Andrew McCloy
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Peak District, National Trails, walking Land's End to John o'Groats, Pennine Way, the British coast, National Parks, YHA, rural communities
Andrew specialises in books and articles on walking and the outdoors, national parks and conservation, plus topical countryside issues such as the future of pubs and rural services. He also carries out consultancy work in access and outdoor recreation, with clients including local authorities, charities and developers. Andrew has acted as consultant route adviser for a charity walk between Land’s End and John o’Groats, having written the original guide to the route; and has produced the first ever history of the Pennine Way.
Andrew was formerly Information Officer for the Ramblers’ Association, an assistant youth hostel warden and Business Development Officer for Bakewell & Eyam Community Transport. (And also a postman for a while.)
He is currently Walks Programme Manager for the Youth Hostels Association and a Trustee of Campaign for National Parks. Andrew is also a past Chair of the Peak District National Park, National Parks England and the Peak District Local Access Forum; and he has been a parish councillor in Derbyshire for over 20 years.
Professional Activities
Freelance writer, blogger, editor & journalist; contributor to Walk magazine (The Ramblers), Countryside Voice (CPRE), The Guardian, Woman’s World; Derbyshire Life; access and recreation consultant.
Director of Gritstone Publishing, Britain's first publishing co-operative run for outdoor authors by outdoor authors https://gritstonecoop.co.uk/
Recent Publications
The Land’s End to John o’Groats Walk (Cordee 2001), The Peak District Pub Guide (Johnson Publishing 2002), 50 Walks in Cambridgeshire & the East Midlands (AA Publishing 2003), The Peak District Cafe & Tearoom Guide (Johnson Publishing 2003), Walking Coastal Britain (New Holland 2005), Peakland Pubs: A Pint Size History (Halsgrove, 2005), 40 Short Walks in the Peak District (AA Publishing 2011), The Pennine Way – The Path, the People, the Journey (Cicerone Press, 2016), Peak District Boundary Walk – editor (Friends of the Peak District, 2017), Peak District Pubs (Gritstone Publishing, 2020), Great Walks on the England Coast Path (Cicerone Press, 2022).
Andrew's recent blogs have covered issues such as litter in the countryside and the demise of rural pubs.
https://www.cnp.org.uk/blog/why-are-our-national-parks-full-rubbish
https://gritstonecoop.co.uk/aftercovid/pubs-dont-spread-covid-people-do/
Awards
Gold Arrow, 1st Belmont Cub Scouts (c1973); The Land’s End to John o’Groats Walk – Highly Commended, OWG Awards 2003; The Pennine Way: The Path, the People, the Journey – shortlisted for Best Outdoor Book in the TGO Awards 2016