REVIEWS FOR A LAKE DISTRICT GRAND TOUR
CUMBRIA LIFE MAGAZINE
“Relaxed and chatty with a ready wit.”
CONSERVING LAKELAND
“I thoroughly enjoyed the book.”
THE CUMBRIA MAGAZINE
‘You need a sense of humour to saddle up for a nine-day tour of every lake in the Lakes, every major town, every fearsome pass (including Hardknott and Wrynose on the final day) – a grand total of almost 400 miles of bottom-buffetting, thigh-pumping pedalling – and Carden has this in abundance as he rattles through the wildlife, the history, people and stories of the region he is passing through in the company of son Richard. And, of course, the cappuccinos and scones they needed en route to complete their epic.’
CYCLO.CO.UK – the web news digest for cyclists
“A Lake District Grand Tour is gentle and lyrical, but above all it is an open invitation to come and cycle by the shores of Ullswater, Grasmere, Wast Water, et al. And why wouldn’t you want to? Read the book – take the tour, Lakeland is waiting.”
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THE KESWICK REMINDER
“A very well written book with a chatty humorous style.”
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COTSWOLD OUTDOOR
‘Book of the Month’ August 2013
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THE LAKE DISTRICT IN BOOKS
From “Dunmail’s ghostly warriors” above Grasmere to the elusive golden eagle over Haweswater Mike Carden leads us around the Lakes, ever entertaining. I lost count of the wifely queries, “What are you laughing at?”.
Full review
Arrivée – the magazine for long-distance cyclists: ‘Mike Carden’s easy style of writing, with its built-in gentle humour and his eye for detail that many of us would easily miss, belies the fact that he (and his 20-year-old son) have undertaken a serious tour.’
REVIEW FROM WWW.CYCLETOURER.CO.UK
As ever Mike’s sense of humour comes through from the ‘Sleeping Policeman’ on High street which had me thinking of speeding fellwalkers, to the pies OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS and his account of him zig zagging his way up the 25% & 30% inclines of the Hardknot and Wrynose passes which did make me giggle as it brought back so many memories of doing hill climbs and that urge not to let them beat you. I have also been that person “Push down those pedals, heart thumping, breath in gasps, push, push. Andddd…stopppp”.
As you turn the pages it is easy to see Mike’s love of the lake district which he has now made his home and his personal account of the 2008 Lakeland flood is quite touching. If this book doesn’t get you itching to get your bike over to the lake district and explore it I don’t know what will!
RICHARD LEAFE
‘This is one hell of way to see the Lake District National Park! A great description of the grandest of Lake District tours. Get peddling!’
Richard Leafe, Chief Executive, Lake District National Park Authority
LORD INGLEWOOD
‘An affectionate Grand Tour of the ups and downs of cycling the Lake District’.
Lord Inglewood, President of The Friends of the Lake District.
NORTH WEST EVENING MAIL
‘The repartee between father and son makes the reader feel like you’re riding in tandem.’
HANNAH REYNOLDS
‘A book to inspire both the armchair adventurer and the hardened cyclist. Discover the Lakes through the humorous and insightful account of Mike Carden’s Grand Tour. It’s a route accessible to cyclists of all abilities, you can dip into sections or follow the full route. Whether from your armchair at home or reading it as a companion to your journey, you will learn all kinds of interesting trivia as Carden’s keen observations and propensity for chatting to strangers brings many Lakeland tales to life.’ Hannah Reynolds, Fitness Editor, Cycling Weekly magazine
CRAIG MIDDLETON, founder of Onix Bikes
“As everybody knows I love riding in the lake district.. Great book here by
@lakesgrandtourhttp://lakedistrictgrandtour.co.uk/ ”
Craig Middleton on Twitter – @OnixFounder
