Mark Reid, author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks, gets booted up with Alt-Berg
Mark Reid, North Yorkshire based author and Mountain Leader, clocks up over 1,000 miles every year whilst walking across moor and mountain, and gets through a pair of boots every 18 months. In the last decade, Mark has walked over 11,000 miles across the North of England.
Giant Strides
But they aren’t just any old footprints Mark leaves behind, as he takes size 14 boots. It’s hard to find size 14 walking boots. They just don’t stock them in outdoor shops. Coupled with this, his last boot supplier has recently stopped making his size in the style that he has worn for several years.
Barefoot walking across the hills beckoned until Alt-Berg came to the rescue, Britain’s last remaining boot manufacturer who just so happen to also be based in North Yorkshire and manufacture all their boots between Richmond, North Yorkshire and Treviso, Italy. A match made in heaven, or at least the Yorkshire hills. For, not only do they produce quality boots of the highest craftsmanship, but they produce boots with five width fittings, and in a size 14.
“My boots are the most important part of my walking gear as I’ll make over 22,000 strides on a 10-mile walk, so they have to be comfortable and able to withstand to rigours of the Yorkshire terrain.” explained Mark Reid.
“Every year I take hundreds of people out walking in the Yorkshire Dales or teaching them map skills, and I’m often asked about clothing and gear, so now I’ll be able to recommend a pair of boots from a Yorkshire manufacturer by pointing at my feet!” added Mark.
Made in Yorkshire
In addition to this, Mark is passionate about the provenance of what he produces, and prides himself of walking, researching, writing, printing and binding his books in England – unlike many other book publishers.
“What makes places like the Yorkshire Dales special to me is the local story it has to tell, whether it be the history of the landscape or its people, or the pints and food in the village pub. It is that local provenance that sets it apart. I have always tried to continue that tradition by producing my books in the North of England, where I have a good working relationship with my printers and I know my carbon footprint is as small as I can make it – certainly not a size 14! That’s what makes Alt-Berg such a great company to be associated with, as it stands as Britain’s last boot manufacturer and it’s based in Yorkshire.” said Mark.
