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| Landscapes of Menorca (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856912440) Those who enjoyed using the earlier editions of this guide found that the third edition was even better, with superb new maps and many new colour photographs. Upgraded walking routes avoided problem spots that arose in the past because of landowners who have objected to walkers crossing their land (even though the routes have always used public rights-of-way). This further updated fourth edition will delight Menorca's many enthusiasts.
Menorca is a peaceful island, free from most of the excesses of its neighbouring Balearic islands. Walks take you to some beautiful scenery, both inland and along the truly idyllic coastline. Rodney Ansell, the author, also tells you how to find the amazing prehistoric monuments to be found scattered all over the island. These (the one illustrated on the cover is just one example of scores of them) will fascinate anyone with the imagination to conjure up visions of the ancient history of Menorca.
Best months for walking: Menorca is the wettest of the Balearic islands, though July and August can normally be relied upon for lots of sun and heat (and for this reason are not ideal for walking). So choose April, May, June, September or October (when it will still be warm enough for most people) and take something showerproof for the occasional wet day.
Where to Stay If you are going to be relying on public transport, aim to stay in or near Mahón or Ciutadella so as to have easy access to the buses. But if you plan to hire a car, on this relatively small island, you will be able to reach most of the walks from any of the main resorts.
2 car tours, 45 long and short walks, 18 picnic suggestions
Plans of Mahón and Ciutadella
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| Landscapes of Northern Portugal (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913096) The car tours and walks in this book explore northwestern Portugal - arguably the most beautiful part of the country. Here, in the province of Minho, the lush greenness of the coastal lowlands, the Costa Verde, contrasts sharply with the mountainous interior - one of Europe's last wilderness areas. While emphasising excursions in the country's only national park, the Peneda-Gerês, the book also describes more gregarious pursuits - visiting local markets, sampling vintages at the Port wine lodges, and cruising on the river Douro. Northern Portugal - or more specifically, northwestern Portugal, is arguably the most beautiful part of the country. Here, in the province of Minho, the lush greenness of the coastal area, the Costa Verde, contrasts sharply with the exciting but stark and wild interior of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.
The very name Costa Verde ('Green Coast') is evocative - conjuring up images of a verdant landscape, and it does not disappoint. The vines for the famous vinho verde grow tall by the road, in the fields, in the mountains, up trees, up trellises, over pergolas, walkways and village streets - everywhere. Their fresh green leaves bring a vibrancy and texture to the countryside, which is stunning in its effect. Highly visible as they are, the vines merely reflect the high fertility of this granitic region, and colourful meadows teeming with wild flowers vie with the grape for the visitor's attention. In total contrast, inland Minho offers scenery of a mountainous nature and harbours the country's only national park, the Peneda-Gerês. Scenically beautiful and wild, where eagles soar and where wolves and wild boar still roam, it's one of Europe's last wildernesses. Sadly, the populations of these wild animals are now so diminished, especially the wolves, that they require protection.
If you explore with us, we can set your feet wandering over the hills into breathtaking scenic beauty. History still lives here, too, written millennia ago in the permanence of granite. Our walks follow some of the delightful old trails, built from huge granite slabs, which lead high into the mountains. You can only marvel at the effort and energy invested in their building, and wonder about the people who once lived in these mountains. Many people in the Minho still live in isolated villages only recently connected to the modern road system, and some are still only accessible by foot; these villages are a delight to visit. It is like going back in time. The villagers vigorously pursue farming techniques developed four centuries ago and still largely unchanged. Long-horned oxen are central to the village economy - not just in the mountains, but also throughout the region. They are used both as beasts of burden and for food production. You may see them pulling ploughs in the field or the specially-designed carts along the road, often mingling with the traffic.
Area covered: from the northern coast south as far as Porto and east to the Peneda-Gerês National Park.
