WATERSIDE Walks in the Lake District by Colin Shelbourn, is published by Sigma Leisure and is available from all major book shops for £7.95.

WALKERS to the Lake District often concentrate on conquering the most challenging peaks and fells, forgetting about the region's 16 lakes and 400 tranquil tarns, streams and waterfalls.

In the latest updated edition of his walking guide Waterside Walks in The Lake District, author Colin Shelbourn has devised 25 routes that take readers alongside, above and sometimes even through water.

Shelbourn has lived and worked in the Lake District for more than 20 years and is a full-time writer and cartoonist. He has written several books and has illustrated many more.

But he is best-known to readers of The Westmorland Gazette as the newspaper's resident cartoonist.

In the latest edition of his guidebook, Shelbourn is ably assisted by his chief researcher, Manchester the dog, who shows the author which paths to avoid on his watery routes and enjoys "splashing" in the many lakes, rivers and tarns which the book features.

The walks include the most well-known corners of the Lake District, such as Coniston and Tarn Hows. However, areas which are more off the beaten track for most walkers are also featured.

The walks are listed in ascending order of difficulty, ranging from 1-kilometre a stroll around Spout Force just off the Whinlatter Pass - to a unique 13-km hike across the sands of Morecambe Bay.

As well as providing detailed commentaries on places of historical and natural interest, Shelbourne provides an invaluable appendix of information about the different areas covered by the book.

The list includes information about tourist offices, public transport and the national park visitor centre. It also includes vital safety advice for some of the more hazardous walks.

This guidebook is invaluable for everyone who enjoys both the mountains and lakes of the national park, especially for walkers, climbers and dogs.