One of three launch titles in the new Slow series of regional UK guides from two of the UK's most distinctive travel publishers: Bradt and Alastair Sawday. Travel slowly and sustainably with Hilary Bradt, founder of Bradt guides and a resident of Devon, as she takes you on a personal 'slow' tour of Devon and Exmoor. Connect with the people, places, environment and heritage of this spectacular part of the country and discover for yourself the unsung delights, well known sights, wildlife, coast and countryside - not to mention the foibles of the locals - in this truly unique guide. Topping it off is an enticing selection of accommodation from the inimitable collection of Alastair Sawday.
The South Hams in south Devon is an area of outstanding beauty, with a wealth of ancient green lanes. These tracks—some of which were ancient packhorse ways, drover’s or smugglers’ routes— are a hidden network of byways and a living link with past centuries. This new book contains twenty-four circular routes which are suitable for walkers, horse-riders and/or mountain bikers, and which incorporate green lanes in the South Hams. Each chapter includes a map showing the walk, together with the history of the lane and the local area, wildlife, etc.
The English countryside was once traversed by a network of green lanes, in use from prehistoric times. They were the routes for Roman legions, mediaeval travelers, tradesmen, drovers, and miners with their wares. Such footpaths, bridleways and long-distance trails are a part of our living history. The Green Lanes of England explores the history and present state of our remaining network of green lanes. The future of green lanes in our besieged landscape is considered on a local and national basis, and the opinions of conflicting user groups and county councils are also discussed.
This is the essential handbook for anyone interested in green lanes. Valerie Belsey shows how to identify them on the ground, how to recognise them on antique maps, and how to locate documents and other records which will reveal who used them in past times. She also discusses their ecological value, the current controversy about who should be able to use them, and how to get involved in restoring and protecting lanes in your area. Discovering Green Lanes includes useful contact information, key dates in highway history and sample survey forms for recording wildlife in your local green lane.
You don’t need to be ultra-fit or highly experienced in the outdoors to enjoy outdoor guru Patrick Kinsella’s selection of 30 activities across Britain. ‘A sense of adventure and an explorer’s heartbeat’ is all that’s required, he says, and he should know, having spent two decades walking, running, riding, paddleboarding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking... and more besides, in all corners of the country. Bradt’s Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering... is both an atlas of adventure and book of secrets, enticing readers out of their comfort zone to explore the often-unseen elements and quieter corners of Britain, where the wild experiences live. Some of the activities described take place on the very edges of large urban centres, easily accessible for anyone, yet even many locals don’t know about them. Others happen in far-flung corners of the country – places people may never have considered exploring. ‘This title will take you on a highly adventurous tour of Britain’s extraordinary cliffs, caves, canyons, coasts, forests, fells, beaches, Munros, moors and tors, via a range of outdoor pursuits – many of which were conceived and pioneered on this island’ says Kinsella. ‘It’s all about wild time spent in wonderful places, from the mysterious depths of the labyrinthine limestone underworld beneath the Mendip Hills to the top of ice-clad arêtes and snow-dusted peaks of monstrous Munros in the Scottish Highlands, via seascapes and sub-aquatic environment in Devon and Cornwall, tumbling streams and ghylls in the Lake District, and cascade-concealed caverns in the waterfall-soaked world of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) in Wales. It’s not for the faint of heart, but there are escapades here to excite everyone.’ Whether you’re an experienced outdoor type or someone who’s new to the outdoors but seeking guidance on where to go and what to do, a wildlife and fresh-air enthusiast or an armchair traveller, a lone adventurer or family with young children, Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering... is brimful of ideas. And if the adrenaline gets too much, you’ll even find advice on the sedate Japanese art of forest bathing.
Following the success of original Wild Running (10,000 copies sold since 2014, Trail Runner book of the year) this new, completely rewritten edition provides the ultimate guide to the best wild trails in Britain. 50 of the original list have been retained with 150 new routes, picked for their fantastic terrain, sensational views and ease of navigation. Stunning photography and engaging writing chart the history of each run, route and landscape, making this a must-have guide for runners and explorers alike. The ultimate guide for the runner looking to break free from the gym and city. Includes sections on training, getting started, staying safe & racing.Graded from easy to challenging, including directions, terrain data and safety advice, with Ordnance Survey 1:250,000 route maps and downloadable 1:50,000 maps and GPX routes.
