Hard Rock, Great British Rock-Climbs, compiled by Ken Wilson. London: Hart-Davis, MacGibbon, 1975. 220 pages. Many photographs and diagrams. Price: £6.95.

This attractive, big book opens with an interesting account of the development of difficult rock climbing in Great Britain. Ken Wilson then selected sixty of the finest rock climbs in the British Isles, almost evenly divided between Scotland, the Lake District, Wales and other cliffs. He got well known climbers, such as Chris Bonington, Mick Burke, Hamish MacInnes, Nick Estcourt, Peter Crew, Martin Boysen and Royal Robbins, to write their own very personal accounts of each, which give a fine insight into their attitudes and motivations. This is not a guidebook, although nearly every climb is accompanied by a diagram of the route and guidebook references are given. Excellently reproduced photographs, many full 8½? by 11? page, whet the climber’s appetite. This book will certainly interest any rock climber and is a must for anyone who is hoping to sample British rocks.