This book is one of a popular and exciting series that seeks to tell the story of some of Britain's most beautiful landscapes. Written with the general reader - the walker, the lover of the countryside - firmly in mind, these pages open the door to a fascinating story of ancient oceans, deltas, mineralization and tundra landscapes. Over millions of years the rocks that now form the spectacular terrains of the White Peak and the Dark Peak were laid down on the floors of tropical seas and deformed by plate tectonics before being shaped by streams and rivers. The white limestone was fretted into its own distinctive landscape above hidden cave systems; then generations of miners and farmers modified and contributed to the landscapes we see today. With the help of photographs that are largely his own, geologist Tony Waltham tells the remarkable story of the Peak District, explaining just how the landscapes of limestone plateau, grit moors and river valleys came to look as they do. Including suggestions for walks and places to visit in order to appreciate the best of the National Park's landforms, this accessible and readable book opens up an amazing new perspective for anyone who enjoys this varied and beautiful area.
Tony Waltham is a geologist who has long studied limestone landscapes, above and below ground, whilst teaching a university in Nottingham. With the Peak District forming his nearest upland, he still loves to visit its sites and walk its hills and valleys.
Press Reviews
Beautiful, full colour photos and diagrams, a fascinating chapter on each of the important geological and geomorphological aspects of the area (including buildings and industry), and an author who knows his stuff and can write it down with an easy and authoritative style.
It holds a wealth of knowledge for cavers, as well as walkers and other users of England’s first National Park and will no doubt please newcomers and seasoned Peak District lovers alike.
Overall a book that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in the Peak District who wishes to gain more “in depth” knowledge of the area without having to digest the many scientific works on the area because the author has done it for you.
This recently published book tells the story of the evolution of the Peak District's rocks and scenery. Beautifully illustrated, it is written for the general reader and contains numerous stunning photographs and excellent explanatory diagrams.
As one might expect from a book by Tony Waltham, this is a richly illustrated read. Many of Tony’s photographs would happily grace a calendar, and every page has at least one carefully chosen illustration. For the geologists, whether with casual or professional interest in the Peak District, this makes for a visually beautiful book and is bound to provide new insights. It is certainly no field-guide. More something to cherish reading during a dark winter evening (or enforced lockdown) to remind oneself of the great interest of the Peak District geology and beauty of its landscape and to start planning your next visit with a fresh perspective.
It is written at about the same level as geological sections of the Journal of the Russell Society, and is therefore readily comprehensible to the general reader and is highly recommended.
This attractive volume is an excellent overview of the landscape and geology of the Peak District by a geologist with an intimate knowledge of the area. It is a thoroughly readable and enjoyable book.
This publication is welcome and timely. The book provides fascinating insight into the landscape and geology of the Peak District. The author is to be congratulated for providing such a wealth of information and illustrations in a book of its size.
I have read and dipped into many books on the geological aspects of the Peak District and I have enjoyed any of my previous virtual excursions as much as this one. 'The Peak District' receives my fullest recommendation. It deserves to be widely read and, indeed, imitated. It will, I feel certain, become a standard for such guides.
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