In reply to Removed UserDave Kerr:
In 'The Wild Places' Macfarlane wrote:
'gritstone, the conglomerate moraine thrown up by glaciers and then compacted over time into rock',
which will mean I'm never likely to take him entirely seriously. I do enjoy most of his travel/nature writing, but he has a habit of throwing lines like that in which make you doubt the whole thing.
It's worth digging into the UKC archives to read the bashing 'Mountains of the mind' got here at the time, and his rather unexpected appearance to defend it:
https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=52494&v=1
Not sure when Perrin went off him as I seem to remember he was very impressed by the early stuff. It's Jim's stuff I keep by the bed for dipping into though; whatever his flaws his contribution has been immeasurable.