That’s “Reading” as in the activity, not “Reading” as in the town on the Thames! This section lists some of the books and sites which we, the greenwalks.uk team, have encountered, and which ensure that the walks may be reached and returned from (and ideally with intermediate options noted) using public transport. An individual entry in a generic website is unlikely to make the grade, though we may home in on a single link from a reputable outdoor site (see the Pentland Hills entry below). Simplistic aggregator sites (which are often run as commercial services) are likewise beyond our scope.
The important point to note right from the start is that guides for individual routes are not listed here, even if their authors’ commitment to public transport access is undeniable. At this point, we must say that the majority of guidebooks, whether to a particular route, a general area of interest, or a cherry-pick from around the country, seem to be happy to list car parks, but will studiously ignore stations and bus stops at the endpoints and en route. We call on publishers, web aggregators, and quality raters to press authors into including all public transport opportunities (yes, even taxi journeys in extreme cases) in publications.
Some may perceive a regional disparity as we begin our collecting activity, but that is simply because the entries are the first to come to hand at a desk not far from Heathrow!
The collections
Websites
Walks from Sheffield using the bus (Camilla Jordan)
Lists of walks accessible from Sheffield by bus — but only if you want to go to the west of the city. Basic information and basic maps. Wayfinding details are image-heavy on the site, but PDF versions (with/without images) are available to download/print. Surely there is a better, and a geographically better balanced, option for Sheffield.
Pentland Hills by Bus
A document extracted from the Pentland Hills Regional Park website, which overlays the relevant bus routes out of Edinburgh to reach the Pentland Hills (so the most convenient stop is obvious immediately — good move!). Minimal walk directions, so you are on your own with the Ordnance map in your pocket.
Books
Walking in Essex (Peter Aylmer — ISBN 9781786310224)
Between the day circuits and the stages of a cross-county walk, this book has 36 day walks in Essex, covering all sorts of countryside, coastal, and exurban routes. Public transport options are given (this is particularly useful in some of the landward areas), and the clear directions are complemented by proper OS 1:25000 mapping. There is a wealth of background information on how best to walk in Essex and on what you will find when you get there.
Walking in London (Peter Aylmer — ISBN 9781852848132)
A set of 25 walks in the capital which run the gamut from the Royal Parks to Ruislip woods. Public transport options are clearly laid out, and the text contains much interesting detail about the surroundings as well as clear directions. Mapping is very clear, using the OS 1:25000 maps.
Walks for each Season (Julia Smith — ISBN 9781739986704)
A collection of 26 walks, starting and finishing at a station accessible from central London, and written to note the best time of the year for each walk. Full transport details (including ticketing advice), plus key options for refreshment, replenishment and relief. For each walk, there is an attractive short description, the route mapped on full-colour OS 1:25000 maps, and detailed wayfinding information.
London Tree Walks (Paul Wood — ISBN 9781916045347)
Twelve urban walks within London with an unusual focus — the many species of tree found in and around the Capital’s streets. Full public transport information (including key short-cuts) with accessibility notes. And of course, more fascinating tree information than you can shake a twig at.
Disclaimer and advisory notices
Note that the greenwalks.uk team can accept no responsibility for content on an external site or in an external publication, nor for any action by an external site which renders our content or link outdated or unworkable. Furthermore, the team retains the liberty to unlink external content if, in its opinion, there have been changes which mean that a route may no longer be able to be considered a Green Walk (e.g., following changes to public transport services).
The responsibility for safety and security is vested in the walker alone: greenwalks.uk can take no responsibility for any inconvenience, damage, loss or injury sustained while using a route or other information from this site — many things can change without warning.
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