AN indispensable guide to walking the Dales Way is now in its 12th edition - with more than half a century of history behind it.

In 1970, Colin Speakman wrote the very first Dales Way guide, and 54 years on its just had its latest edition published.

Now put out by Skyware Press, this third edition from them has 79 stunning full colour photos to match Colin’s compelling narrative about the wonder and beauty of the Dales.

The book also features 24 detailed full-colour strip maps of the entire route at a scale of 1:25,000.

And the book is packed with additional features including a brief history of “the People’s Path”, an alternative route between Cam Fell and Upper Dentdale, and detailed descriptions of the three link routes from Bradford, Harrogate and Leeds.

The publisher says: “It is easy to see why the book is described as the complete and definitive guide to the Dales Way.

“As well as being a beautifully produced guide book, it’s also a unique piece of history. It is almost certainly the only guide book to a long distance trail that has been in continuous production for over 50 years, with a living author!”

The Dales Way is a long distance footpath of about 80 miles (128 km) running from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere.

Colin Speakman and his colleague Tom Wilcock first devised the Dales Way in the mid 1960s. Colin and Fleur Speakman were the first to walk the Dales Way - surveying the entire route in detail in the summer and autumn of 1968.

In April 1969 Colin accompanied a group of Venture Scouts from Bradford Grammar School on the first leg of their pioneering trek to test out the new route. In just three and a half days, enduring harsh weather conditions, the intrepid schoolboy troupe proved the trail was indeed viable.

The publisher adds: “Fully revised and updated, this 12th edition of Colin Speakman’s Dales Way is the only guide you will ever need to plan, walk and enjoy one of Britain’s most popular and beautiful long-distance trails. The original, the best!”

A study in the 1990’s showed the Dales Way was one of the five most popular long-distance trails in the UK, along with the Coast to Coast (number one), The Pennine Way, Offa’s Dyke path and the Cotswold Way. An estimated 4,000 people walked the whole Dales Way each year.

Dales Way - The Complete Guide by Colin Speakman is out now from Skyware, priced £13.99.