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Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Rucksack Readers

Publisher of rucksack-friendly, weatherproof guidebooks to long-distance walks worldwide, especially

Publisher of rainproof guidebooks to adventurous long-distance walks and treks worldwide

23/09/2026

The autumn equinox marks equal day and night once more 🍂 It's the official astronomical start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun sits directly above the Earth's equator. From here, days grow shorter and nights longer, right through to the winter solstice.

Shorter days bring their own rewards on the trail: crunchy leaves underfoot, moss thick on old stone walls, and morning dew still on the ground before it burns off.

Clear air, changing colours from golden to red and ochre, and fewer crowds make this a good time to walk. Just remember to check sunset times and carry a headtorch, since daylight is shorter than it feels 🥾

What is your favourite thing about autumn? 🍁

📸 Katia Fernandez Mayo

20/09/2026

Packing for a long-distance walk? 🎒

You don't need to spend a fortune on gear, but a few essentials make all the difference: a well-fitted pair of walking boots (broken in well before you set off), a rucksack of approx. 30 litres, and a layered clothing system: a wicking base layer, a fleece for warmth, and waterproof, breathable outer layers. While normally a bit more expensive, merino wool is great and dries quickly.

Don't forget a hat (or buff) and gloves, since weather can turn quickly, plus a water carrier (aim for 1-4 litres a day) and blister plasters for your day-sack. A pair of trekking poles can also help with balance and take the strain off your knees, especially downhill.

Depending on when and where you're walking, you might want to pack other bits and bobs such as SPF, a midge net, a portable phone charger and a rucksack liner. Pack light, but don't skimp on safety. Our guidebooks are designed to be lightweight yet comprehensive, the perfect rucksack companion 🥾

Is this your first walk? Read more here: www.rucsacs.com/new-to-long-distance-walking

16/09/2026

Follow the water and let the river do the navigating 💦 Five of our favourite trails guide you along the riverside paths, from Scottish glens to Yorkshire dales:

🏔 River Tay Way | 50 miles on foot from Loch Tay to Perth, following Scotland's longest river through ancient woodland rich in wildlife.

🥃 Speyside Way | 85 miles from Buckie to Newtonmore, tracing the River Spey past some of Scotland's finest wh**ky distilleries.

🐑 Annandale Way | 56 miles from source to sea, starting in Moffat and following the River Annan through the Scottish Borders.

🚶 Dales Way | 80 miles from Ilkley to Bowness, crisscrossing the River Wharfe before joining the River Dee through Dentdale.

💧 Nidderdale Way | 54 miles through the least-known of the Yorkshire Dales, much of it beside the River Nidd, starting and finishing in Pateley Bridge.

All five guidebooks are printed on rainproof paper and packed with detailed mapping and practical information. Which river will you follow? 🥾

11/09/2026

Our Cleveland Way guidebook is now available as an eBook! 📱

The Cleveland Way is one of England's oldest National Trails, running 108 miles (174 km) around the North York Moors National Park, from Helmsley inland to Saltburn on the coast, then south along dramatic sea cliffs to Filey.

Our fully updated 3rd edition, based on a complete rewalk in spring 2026, is now available for Kindle devices on Amazon. Don't have a Kindle? Download the free Kindle App to read on your phone, tablet or computer instead.

It's the ideal companion to keep you on track while walking, and pairs beautifully with our printed map booklet. You can also download a free GPX file from our website, letting you follow the route on your smartphone even without internet access. 🥾

Have a look here 👉️ rucsacs.com/books/cvw

07/09/2026

Late summer in the Scottish Highlands brings changeable conditions: mild sunshine, sudden rain and wind, sometimes all within the same walk! 🌦 But a walk in the rain can be an enjoyable experience too, offering a quiet, restorative way to spend time outdoors.

Heather still holds its pink, red and purple hues at this time of year, while the ferns are just beginning to turn gold. Along the trail, look out for rowan berries and brambles ripening in the hedgerows, thistles in full bloom, and mushrooms emerging from damp ground. Frogs, beetles and caterpillars remain active, making the most of the last warmth before autumn arrives 🍂

As September draws on and the tourist season winds down, trails become quieter and accommodation easier to come by, making it a good moment for a spontaneous walking adventure. Which walk in the Scottish Highlands would you pick? 👉 rucsacs.com/book-category/scotland

03/09/2026

What makes the Cotswolds so special? 🐑

Golden stone villages, medieval wool churches and thatched cottages await on this classic English trail, connecting some of the region's finest sights: the long, handsome main street of Chipping Campden, the honey-coloured cottages of Lower Slaughter, and the beech woods around Painswick and Sheepscombe.

