustainable. In fact, how can a hill challenge like that be environmentally sustainable for starters…

Why do people feel the need to cover these hills in 24 hours, or 12 in the case of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, as a challenge… leaving little time to appreciate the countryside as they blast around?

Terry’s blog is pretty stark too and the damage in Wasdale for instance is scary and damn-right outrageous. It would be remiss of me to print his blog here – follow the link and feel free to send me your thoughts.

I will never give money to challenge walkers nor will understand why challenges like this can’t be completed on a treadmill or in a local park. The cost of taking part in an event like this surely could be given straight to the charity instead?

Hills are free to climb and roam but there has to be a better way of managing them and personally I don’t think ‘engineering’ a route, as in large chunks of the Dales route, is the best way.

Finally, I’ve been producing PR for Bethany Cammack recently to highlight the work she is doing with charities around the St Helens area. There’s no challenges here, no special stunts, just a young woman using her pageant win and titles to help others. Good luck to her.

The post Hand, Films, Rants & Help appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

After my post on what was involved in writing the book – Unbiased and Balanced – I received these positive comments as well as a plethora of good reviews on Amazon too.

“Having just finished reading your latest tome, Yorkshire’s Three Peaks: The Inside Story of The Dales, I would like to congratulate you on a fascinating read.

“The descriptive nature of the writing made me almost able to visualise the countryside and landscape you were describing.

“Being a fan of the Dales it really provided me with a great sense of the aura and atmosphere of this wonderful part of the country.

“Your interviews and conversations with the locals gave great insight into the issues and problems that the local communities have and are still facing today. I would recommend this book to all Dales fans.”

and

“I have just finished your book and would like to say what an enjoyable read it was. I love the Dales and could empathise with the locals and their concerns for their area and the future.

“The photographs included more than do justice to the beautiful scenery.

“I haven’t done the 3 peaks walk all in one go myself, but after reading your book might seriously consider it! A truly good, informative read.

“I look forward to your next book. Good luck Mike.”

To get a signed copy of the book – and help Cave Rescue too as a proportion of the sales will go to the charity – click here.

The post More Reviews appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Yours, Mine and the Truth*.

In writing Yorkshire’s Three Peaks: Inside Story of the Dales I wanted to cover as many angles as possible to find out what is happening in the area at the present time.

I set myself the task of walking the route and interviewing people I met along the way as well as landowners, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority figures, farmers, business owners, Natural England, the Cave Rescue and users of this famous route.

It took me approximately three years of my life to research and complete — although that is tempered somewhat by the fact I wrote, with Lee Briers, his autobiography, in the meantime.

It involved several emails, visits, phonecalls, hours upon hours of walking, face to face interviewing and much more.

For the record, I spoke to:

Melanie and Matt at Pen-y-ghent Café; Steve Hastie from the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Friends of the Three Peaks; Dave Gallivan from Yorkshire Dales Guides, Dave Morphett farmer at Birkwith; Johnny Hartnell at Inglesport; Rae Lonsdale MBE and Steve Finch at the Cave Rescue Organisation; local resident Lucie Carr; Gary Middleton who farms on the slopes of Pen-y-ghent; Charles Ellis, Vicar of St Leonard’s church in Chapel-le-Dale; Adrian at the Seedhill B&B in Ingleton; Colin Newlands and Andrew Hinde at Natural England; Mike Harding; Chris Bonsall and Paul Weaire who spoke about what is happening in Ingleton (Chris is the organiser of the Folk Festival); Gill Woods (head), Richard Patterson (head of governors) and Jane Edwards (teacher) at Horton Primary School; Bob Jarman at Ingleborough Cave; Fell Runner Joe Symonds; Pip Land at the Association of Rural Communities; Robert Bell at Langcliffe Hall; Tom Lord at Lower Winskill Farm; Chris and John Sharp (Famers); Dave Taylor at the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust; Nick Oldham at the Yorkshire Dales National Park; Dr Farrer at Ingleborough Estate (who has now sadly passed away); Ben Ayres and Simon Garner at Hanson; Jonathan Tompkins; the Clerk at Horton-in-Ribblesdale Parish Council and Colin Speakman who provided me with  his Visitor Management Report for Horton.

There are others too and I appeared on Drystone Radio, which broadcasts in the region, at least four times to discuss what I was doing to gather opinion.

The views I received were wide and diverse. Many didn’t think there were any major issues as a result of the rural decline most of country is suffering. Some were more vociferous than others whilst many wanted to tell me of the beauty of this superb area.

I covered as many bases as possible before drawing a conclusion and my conclusion was pretty much to a person what I have been told in the book. I even wrote a chapter on positive things for the future and schemes.

That is, everyone needs to come together to make sure the area has a vibrant future.

Therefore I’m dismayed by one or two ‘reviews’ that said the book was biased. It certainly wasn’t. I could have eulogised about the number of visitors and the damage they caused and just taken one view. I didn’t. I quoted from the traffic management plan and spoke to the Friends of the Three Peaks as well as those who benefit from visitors in the area.

I also spoke to Robert Bell who owns Pen-y-ghent and users of the Three Peaks route. Several of them.

I could have written paragraphs on environmental damage. I didn’t. I spoke to Natural England, The Yorkshire Dales National Park and other important bodies. I even took a tour around Horton Quarry.