Best months for walking: A walking holiday in northern Portugal is not recommended before April. Not that April is a settled month - you can expect anything from warm sunny days to showers, days of rain or even occasional cold, biting winds - but usually April offers plenty of walking opportunities. The weather settles more in May, when it starts to get hotter, but occasional rain may still be encountered - especially late in the afternoon in the mountains. June sees the temperature rising steadily, until it becomes too hot to walk - almost certainly by the second half of the month. The summer heat starts to fade sometime in September, and walking opportunities return again, lasting throughout October - but now with an increasing risk of rainy days.
Where to stay: If you want to stay by the sea, there is no more interesting place than Viana do Castelo. From here you can do all the walks in the book, provided that you have a car and are prepared to drive significant distances each day. There are also excellent places inland, along the river Lima, which are situated closer to the main walking area. About 25km along the Lima Valley lies Ponte de Lima, a town of considerable character which offers limited hotel accommodation but has many 'Turismo de Habitação' establishments in the vicinity (manor houses etc). Even further inland lie Ponte da Barca (42km) and Arcos de Valdevez (48km), both smaller than Ponte de Lima, but of even greater charm. Both offer tourist accommodation and are well situated for access to the walks.
4 car tours, 68 long and short walks, 20 picnic suggestions
136 pages + touring map
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| Landscapes of Paxos (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856912716) Our guide to Paxos has been out of print for a couple of years, because Noel Rochford, the author, is now living in Japan and was unable to undertake the updating for a new edition. However, we've now been fortunate in finding a walking enthusiast with an intimate knowledge of the island, who has brought the walk descriptions up to date. The moment you step foot on this island you can feel that your stay here is going to be both peaceful and restful. The sleepy fishing villages and the timeless countryside will cast their spell upon you. This is the ideal 'get away from it all' destination - where everyone strolls through olive groves and along the coast. Paxos, just 19 sq km of cosy countryside, is little more than a broken fragment of hills sitting anchored off the southern end of Corfu. The hills of Paxos are cloaked in a cool mantle of olive trees. Dark groves of cypresses pierce this silvery-green mantle. In the shade of these wooded hills lie sprinklings of rustic hamlets. But the real beauty of Paxos is the dazzling necklace of turquoise green coves that collar the eastern coastline.
Photographs: To browse through an excellent selection of photographs of Paxos, visit the Island Walks site - click here. You'll also find a number of walks briefly described on this site. These may usefully supplement the more detailed walk descriptions in Landscapes of Paxos.
Best months for walking: April, May, June, September and October.
Where to Stay: The island is so small that walkers can choose wherever they wish knowing that all the walks will be accessible. The main tourist centres are Gaios (the capital), Loggos and Lakka.
1 car tour, 26 long and short walks, 11 picnic
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| Landscapes of Picos de Europa (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913324) The Picos de Europa, one of Europe's last mountain wilderness areas, are the high point of a long ridge of mountains which runs along the north coast of Spain, the Cordillera Cantabrica. Ranging in altitude from 150m to 2648m (about 500-8700ft), the Picos are divided into three spectacular limestone massifs separated from one another, and from the surrounding ranges, by precipitous gorges a truly spectacular area in which to walk or tour.
This guide contains a wealth of information about the dazzling array of plant and animal life you can expect to see when exploring the range. The author, an all-round naturalist and Spanish correspondent for BBC Wildlife, has also contributed to Spain the Rough Guide. Teresa Farino has been living in the Picos de Europa for almost twenty years. You can find out more about her by visiting her website: www.iberianwildlife.com/teresa-farino.htm Together with Mike Lockwood, she has also written Sunflower’s Landscapes of the Costa Brava, and Travellers’ Nature Guides: Spain, published by OUP in 2004.
Best time to walk: Walk here between June and September.
Where to Stay: For the southern reaches, the best base is Potes as there is plenty of accommodation and buses serving the three valleys that diverge from the town. On the northern side, Cangas de Onís would be a good choice. For the Cabrales region, including the Cares Gorge, Arenas would be the best choice.
