
The Hike
Don Shaw(Author)
Ebury Press
Published on 6. April 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-09-190875-1 (ISBN)
Description
Freddy, Phil and Don are three grumpy old men, travelling at various speeds in the slow lane of retirement, at a loss to understand the mad modern world around them.
Their chosen method of escape from all this is a shared weekly hike in the Peak District, come gale, hail, snow or torrential rain. They pass the time bumping into colourful and eccentric locals, but their real passion is bickering among themselves. Not only about the right path to take, but also about where they're all going at the fag end of life. Phil likes to dash up hills trying to beat his personal best, while Freddy plots how to sabotage him - teasing him at leisure and asking deep and difficult questions. Stuck in the middle, Don's only ambition is to stop the squabbling getting out of hand long enough to find a nice pub for lunch.
As warm as the wind is cold, as dry as the lashing rain is wet, The Hike is a hilarious tale of bum-warmers, crayfish-fanciers, East German Trabant enthusiasts, bodger philosophers, sticky ginger cake, gorgeous countryside and the subtle art of 'onedownmanship'.
Their chosen method of escape from all this is a shared weekly hike in the Peak District, come gale, hail, snow or torrential rain. They pass the time bumping into colourful and eccentric locals, but their real passion is bickering among themselves. Not only about the right path to take, but also about where they're all going at the fag end of life. Phil likes to dash up hills trying to beat his personal best, while Freddy plots how to sabotage him - teasing him at leisure and asking deep and difficult questions. Stuck in the middle, Don's only ambition is to stop the squabbling getting out of hand long enough to find a nice pub for lunch.
As warm as the wind is cold, as dry as the lashing rain is wet, The Hike is a hilarious tale of bum-warmers, crayfish-fanciers, East German Trabant enthusiasts, bodger philosophers, sticky ginger cake, gorgeous countryside and the subtle art of 'onedownmanship'.
Reviews / Votes
Funny, warm and elegiac - Last of the Summer Wine meets A Year in Provence * Sir Ranulph Fiennes * A masterpiece ... had me crying with laughter * Express * A minor classic ... You should buy this * Sunday Times *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Ebury Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
304 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-09-190875-1 (9780091908751)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Don Shaw began writing full-time in 1968 and soon became one of Britain's top television writers, with credits including Z-Cars, Dangerfield and Van der Valk. His Wingate trilogy of plays and Bomber Harris both won BAFTAs. He has also written a number of film screenplays.
Don has made many TV appearances, discussing a variety of topics ranging from the Carl Bridgewater murder, the IRA and the Falklands War to the 'Keep Brian Clough at Derby' campaign which he led in 1973. He is still a regular guest on BBC Radio Derby.
As well as hiking, Don still finds time to run three miles a day, and his other great passion is flying his own Piper 22 aircraft. He is married with three children and lives in London and Derbyshire.
You can see more about Don and contact him through his website at www.donshaw.uk.com
Don has made many TV appearances, discussing a variety of topics ranging from the Carl Bridgewater murder, the IRA and the Falklands War to the 'Keep Brian Clough at Derby' campaign which he led in 1973. He is still a regular guest on BBC Radio Derby.
As well as hiking, Don still finds time to run three miles a day, and his other great passion is flying his own Piper 22 aircraft. He is married with three children and lives in London and Derbyshire.
You can see more about Don and contact him through his website at www.donshaw.uk.com