How to Use this Page. #

These are not guidebooks about which path to follow or what hills to climb, these are books that cover the management and development of outdoor access.

Publications are grouped by subject area and then by decade.

Each entry follows the same layout and is organised thus:

Author, (Year of publication), Title, Publisher, followed by a paragraph about the book. This may be the advertising paragraph from the book cover or a short review.

Where possible a weblink is included, but some of the publications are not available online so you will need to use your favourite bookseller to get a copy. Some are no longer in print so you may need to go to a real bricks and mortar library to find a copy.

Birkby R (1996) Lightly on the Land.  The SCA Trail- Building and Maintenance Manual. The Mountaineers. ISBN 0 89886 491 7 #

This handbook is for conservation volunteers and path workers who are involved in the design, This invaluable guide is based upon the award-winning “Work Skills Program” of the Student Conservation Association, which has more than 40 years’ experience providing skilled volunteers to the Forest Service, Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management.  Lightly on the Land covers all aspects of trail building and maintenance, including crew leadership, safety, wilderness restoration, revegetation, survey, and design.  Whether you’re a natural resource land manager, a volunteer trail builder, an outdoor trail user, or a member of an outdoor school or organization involved in trail building, you’ll refer to this handbook again and again!

Peter Davies, Jim Loxham, Gill Huggon (1996) A Best Practice Guide Repairing Upland Path Erosion. Lake District National Park, National Trust, English Nature. ISBN: 0906421 42 X #

This manual is the result of a working group comprising representatives from the Lake District National Park Authority, National Trust and English Nature, which was set up in 1993 to:

• Agree principles to be adopted on the repair and maintenance of upland paths
• Establish criteria for intervening in the management of upland paths
• Recognise best practice for the repair and maintenance of upland paths
• Encourage liaison and exchange of ideas on all aspects of upland path work between the three organisations.

Through the expertise and experience gained by these three organisations and others over the past ten years, this manual is intended primarily as a practical working document for all those involved in the repair and maintenance of eroded upland paths. It builds on the Code of Practice developed by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) in terms of the philosophy behind this work and establishes some common criteria for carrying out such works in the most heavily used British upland areas.

The scope has also been widened to include contributions from teams working in Snowdonia and the Peak District and the techniques and practices described are applicable to rocky upland areas across Britain. There are sections covering problems specific to upland areas dominated by peat. Thanks go to all those members of path teams who have read, altered and added to the guidelines.

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1997) “Making the Best of Byways” A Practical Guide on Managing the Use of Vehicles on Public Rights of Way. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions ISBN: NONE. #

There has been growing controversy over the use of motor vehicles on rights of way and over the recording of public vehicular rights on definitive maps.

This Practical Guide on Managing the Use of Vehicles on Public Rights of Way has been prepared with the aim of helping those who have to deal with this difficult area.

Its preparation follows a programme of research which included consultation with highway authorities, user groups, landowners, farmers, parish and community councils and other interested organisations, together with a review of relevant information.

Although the Guide is of primary interest to highway authorities it is written for a wider audience which will include user groups, parish and community councils, farmers and landowners.

Demrow C & Salisbury D (1998) The Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance 3rd Edition. Appalachian Mountain Club. ISBN 1 878239 54 6 #

Anyone can learn to build and maintain a durable hiking trail with the right teacher. Our manual is used by both the U.S. Forest and Park Services, and has been thoroughly updated and expanded. Whether you are a hiker, volunteer trail maintainer, or land manager, here are all the essentials for creating environmentally sound trails.

The Footpath Trust (1999) Upland Pathwork. Construction Standards for Scotland. Path Industry Skills Group ISBN: 1 85397 062 #

This manual has been devised for use by all who are involved in upland path management throughout Scotland – pathworkers, site supervisors, surveyors and designers, path and land managers, and funders. Its purpose is to give guidance on the basic principles of upland path management, pathwork techniques, and the context within which they should be used. The overall aim is to achieve a high quality of management and sustainable use of upland paths, and in so long protect the exceptional scenic quality of the Scottish mountains. weblink.