1 car tour with several detour options
18 long and short walks, 6 easy walks for motorists, 5 picnic suggestions
128 pages + touring map
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| Landscapes of Pyrenees (France & Spain) (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856912860) Pyrenees - the book covers the entire range France, Spain and Andorra and there are well over 400 kilometres (250 miles) of walks in this guide, the equivalent of a coast-to-coast traverse one of the 'classics' for all serious walkers. But you don't have to be an expert walker for any of hikes we describe. None of them requires special skills (under summer conditions) and, if you are not very fit, simply turn back when you feel like it (there are short walk suggestions with most of the itineraries). Experienced and fit walkers will nevertheless find much to enjoy, for we have included some of the wildest scenery in the Pyrenees, walked pilgrim routes and World War 2 escape routes, climbed to summits (like Canigou), enjoyed the habitat of marmots, vultures and lizards (the Pyrenean chamois), and not neglected the great and the famous (like the Breche de Roland).
Best months for walking: June to September
Where to Stay: covering both the French and Spanish Pyrenees, the book embraces a huge area and the walks are widely scattered. It is assumed that users of the book will be travelling by car. Therefore, to plan a walking holiday it is desirable to have the book and work out a route that will take you to accommodation centres near to the walks you would like to undertake. Places where you will find hotels, restaurants and hostel accommodation are listed in the text (but as with all Landscapes guides NO details of specific hotels etc. are given). One of the places you could stay is at Vilartoli, the authors' 18th century holiday cottage in the foothills of the Albera range.
12 car tours, 65 long and short walks, 12 picnic suggestions
136 pages + pull-out touring map
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| Landscapes of Samos (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856912884) The very mention of a Greek island is enough to conjure up visions of azure blue seas, wave-lapped golden beaches and white-washed houses, all languorously bathed in endless sunshine. If these are your dreams, then you will find this face of Samos so enchanting that you may not even think of looking further. But beyond the beaches lies a verdant island with landscapes of unimagined beauty quietly awaiting discovery.
Samos is without a doubt one of the most perfect Greek islands for walking and botanising, and ever since its publication, this book has been the walkers' 'bible'. Now this new edition brings the book up to date in reflecting recent changes.
Best times to walk: April, May, June, September and October.
Where to Stay: the authors based themselves in Samos town when writing the book and this makes an ideal centre but Kokkari, Pythagorion or even Karlovassi are also practicable for those relying on local buses.
4 car tours, 70 long and short walks, 25 picnic suggestions
Plans of Samos Town, Karlovassi
136 pages + touring map
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| Landscapes of Sardinia (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913461) Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, is a walker's paradise. Its scenic diversity, ranging from rough and primeval landscapes to gentle, golden sand dunes, from scorching rocky plateaux and windswept plains reminiscent of Africa to rolling hills with lush pastures and dense brushwood, from towering mountains cloaked in fine oak woods to a turquoise sea that touches the rocky coast. The fragrant Mediterranean macchia permeates the scenery, with colourful rock roses and an extravaganza of wild flowers flourishing in spring.
Getting out into the countryside, you quickly leave all traces of tourism behind. There is a lovely pastoral feel to the Sardinian countryside. Flocks of sheep graze on verdant grassy slopes, moufflons and wild boar roam the wild and rugged highlands whilst eagles hover silently above. You can taste the real flavour of Sardinia as you follow the walks and car tours in this gem of a guidebook. You will be richly rewarded for your effort.
Best months for walking: September to June
Useful link: Click here for information on accommodation, logistical support and advice to get the most out of your walking holiday in Ogliastra, Sardinia
Where to Stay: Bosa, Cala Gonone and Santa Maria Navarrese are ideal for those who prefer to be on the coast. If you seek an inland location near the central Gennargentu massif, choose the village of Aritzo, which has good hotels. Note that public transport is limited - you will almost certainly need a hire car to reach the delightful walks to be found in Sardinia, wherever you may choose to stay.
6 car tours, 37 Long and short walks, 16 picnic suggestions
136 pages plus touring map
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| Landscapes of Scottish Highlands (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856912877) