Rucksack Readers 25th Anniversary Celebration

Come along on Thursday, May 1st at 7pm to hear Jacquetta Megarry in conversation with Jenny Brown as they celebrate 25 years of Rucksack Readers! Rucksack Readers, a niche publisher focusing on long-distance trails, is marking a quarter-century of producing acclaimed guidebooks for intrepid walkers and cyclists.

This year commemorates 25 years since Jacquetta Megarry established Rucksack Readers®, the sole publisher in the UK—and likely globally—dedicated exclusively to creating guidebooks for long-distance trails for walkers and cyclists. Founded in 2000, Rucksack Readers® was born from Megarry’s frustration with the impractical design of traditional guidebooks during her trek on the West Highland Way. Determined to improve upon this, she pioneered a lightweight, waterproof format with integrated route-specific maps. The result is Rucksack Readers®, now among the top-selling guides for long-distance walking in the UK and Ireland, boasting over 40 titles in print.

What sets Megarry apart is her hands-on approach—she personally walks the trails to verify directions and often collaborates with trail managers to enhance the paths. She created the Rob Roy Way in 2001 and continues to play a key role in its upkeep and signage.

Rucksack Readers® guidebooks are crafted on weather-resistant paper, enduring rain and snow. They prioritize essential features like thoroughly tested route instructions, tailored maps, and 100 stunning images, all packaged in the most lightweight and durable format available.

To honor this significant anniversary, Rucksack Readers® will unveil a new Scottish guide, River Tay Way, on May 1st, alongside updated versions of beloved English routes (Cumbria Way and Heart of the Cotswolds) and the Wicklow Way, which begins in Dublin.

Feedback on the guides has been glowing:
– “Walking the Nidderdale Way was an absolute delight, and I’d highly recommend it as a fantastic long-distance route.” – Clare Balding, broadcaster and author
– “Incredibly useful and captivating.” – Lorraine Kelly, TV presenter and author
– “An ideal, up-to-date guide for anyone seeking a genuine and enriching journey.” – Stephen Jardine, broadcaster

Doors open at 6:30pm, with the event kicking off at 7pm—arrive early to snag a great spot. Tickets are priced at £3. The venue offers level access, seating for all attendees, and microphones for speakers. If you have accessibility concerns