If, for instance, mountaineering is your thing surely you'd go for a detailed guide to the region rather than a book containing only twelve routes, and likewise with the other activities featured? On the other hand there are plenty of people who like to dabble at a bit of everything (I'd put myself in that category, in fact) and for them 'Mountain Adventures in the Maurienne' is actually a little bit of a gem.

"...It would make a particularly good purchase for families looking for a mix of days out that will suit everyone..."

Assuming you have the standard two-week in the Maurienne region there's more than enough to go at here whether you're doing it with boots, bike or rope, with a variety of routes and trails for each activity to appeal to all levels of ability.

It would make a particularly good purchase for families looking for a mix of days out that will suit everyone, from the easy Le Pichet via ferrata at Lanslevillard or the short Lac d'Arcelle walk in the same region to a good range of easily accessible rock routes, some reasonably adventurous scrambles/mountaineering routes, a range of cycle routes that include two regular Tour de France mountain climbs and mountain bike circuits to suit everyone from ten-year-old to full on techno-geek downhiller.

Haute Maurienne Overview Map:

You'll clearly need to get hold of the relevant map for your chosen activity too, since although sketch maps are included in the book, for most of the routes – especially longer ones – a decent IGN map is also vital. The appropriate maps are in fact recommended in the book's Intro section along with lots of other basic advice on topics such as wildlife, geology, accommodation and weather which will be particularly useful to first time visitors.

Indeed, this is likely to be the biggest market for the book. If you're a committed mountaineer, mountain walker, rock climber etc. then you're likely to want to get hold of more detailed guides to your particular vice – but if you're planning to explore the Maurienne for the first time this summer then it would be well worth taking this small tome along.

In fact buy it well before you set off for the fun and anticipation of planning you mountain days before you leave.

Photos of the Haute Maurienne:

About Alf Alderson

Alf Alderson is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer based in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales. He specialises in ski, surf and mountain sports journalism and writes for a wide range of publications and websites in Britain, Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia. He is also the author of various guidebooks and is gear review editor at OE magazine.

More about Alf on his website.