The seven Canary Islands seem to bask in everlasting sunshine and have been called The Fortunate Islands. Away from the bustling resorts, walkers can discover exceptionally rugged volcanic mountains, dense forests, scrubby semi-deserts and splendid cliff coastlines. Most of the landscapes around the islands are protected as national parks, rural parks, nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest. Walkers with an interest in flowers will find a bewildering array of endemic species. This guidebook takes in the islands of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. A companion guide (Canary Islands 1: West) covers Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Together they reveal 100 walking routes covering over 1000 miles (1600km) in total. The routes take in a wide variety of landscapes from the coast to the highest mountains. Most of the walks can be accessed using local bus services, and as bars are abundant, cold drinks can be enjoyed along the way.