When it comes to retail issues I spoke to Inglesport in Ingleton, as well as other shop owners, and gained valuable insights from Mike Harding and his wife — and the Association of Rural Communities – about how communities are pulling together.

I even said that the YDNP’s selling of items connected with the Three Peaks damaged the local economy.

There was certainly no bias in there nor did I try to belittle what anyone was doing. My only bias was and still is, that I am phenomenally passionate about the Dales.

I allowed several of my interviewees the chance to review what they had said in the book too before publication.

The book has gained positive reviews from The Great Outdoors Magazine, Descent Magazine, The Yorkshire Dales Society, Drystone Radio, The Dalesman, The Westmorland Gazette and several others.

From my experience in journalism, the media do not provide positive reviews if they don’t mean it. It is easier to criticise.

The Cave Rescue Organisation  will benefit from the sales  the book too.  I certainly wouldn’t do this, nor would they, if it was a biased tome.

I’m not asking everyone to love the book. I had one lady call me to say she loved it especially the pictures. I had another one who told me they enjoyed it, but wished I had gone a little deeper into the issues.

I can accept that and plan to do follow up interviews on my site over the coming months.

If you have an issue with anything contained within the book then I am always here to hear your side — and I will interview you – and run the interview on this site.

People have opinions, will always do, and I am happy to hear them.

Descent Magazine summed up what I was trying to achieve perfectly in this review:

Having set scenes, Mike tells his tale by interviewing local people, many of whom are in positions of authority  â€”  not ‘authority’ in the sense of police and the like, but representatives of walking groups, the national park, shopkeepers and cafe owners, event organisers and so on.

This sets his book apart  â€”  it is a snapshot of time, of opinion, during a period of spending cuts and increased pressures on the fells. The fascination comes from this diversity…

*Gold star to whoever names the band, song and album…

The post Unbiased and Balanced appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

They say it gives ‘a very useful insight into the current position of life and work for those who live in the area today and is a welcome addition to add to our knowledge of a special area of the Dales’.

It is a great review.

Whilst I can’t comment on Chris Wright’s view of the book binding – that’s up to Amberley – one thing I would say is he raises an interesting point in the Settle-Carlisle line and Bus Services.

I do talk about transport in the final chapter of the Book and the number of times trains and buses are referenced are frequent. I certainly didn’t think I avoided the issue but yes, perhaps I could have gone into more depth.

I will be revisiting that on this site shortly!

The Great Outdoor’s (TGO’s) review:

The post Yorkshire Dales Society / TGO appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

Descent Magazine  implored the caving community to ‘seek out a copy… and take time to read and think about its contents. Mike offers some insights that might make you pause and think’.

The full review (many thanks to Descent):

Many people will know I have spent some time on Drystone Radio; on Dave Watkiss‘  View from the Clocktower  magazine show on a Thursday evening and, more frequently, my weekly Rugby League correspondent duties on Dave’s Saturday morning Sports Magazine.

Dave said the book  made him: “sway from one side of the argument to another… it was a very interesting book and it leaves you with plenty to think about”

The full review (many thanks to Drystone Radio):

Other reviews:  

• The Westmorland Gazette and The Lancashire Telegraph
• The Dalesman

You can buy your signed copy of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks: The Inside Story of the Dales here – with £3 from each copy sold in June going to Cave Rescue Organisation.

The post More Positive Reviews appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

The Dalesman said: “Readers who want more substance than gloss will enjoy this personal account of a journey through a much-loved landscape.

“In this book, journalist Mike Appleton – accompanied by his dog Max – looks deeper than the tourist brochures generally do to uncover the inside story of this picturesque part of the world.”

Interestingly, before I saw the review I took a call from a lady who had seen The Dalesman. She had left a message on my phone saying how pleased she was with the cover of the book and the fact she could see her old bungalow on it.

I called her back, had a lengthy chat about the Dales and Horton-In-Ribblesdale and how  wonderful the area is to walk in. She was heading back up there in a couple of weeks and staying in The Crown.

She then called me a local celebrity!

Later in the day I had another message from the lady and the fact she had made a special visit to Leeds to get the book, loved the pictures and thanked me for all the work I do in promoting the area.

It was humbling that someone would go out of their way to give me a call and thank me for writing a book.

We shared a passion for the Dales and my only hope is the thoughts and comments in the book are taken on board so this fine area of the country is viable for future generations.

You can buy the book here – £3 from each copy will go to the Cave Rescue Organisation.

The post Reviews & Calls… appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

The Westmorland Gazette and Lancashire Telegraph said:

“AS ONE of the many thousands of walkers who have scaled the Three Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales in one day, I’m well aware of the beautiful scenery to be encountered.

However, setting out to trek over Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in ten hours or so doesn’t give you an awful lot of time to pause and admire the surroundings in detail.

That’s where this lovely book comes into its own.

Journalist, caver and walker Mike Appleton helps us appreciate the finer detail of the countryside around the famous peaks, ably assisted by around 100 photographs.

His book takes us ‘away from the trudging boots’ to find the story of the Three Peaks area which the visitor and walker doesn’t always see.”

It’s always a great fillip to receive a good review and certainly word of mouth has been good around the project so far.

Sales seem to be going well too and now my job is to continue with the promotion of the book with Amberley Publishing  to continue its success.

With that in mind I created a Facebook Page for the book to post snippets and other information from the ‘Three Peaks’

If you’ve read the book please drop a review to me via the contact page, head to Facebook or Amazon.

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