The Good Guide to the Lakes

by Hunter Davies, Tom Holman

Explaining major changes and trends in Lakeland since the last edition, this new edition of 'The Good Guide to the Lakes' comes with updated facts and figures, and describes and rates many new attractions.

Genres: Travel

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Edward Hunter Davies OBE is an author, journalist and broadcaster, and a former editor for the Sunday Times of London. He is the author of numerous books, including The Glory Game and the only authorised biography of the Beatles. He was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, to Scottish parents. For four years his family lived in Dumfries until Davies was aged 11.

His family moved to Carlisle in northern England when Davies was 11 and he attended the Creighton School in the city. Davies lived in Carlisle until he moved to study at university. During this time his father, who was a former Royal Air Force pay clerk, developed multiple sclerosis and had to retire on medical grounds from a civil service career.

Davies joined the sixth form at Carlisle Grammar School and was awarded a place at University College, Durham to read for an honours degree in History, but after his first year he switched to a general arts course. He gained his first writing experience as a student, contributing to the university newspaper, Palatinate, where one of his fellow student journalists was the future fashion writer Colin McDowell. After completing his degree course he stayed on at Durham for another year to gain a teaching diploma and avoid National Service.

He lives in London.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I have mentioned elsewhere, probably far too often, I have a bit of an issue with "The Lake District" after an unfortunate experience as a young child. I do believe I may now officially be Over It after over 40 years and an earlier edition of The Good Guide to the Lakes was the start of that road to recovery. It was such a delicious little volume, not your usually sort of gushy or sniffy guide at all, very much Hunter Davies' personal work and I read and loved it despite not having the slightest intention of ever going there again, thank you very much.

Anyway, there've been a good many more editions since then, and I had used it to find somewhere to eat on brief visits, so I turned to the most recent when it finally came time for an actual proper holiday in the Lakes. I was not surprised to find that Davies has enlisted help and this is something of a handover edition. The notes at the back about whose mistakes are whose suggests it may still be in good hands. Alas they have moved on from the naughtiness of the earlier index "Dump - see Barrow-in-Furness" (although their assertions of its wonderfulness when referring to this incident are not borne out by the asides elsewhere in the book)

[Mugdha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading through this book. So far as introductions go, it gives as much detail about the area as anyone's going to need on a trip. The book is also written in a funny and engaging style, which is important for a guidebook. Extra brownie points from me for listing vegetarian restaurants in the area. Looking forward to using this info on my trip.