A second volume of a dozen varied journeys in all parts of Wales based on the popular television series 'Fishlock's Wild Tracks', comprising interesting details about influential personalities, social and cultural, natural and industrial history of the areas visited, written by an enthusiastic traveller. 114 black-and-white photographs and 12 maps. First published in 2000.

Ail gyfrol o deithiau amrywiol ar hyd a lled Cymru wedi ei seilio ar y gyfres deledu boblogaidd 'Fishlock's Wild Tracks', yn cynnwys manylion diddorol am bersonoliaethau dylanwadol, hanes cymdeithasol a diwylliannol, byd natur a diwydiant yr ardaloedd yr ymwelir a hwy, wedi ei ysgrifennu gan deithiwr brwd. 114 ffotograff du-a-gwyn a 12 map. Cyhoeddwyd gyntaf yn 2000.

The first emotion that overwhelms you on reading More Fishlock’s Wild Tracks is jealousy, for these were journeys across Wales made before the foot and mouth epidemic engulfed the land. Here is a country where Trevor Fishlock and his HTV television crew roamed free, unconstricted by our current controls either through legislation or guilt. Reading of wanderings on old favourites such as Carn Ingli or along the hidden byways of the Lugg now seems to recall a lost age. The second and related sense is one of envy. ‘How the hell did he discover that?’ is a frequent thought.

This is a book of gems, historical, architectural, geographical, stories which are on occasion so incredible that one almost questions their veracity. A personal favourite is the claim that a man from Tenby was responsible for inventing the plus, minus and equals signs! But this is purely Trevor Fishlock’s skill as a magpie of facts and locations. To be critical, however, the book can now and then lapse into lists of people and places. Also, Wales present may appear somewhat in soft focus. But we are able to forgive this lack of social realism today when the author is giving us vivid glimpses of the harshness of the past; the cholera cemetery above Tredegar, a miner’s fear of rats and the grave of a black ex-slave near Tremadog are just some examples. It is harder to forgive the quality of some of the photographs. They seem to have been lifted from the television series and to have suffered somewhat on the journey.

Trevor Fishlock has kindly let us in on some of his personal Welsh historical nooks and crannies. I hope you too feel jealous and envious – but most of all grateful. Get your dubbin out.

Meic Birtwistle

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.