John Gillham

Award-winning travel/outdoor writer, illustrator and photographer

A full-time professional writer, illustrator and photographer since 1989, John Gillham is best known for his lavishly-illustrated coffee-table books. His first, Snowdonia to the Gower, has been described as one of the classic books on Wales. Gillham is a regular contributor to TGO and has recently completed the highly acclaimed 4-volume series of Pictorial Guides to the Mountains of Snowdonia for Wainwright’s publisher Frances Lincoln.

    John is also the proprietor of Grey Stone Books, which specialised in walking, climbing and fell-running guides. (www.grey-stone.co.uk)

   Currently he is the Secretary of the Outdoor Writers & Photographers Guild.

John won the Outdoor Writers Guild ‘Award for Excellence’ along with Ronald Turnbull for the book, Coast to Coasting (pb by David & Charles).


John Gillham has become Snowdonia’s answer to Wainwright    The Mail on Sunday

Of the Pictorial Guides to the Mountains of Snowdonia:


This comprehensive and engaging volume features beautiful colour photography and route drawings. It's enthusiastically written, easy to read and informative. (Country & Border Life )

If you were to lay down a map of Snowdonia, close your eyes, spin around a time or two and plonk your finger down at random, chances are you would find that exact location covered, in surprising detail, in John Gillham's Pictorial Guides. (
Britain )

Latest News


Best Day Walks in Snowdonia is now in the shops or on Amazon. It has been reviewed by the Mail on Sunday who made it their Book of the Week. They said: “John Gillham has become Snowdonia’s answer to Wainwright”.


It is a 208 page volume that is meant to complement the Pictorial Guides to the Mountains of Snowdonia series. It will be published by Frances Lincoln in late March 2012.

   Designed for use by walkers of all ages and abilities, it will have both 3D panorama drawings and colour maps for guidance as well as lots of colour pictures. Click on the jacket to pre-order a Amazon.


Ronald Turnbull and I are hoping to collaborate on a new book about the finest peaks in Great Britain - something on the lines of our Way to Go series in TGO but with expanded information. There will be lots of pictures, maps and 3D panorama drawings. We’ll keep you posted