Complete Lakeland Fells Revised Editions Boxed Set

Penned by the unlikely figure of Alfred Wainwright, his works remain some of the greatest love letters to landscape in the English language. Born from years of "inarticulate worshipping" of the Lakeland fells, to call them guidebooks would be a belittling misnomer. In Wainwright's own words, he dedicated "something of myself, the best part of me" to the mountains of Cumbria.

Now lovingly updated and available in a box set, there is not much that can be said about Wainwright that hasn't already been written 100 times. But taken purely as guides, there really is little that can beat them when it comes to the Lakes. 'Little'? Sorry, nothing.

Of all the things I have bought in my life, few have given me as much pleasure as theses guides - a bargain indeed!

Book of the Week: Here's the perfect Christmas gift guide for Alfred Wainwright fans who think they have everything.

For the best walks in the Lake District, the Pictorial Guides by Alfred Wainwright are just what you need.

There is an intrinsic pleasure in seeing these visually appealing books gathered together.

The Holy Grail for Wainwright fans.

Glossily seductive – each is written in a prose that bespeaks a love for the English language and devotion to place.

"It was on my desk for nearly a week before I could even bring myself to tear the cellophane wrapper. That's how nice it looked sitting there, drawing low murmers of envy from my radio colleagues, even those to whom the words 'fell-walking' mean an accident on an icy pavement rather than a lifelong passion. The ones who do like to put their boots on a get out there, which hearteningly is pretty much all of them - were more avaricious and lustful. "I have to have one of those," they drooled, like Sarah Jessica Parker confronted with a specially desirable handbag."