Whether you’re into bushwalking or more of a moocher when it comes to taking a hike, you may find the Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests’ brand new book worth trekking out to secure.
Just days after its release, Twenty Bushwalks in the Mount Alexander Region is being eagerly snapped up by bushwalking devotees much to the delight of the many Friends members who contributed to its creation.
Among them, Castlemaine’s Bronwyn Silver and Bernard Slattery say the new book features a mix of favourite local walks and some tracks that are far less travelled.
“Some are well known and some are pretty obscure,” Bernard says.
Bronwyn says walks range from quick enjoyable strolls to much more rigorous day walks.
“There’s a variety of grades and they range from short walks that might best be described as a mere mooch, through to walks covering at least 10 kilometres,” Bronwyn says.
“And there’s a detailed map for every walk.”
The walks are based on the regular walks that have been run by the Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests for the past 20 years with the book itself dedicated to the memory of Doug Ralph, founding president of the group and initiator of its walks program.
Bernard and Bronwyn each played vital roles in the book’s production but say many Friends members have made vital contributions.
“Nearly 20 people have been involved in the book from taking photos to selecting and testing the walks,” Bronwyn says.
“And it’s been two years in the making.”
The book features maps accompanying each of the featured walks, along with walk descriptions and photographs highlighting some of the flora, birdlife, geographical and cultural features likely to be encountered.
“It’s not just for bushwalkers though,” Friends member Barb Guerin notes.
“The idea is to get everyone to explore.”
The 20 self-guided walks offer stronger insights into the layers of meaning in the famed local goldfields landscapes, inviting the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the area’s story of destruction and revival.
The book is available at selected local outlets and also directly from the Friends group via their website.
