author
W. P. (Walter Parry) Haskett Smith
1859–1946
Best known as a pioneer of British rock climbing, he helped turn scrambling into a sport and wrote lively books that brought the cliffs of England and Wales to a wider audience. Often called the "Father of Rock Climbing," he was also a barrister, athlete, and sharp-eyed travel writer.
2 Audiobooks
Climbing in The British Isles, Vol. 2 - Wales and Ireland
by W. P. (Walter Parry) Haskett Smith, Henry Chichester Hart
Climbing in The British Isles. Vol. 1 - England
by W. P. (Walter Parry) Haskett Smith
About the author
Walter Parry Haskett Smith (1859–1946) was an English climber and writer remembered as one of the early figures who shaped rock climbing in Britain. Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Oxford, he was also called to the bar, but his lasting reputation came from the mountains and crags he explored with unusual energy and style.
He became especially associated with the English Lake District, where his bold climbing helped define a new approach to rock climbing as a sport in its own right, not just training for Alpine expeditions. Later writers often referred to him as the "Father of Rock Climbing," and his name remained closely linked with the early history of British climbing.
Haskett Smith also wrote about the subject with humor and personality. His best-known books include Climbing in the British Isles, which helped document routes, places, and the culture of climbing for a wider readership. Alongside his athletic achievements, that writing has kept his voice alive for later generations of outdoor readers.