The Great Walks Team

		The Great Walks Team Our contributors are a diverse team of very experienced walk leaders - all with extensive knowledge of their areas. Every walk is separately checked and verified. The mapping for each walk is generated by our own cartographer who has many years experience of map making for publication. If you are an experienced walker or leader and could survey & write up Great Walks in an area you know well Click here >> Here are just some of the people who contribute to the Great Walks in Britain series -
		A Lakes & Dales Man Gerry Bindless was born in Cumbria and has spent a lifetime working and walking the North of England, particularly the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. Her currently lives in Clitheroe, on the edge of the Forest of Bowland. Gerry has contributed several Yorkshire Dales routes for Great Walks in Britain.
		A Journalist & Photographer from Devon Ruth Luckhurst says; I am a writer and photographer specialising in the outdoors, with a particular interest in climbing, hillwalking and mountaineering. I love moors and mountains and the Atlantic coastline, and I spend as much time as possible in the wilderness areas of the UK, indulging my passion for rocks, trees, water and weather! On the odd occasions when I come indoors to dry out, I like to make music, and I play violin or viola with local orchestras and a string quartet, and flute with a wind ensemble. I live in north Devon and have two sons and two stepdaughters, all now grown up.
		Striding over the South Downs John MacNeill was born in Edinburgh in 1947, but has spent most of his life in Surrey. After 37 years as a tour operator persuading British people to travel abroad, he is now retired and spending most of his time in the UK. A passionate walker, holidays have been spent walking all over Scotland, Wales and the South West with his wife Grace and their dogs. He has completed the West Highland Way, the Cape Wrath Trail and the Rob Roy Trail as well as the Coast to Coast Walk. Virtually every day will see John with his dogs on the beautiful footpaths of Surrey and the South Downs except when he is playing cricket.
		A White Peak Specialist Lesley Gould lives in south Derbyshire and has surveyed many of our routes in the White Peak area as well as several others further north in the Peak District National Park. She is now a University Lecturer, having spent her working life in academia including as a Head Teacher. Walking is the perfect counterpoint for a busy life. Lesley and her husband walk at every opportunity - in the Lake District as well as the Peaks..
		One of our Men in The Yorkshire Dales John Jennison is one of our leading contributors in the Yorkshire Dales. The lucky man lives on the edge of the Dales, near Ilkley. He is an accomplished mountain walker - and a rock climber. He has long been a member of The Long Distance Walkers Association, and has completed the grueling Fellsman's Hike, a 60 mile route which is held every year in the Yorkshire Dales. John doesn't mind admitting he has recently turned 60.
		A Chilterns Couple Gill and Mike McKever are intrepid walkers, as witnessed in the picture. Mike is also an accomplished writer, and their completion of Wainright's classic walk inspired him to write his book 'The Coast to Coast Caper'. The area in which they have contributed Great Walks might be considered somewhat less strenuous, but none the less enjoyable - The Chilterns. When Mike retires he plans to follow, quite literally, in the footsteps of his Grandfather Sir Francis Peake - an early exponent of trekking, camping and the outdoor life.
		Our New Forest Specialist Theresa Miles is lucky enough to live near the coast, in Hampshire. Theresa first took up walking as an aid to recovery from major illness, and went on to 'bag' all the highest mountains in Britain. She regularly walks in Hampshire and the New Forest, and has contributed a good number of our routes in that area. For holidays Theresa and her husband walk in France, Poland, Germany and Austria.
		A Walk Leader & Cotswolds Contributor Another energetic contributor named Ruth says she has walking in her genes, as her parents met on an H.F. walking holiday! Pursuing her career in social housing, Ruth Sillitoe has used walking as her main relaxation for thirty years. She is a leader in several European countries for Ramblers Worldwide Ruth now loves walking locally, and keeps her hand in by teaching computer skills to seniors.
		On The Sussex Downs & Kentish Weald Phil Crouch-Baker lives on the Kent - Sussex borders and has contributed walks in both those counties. Working in the print industry since leaving school, Phil’s love of the outdoors and going places on foot has grown from an ‘rat race escape’ into a passion. Having travelled and explored all over Europe and further field, he now passes on his experiences by documenting local hikes in books and for the Great Walks series. After surviving a ‘battle’ with cancer in his late teens, Phil’s motto is “should’ve done, never did’ and enjoys showing friends what they can enjoy with a little effort and help. Phil has recently completed a trip to Nepal to hike the Annapurna Circuit, and Kilimanjaro is next on his hit list.
		Our man in the East Richard Tyson was born in Suffolk, but has also lived in Devon and Cheshire during his working life as a science lecturer. Having now retired, Richard moved back to his roots, and now lives near Woodbridge. He has contributed several Great Walks in Suffolk - and is working on yet more. He is currently Chairman of his local Ramblers group.
		Series Editor Eric Joyce - Navigator & Writer A keen mountain walker from his teens, Eric learned navigation skills in two very different environments - training as a pilot and later taking up offshore sailing. In common with a number of Great Walks contributors Eric has overcome medical difficulties. In his case he owes his eyesight to the miracle of modern ophthalmic surgery, and values every day in which he can walk and see the sublime scenery of Britain and elsewhere. He has walked in many areas of England and Wales over the years and has enjoyed undertaking leadership and mountain navigation training. He has contributed to several magazines. In developing the Great Walks series Eric Joyce has spent time in every edition area. He works closely with local walkers, editorial and cartographic contributors.

	Potential Contributors: If you are an experienced walker or leader and could survey & write up Great Walks in an area you know well please contact us, emailing your full contact details by Clicking Here >> We will then send you our Contributor Guidelines, comprising a brief description of what we look for and what we offer.