Book excerpt: Accompanying the six-part BBC 2 series, the six walks featured in this book follow the old tracks, overgrown cuttings and ancient viaducts which are the legacy of 'The Beeching Axe'. Julia Bradbury looks at how the rise and fall of the railways has altered the lives of communities across the country. Today, many of the thousands of old branch lines which were closed in the 1960s are now the treasured stomping grounds of ramblers and hikers. This book follows six of these beautiful walks, all offering an insight into Britain's industrial heritage: the Monsal Trail in Derbyshire, Dolgellau to Barmouth in Snowdonia, Cornwall's Coast to Coast Trail, the Strathspey Railway, Weymouth to Portland, and Callander to Loch Tay in Perthshire. Fully illustrated with maps and photographs of Julia walking the routes and the spectacular surrounding landscapes, Julia Bradbury's Railway Walks will inspire you to don your walking boots and explore Britain's lost rail empire. The book covers six different walks: 1. Derbyshire- The Monsal Trail 2. Snowdonia - Dolgellau to Barmouth 3. Cornwall - Coast to Coast Trail 4. Speyside - The Strathspey Railway 5. Weymouth - Harbouring History 6. Perthshire - Callander to Loch Tay To see photos from the launch on the Ffestiniog, click here