Euro Peak Book Coming Soon

Coming down the pipeline from Cicerone Press this September is a new guide to climbing all the highest points in each European country titled 'Europe's High Points'.


Believe it or not there are 42 of them ranging from quite high things like Mont Blanc - France as if you didn't know - and the Grossglockner, down to the somewhat less impressive like Denmark's 170-metre Mollehoj and the Vatican's St Peter's Dome at a piffling 132m. And the highest of the lot, of course, is Mount Elbrus at a stonking 5642m, the highest peak in Russian and, if you're being pedantic, Europe.

Each peak or peaklet or small lump gets its own chapter complete with a simple digramatic map, some photos and a detailed route description or two. Grades range from '1' which is described as an 'Easy tourist amble' up to '5' where 'full alpine kit' is required. To put htings in perspective, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis are both rated '2' or 'a standard hike'. Mont Blanc is predictably a '5' while Elbrus is a '4'.

Based on the pre-publication extracts we've seen, it's a nice little book with the potential to entertain and inspire along the way. It's also not afraid to tell you that the tourist route on the Ben is dull and the CMD Arete a much more interesting option.

Should be just the job for anyone who's bagged their Munros and Corbetts and is after a new challenge with a few air miles thrown in for good measure. Or how about doing it by bike, now there's a thought...

More details at www.cicerone.co.uk