Last updated 16:34, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

A GUIDE to exploring Cumbria’s woods has been created by the Woodland Trust.

The conservation charity’s North West and The Lakes Exploring Woodland guide features woods stretching from Stoke-on-Trent through the Lake District and up to the Scottish border.

The guide features both private and publicly-owned woods, and is illustrated with photographs and maps.

Each site entry tries to capture the wood’s atmosphere, lists facilities available and suggests what to look out for on a visit, including wildlife.

Series editor Graham Blight said: “As well as the best Woodland Trust sites, you’ll discover small, hidden-away gems as well as large, high-energy forests managed by the Forestry Commission plus great days out with the National Trust and wildlife trusts.

“Trees and woods are crucial to life on our planet but, as this guide shows, they are also great places of tranquillity, which have the ability to inspire and refresh our souls. The guide may be pocket-sized, but it packs in a fantastic variety of days out.”

North West and The Lakes Exploring Woodland costs £7.99 and is published by Frances Lincoln.

MOUNTAIN paths in the Lake District will benefit each time someone buys a copy of Mark Richards’s new book Great Mountain Days in the Lake District.

Published by Cicerone, the book includes 50 walking routes that cover both the classics and lesser-known fells. It is illustrated with colour photographs, Harvey maps and Mark’s own diagrams.

For each copy of this guide sold, Cicerone will make a donation to the Fix the Fells project which maintains and repairs some of the most severely eroded high-level footpaths in the Lake District.

Mark, who lives in north Cumbria, has 30 years’ experience as a walker, illustrator and writer.

Great Mountain Days in the Lake District costs £16.99.

TWO days of mountain bike action are lined up for Kielder Forest this weekend.

A round of the five-event Saab Salomon Avalanche Enduro takes place in England for the first time this Saturday and Sunday.

About 350 riders are expected to take part in the event, which has a Saab car as the top prize for the overall series winner. The Kielder round alone carries a 7,000 euro prize fund.

CLIMBERS can find out more about placing bolts at a British Mountaineering Council workshop near Kendal this Saturday.

BMC experts will be at Scout Scar, two miles west of the town centre, from 11am to provide advice, guidance and equipment.

This will be a hands-on event, and anyone who wants to bolt for real on the day will need a harness, rack and helmet.

To sign up or find out more, contact Dan Middleton on 0161 438 3326 or email dan@thebmc.co.uk.