A guidebook to 32 day walks and one multi-day trek across the Ardennes region. Exploring the beautiful scenery of southeastern Belgium and venturing across the border into Luxembourg and France, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike. Day walks range from 2 to 24km (1–15 miles) and can be enjoyed in 1–8 hours. The Sentier du Nord trek (part of the GR57 long-distance trail) from Weiswampach to Diekirch is described in 6 stages covering 68km (42 miles). 1:50,000 maps are included for each walk Detailed information on planning, refreshments and public transport Highlights include Bouillon and its castle
A guidebook to 20 day walks and 7 short treks in the mountains and national parks of Croatia. Ranging from easy 2km strolls to strenuous hut-to-hut mountain treks, the routes showcase the diverse unspoilt landscapes, with highlights including UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes and Croatia’s highest summit, Dinara. Covering the Zagreb region, Istria and the Opatija Riviera, Gorski Kotar, Velebit and Dalmatia, the day walks range from 2 to 21km (1–8 hours) and the treks from 16 to 75km (2–7 days). Clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 mapping Refreshments and transport information for all routes, plus accommodation for the treks Advice on planning and preparation Geology, history, culture, plants and wildlife Croatian glossary and menu decoder
A guidebook to the Cumbria Way, a 73-mile long distance path through the heart of the English Lake District from Ulverston to Carlisle. The route is largely low-level, but this book also describes alternative mountain days which add the Coniston Fells, Glaramara and Skiddaw en route. The guide divides the route into 5 stages of between 12 and 16 miles, but there is plenty of opportunity to plan your itinerary for a more easy-going 7 to 8 days. This guidebook also provides useful information for every stage, from accommodation to available facilities en route, as well as an annotated OS map and details on points of interest.
Abounding in history and dotted with cols coloured by stories about the world's greatest cyclists, the Route des Grandes Alpes (RdGA) is a must for competent, hill-hungry cycle tourers. Covering some 720km from Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) to mediterranean Nice, the route is described across 14 stages and can be completed in anywhere from 7 to 14 days - depending on how you'd like to spread out the 17,000m of climbing. Six variants are also described, ensuring no holiday is compromised or cut short if a col on route is closed. Clear and concise route descriptions are provided for each stage (and variant), together with 1:150K mapping and extremely helpful gradient profiles. Also included is invaluable practical advise - everything from bicycle selection (including eBikes) and nutrition in the saddle, to logistical planning and accommodation options. Showcasing some of the world's best Alpine cycling, the RdGA takes in 17 major climbs, including the famous Col de l'Iseran (the highest paved pass in the Alps), the Col du Galibier (favourite climb of Tour de France founder, Henri Desgrange) and the Col d'Izoard (synonymous with cycling legends Fausto Coppi and Louison Bobet). It also passes through some of the most spectacular national parks in France, including the Vanoise, the Écrins and the Mercantour.
This guidebook to cycling the Ruta Via de la Plata through western Spain describes the 930km route from Seville to the coastal city of Gijón in around 2 weeks (14 stages). A pilgrimage variant, the Camino Sanabrés, to Santiago de Compostela is also described (16 stages in total). Empty roads and gentle climbs make the route accessible to a wide range of bikes and cyclists. Both road and off-road versions are presented, and the guide shows how they can be combined to create a perfect touring, hybrid or gravel cycling trip. The guide includes leg-by-leg route descriptions, 1:150,0000 colour mapping, elevation profiles and helpful ride planners to show where riders can swop from the off-road to the road route. There is advice on equipment, travel and transporting your bike, alongside a list of accommodation contacts and a useful Spanish glossary. The Ruta Via de la Plata is one of Spain's most important pilgrim routes. The 2-week journey takes in 7 UNESCO world heritage sites (Seville, Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Leon, Zamora, and Oviedo) with the famous pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela if the Camino Sanabrés is taken. There is lots of good-value accommodation available, from hostels to palaces, and plenty of chances to sample Spanish gastronomy.