Along the way, look out for rare wildlife such as the Duke of Burgundy butterfly and the adderstongue spearwort on Cleeve Hill's limestone grassland, or take a detour to Sezincote's exotic Mughal-style mansion. Choose from three circuits to suit your schedule: the full 94-mile Grand Circuit from Cheltenham, or two shorter options taking in many of the same highlights 🥾

Our second edition guidebook has detailed route descriptions, large-scale mapping and 110 colour photographs, all on rainproof paper. Get yours here: rucsacs.com/book/heart-of-the-cotswolds

📸 Cover: Bourton-on-the-Water | Matthew Dixon
📸 Features: Campden Church | Christopher Knowle

30/08/2026

Half a million miles of hedgerow criss-cross the UK, and this is peak foraging season 🫐 Blackberries are ripe now through September, sloes and rosehips are best picked from September onwards, and hazelnuts and beechnuts start appearing too. Each one feeds wildlife as well as walkers: haw berries and rosehips are a favourite of redwings and fieldfares, while blackberries also sustain badgers, foxes and mice through autumn.

Several of our Yorkshire routes take you straight past this seasonal abundance 🌿 Lower Nidderdale's hedgerows are rich in hawthorn, elderberry, blackthorn, holly and blackberry, forming corridors for small mammals and birds. Further west, the Yorkshire Dales trails in our Friends Way series and Dales Way guidebooks wind through classic hedgerow country between limestone villages. Let us help you pick your next walking adventure: rucsacs.com/book-category/england-wales

Katia from the Rucksack Readers team even managed to pick a few recently! Pick a little, leave plenty, and always forage responsibly 🌳

26/08/2026

The Wicklow Way takes you 81 miles (130 km) through the stunning "Garden of Ireland", from Dublin's southern suburbs to the small village of Clonegal in County Carlow. Along the way, walkers cross mountain and upland lake scenery, pass through forest and farmland, and take in the remains of the early Christian monastic settlement in the beautiful Glendalough valley 🌿 ⛰️

The route is lined with ancient hedgerows, some dating back centuries, home to a wealth of birdlife. Keep an eye out for the darting wren, colourful bullfinch and yellowhammer, alongside song thrush, blackbird and robin. Late summer also brings long evenings and quieter trails than the peak season rush.

Our fourth edition guidebook has full route descriptions, 95 colour photos and detailed mapping at 1:35,000, on rainproof paper throughout, everything you need to plan your own Irish adventure 🍀 Get your guidebook here: rucsacs.com/books/wlw

23/08/2026

Did you know? The Dales Way is one of the few British trails to link two national parks directly, connecting the Yorkshire Dales to the Lake District in a single week's walking. 💡

Here are four more things that make this Yorkshire classic so special:

🚂 The route passes several impressive railway viaducts, including Dent Head, on the historic Settle–Carlisle line.

⛪ The ancient church at Hubberholme, deep in upper Wharfedale, is one of the most atmospheric stops on the entire trail.

🏞️ The Way follows three rivers in turn: crisscrossing the Wharfe through Wharfedale, joining the Dee through Dentdale, then briefly the Lune, before finishing at Bowness on Lake Windermere.

🥾Graded easy to moderate throughout, most walkers complete the full 80 miles comfortably in 6 to 8 days.

Our newly updated 2nd edition guidebook is out now, with full details on the Watershed Alternatives and newly commissioned mapping at 1:40,000. It's also available bundled with our companion map booklet at a discounted price 🎒 Get yours here: www.rucsacs.com/book/dales-way-bundle

19/08/2026

Grey and common seals can be seen hauling out around the British Isles throughout the year, but autumn and winter are a special time for grey seals, as they gather to breed and give birth. The exact timing varies around the UK and Ireland, but from late summer through winter, there are plenty of chances to spot these charismatic creatures! 🦭

If you’re heading out on the Causeway Coast Way in Northern Ireland, the Forth to Farne Way along the Berwickshire Coast, Arran Coastal Way, the Cleveland Way on the North Yorkshire Coast or the Fife Coastal Path, keep an eye on the water and rocky shores 🌊 You might even spot seals around the coast of Kerry while walking the Kerry Way!

Our guidebooks include detailed information on the wildlife you might encounter along these stunning trails. Have you ever spotted a seal on a coastal walk? 🥾

📸 Cover | Seals in Rathlin Island © Tom McDonnell
📸 Top Tips | Seals in The Firth of Forth © Kenny Lam | Visit Scotland

Address

6 Old Church Lane
Edinburgh
EH153PX

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+441316610262

Website

http://www.rucsacs.com/

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