Macfarlane Shares Banff Grand Prize

Robert MacFarlane has been announced as joint winner of the Banff Mountain Book Festival Grand Prize 2008 for his second book The Wild Places. The decision endorses the judgment of the jury at the Kendal Mountain Book Festival last year, where The Wild Places also won the Boardman Tasker Prize for mountain literature.

The book takes us to the most untouched spots in the UK, as you'd expect from the title, but what's less expected is that it doesn't confine itself to rugged summits and bleak Scottish hillsides. Britain's most low-lying places, as well as its mountains, can be pretty unspoiled, as Macfarlane found as he wandered around some of the flattest areas of Essex. Good stuff if you're looking for solitude but not so handy if you have rack with you:-)

Having said that, it's easy to forget there's a world of the great outdoors south of the Peak District in Britain, and The Wild Places is a good reminder.

The book was chosen for the Grand Prize from 32 finalists and it wins a share in the $2000 prize. The other winner was The Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek by Sid Marty, set in Banff itself.

Robert MacFarlane's had a pretty successful run at the mountain festivals in his short career so far. 'Mountains of the Mind' was shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize and won him the Guardian First Book Award, and now The Wild Places is just as successful. We'll keep you posted next time there's a Macfarlane offering hitting the shelves.

In the meantime, you can pick up The Wild Places in hard back for £18.99 or in paper back for a less wallet-damaging £8.99.