This guidebook describes a 240km cycle ride along the length of the Canal du Midi in southern France. Starting at Toulouse in the Haute Garonne and finishing at Sète on the Mediterranean Coast, the route is divided into five stages of about 50km. It is a flat, car-free and picturesque route mainly on the towpath, and is suitable for all abilities. The guide is written for those who want to explore the canal and visit attractions along the way. There are lots of optional detours to sites of interest near the canal, as well as six longer excursions including fortified Carcassone, Roman Narbonne, Vendres lagoon and the Portiragnes marshes. Detailed route descriptions are crammed with additional information about points of interest passed, and 1:200,000 scale maps clearly show the route for each stage of the way. Begun in 1666 the Canal du Midi is one of the world's most picturesque waterways and a World Heritage Site. This is 'La France Profonde', a region rich in history and culture, as seen in the grand homes and chateaux that grace the water's edge, and the fascinating Cathar strongholds of Carcassone, Lastours and Minerve.
A comprehensive guidebook to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), an epic 2650 mile trek through the USA from the Mexican border to British Columbia in Canada. One of the world's best hikes, the route passes through California, Oregon and Washington State, taking in the Mojave desert, High Sierras, Cascades and countless more wild mountains of America's west coast. The guidebook is divided into 101 sections of 2 to 3 days, which can be combined into longer days according to ability and preference. This comprehensive guide provides all the information and maps hikers will need. Alongside the notes and route descriptions, there are overview maps for the entire trail, and a detailed introduction that provides essential advice for planning and completing the route. From information on packing, supplies, water and bears, to details on the mountains, wildlife and regions encountered, this is an essential companion to taking on - and completing - this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The PCT boasts breathtaking scenery and varied landscapes, through deserts and forests, and over snow-covered passes and along alpine ridges. This is a long wilderness trek of true adventure and exploration through diverse and stunning mountain scenery.
This guidebook provides a comprehensive and detailed description of the GR131, an island-hopping trail across the seven Canary Islands. The 560km (348 mile) route begins on Lanzarote and finishes on El Hierro and is presented in 32 daily stages. The route is well waymarked but some navigational skills are required, and the remote and occasional rocky sections need to be treated with care. Also included is an optional ascent of El Teide, the highest peak on Spanish territory at 3718m. The guide is split into seven parts, one for each island. Overview statistics, detailed navigational description and 1:50,000 mapping is provided for each stage and the guide also includes key information about transport to and between the Canary Islands and availability of accommodation and services. There is background information on the geology, history, plants and wildlife and notes on local points of interest. An appendix contains a helpful glossary. As a geologically young area, the Canaries boast rare wildlife across their dramatic volcanic terrain. The islands contain a number of national parks, and the landscape varies from semi-desert to forests and barren mountainsides. This month-long route is a great opportunity for walkers to fully immerse themselves in the diverse culture and scenery of the Canary Islands.
Italy's Alta Via 1, a 180km trail through the Italian Alps following the northern flank of the Aosta Valley, boasts magnificent views of the Alpine giants: Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, the Grand Combin and Monte Rosa. Indeed, it is sometimes known as the Giants' Trail and can be combined with a sister-route, the Alta Via 2 (covered in a separate Cicerone guide), which runs along the southern flank of the valley, to form the Tor des Géants. Stretching from Donnas to Courmayeur, the Alta Via 1 offers fantastic alpine walking, with welcoming refuges and small hotels providing overnight accommodation (and great food) along the way. The guide presents the route in two sections, for the advantage of those who can't spare the full fortnight-plus needed to walk the entire AV1. The trail is described in 16 stages, with alternative stages covering some popular variants, including an optional detour to visit the famed monastery at the Great St Bernard Pass. Each stage includes clear route description and mapping, plus notes on local points of interest and accommodation options. An alternative itinerary, list of useful contacts, kitlist and glossary can be found in the appendices. The AV1 crosses cols of nearly 3000m as it traverses the side-valleys of the main Aosta Valley. Suited to those with some of experience of alpine trekking, the walking is demanding but without technical difficulty. And the rewards are many: quieter huts, breathtaking vistas and a chance to immerse yourself in fabulous mountain landscapes overlooked by soaring, snow-clad giants.
