Oakham Nub News have spoken with local author Will Hetherington, who chatted all about the recent publication of the third edition of his popular walking guide, Will's Walks.

Will is a local author and hiking enthusiast who, in 2020, published Will's Walks: 21 rambles around Stamford and Rutland.

Since then, he has published Will's Walks: Another 21 rambles around Stamford and Rutland, and now the third instalment in the non-fiction series, Will's Walks: 21 more rambles around Stamford and Rutland.

Will went to school in Stamford from the age of 10 and, apart from a few years at university, has lived in the town ever since. Having lived in the town for the best part of 35 years, he was incredibly well placed to write these books.

Will said: "I spent 12 years on St Leonard's Street right in the middle of town and now live just off the Recreation Ground. So I suppose I do know Stamford pretty well, although I am always learning. For instance just before Christmas my wife and I really enjoyed a guided tour of the buildings used by the Polish paratroopers during the Second World War.

"It's a stunning town and I am a big supporter of initiatives like ShopStamford. Beyond the town I have walked most of the footpaths in the local area, although I do keep finding the odd new one which is always a pleasant surprise. Before Christmas I discovered a walk from Creeton to Swayfield which was a new one for me and I love it."

Will has been writing walking articles once a month for Active Magazine since it started in 2012, and after a few years people started asking if Will and the team were going to put some of the walks together in one book to make it easier to access the best of them.

Will explained: "We talked about it a few times but other things got in the way, however when Covid struck in early 2020 I had a bit more time on my hands to go out and research and then write the first book. It was designed by Matt Tarrant and is published by Triangle Publishing who produce Active. We printed 3,000 copies of the first edition and when it went on sale at the end of October 2020 I remember thinking I would be surprised if we sold 300. But it sold out by Christmas and we had to print another 3,000.

"After the success of the first edition we produced a second book in 2021, with the support of King West estate agents in Stamford, and again it was very popular so we realised there was still plenty of demand."

Coming in at less than £10, these books make great gifts for people who enjoy a weekend stroll and like to explore new places.

The third edition, again sponsored by the King West team, covers roughly the same area as the first two, including Rutland, Stamford, Oundle, Market Deeping and the Bourne area.

Will added: "A couple of highlights from this edition are a tremendous six miler from Braunston in Rutland, and a lovely loop from Stamford to Tolethorpe, Ryhall and Belmesthorpe. As a Stamford resident I am obviously a bit biased but the loop from Stamford is probably my favourite and not just because I don't have to get in my car to do it. It includes the tranquil little settlement of Tolethorpe, a good stretch of the River Gwash, two pretty villages in Ryhall and Belmestorpe and a cracking view of Stamford near the end."

Will doesn't only enjoy a ramble though, and was a keen rugby player at school, having played for the Stamford College Old Boys.

Will said: "I still play cricket for Uffington and, while walking doesn't quite have the adrenaline rush of rugby, it can be a team sport and I organise regular group walks. Also the sense of achievement at the end of a long walk is similar to the sense of achievement after a rugby or cricket match. And of course both activities can be followed by a freshing pint!"

With two labradors who need walking every day, Will is never short of inspiration, because whatever the weather, they need their exercise.

Walking, however, isn't just about physical exercise: "It's great for your mental health as well. I work from home so getting out for an hour with the dogs every day provides great perspective and a change of scenery - plus the opportunity to have a friendly chat with other walkers."

With many of us migrating to our home-offices and taking up hybrid working schedules since the pandemic, this series of walking books has certainly come out at the right time.

They are available to purchase from the Walkers Bookshops in Oakham (27 High Street, Oakham) and Stamford (10 High Street, Stamford).

Will concluded: "Writing these books has been a genuine pleasure for me, because I have seen how much our beautiful area has to offer and it's great to be able to share that. As I mentioned earlier, there are so many benefits of walking and I just hope the books encourage more people to get out and explore on foot."

Find out more about these books and where to buy here.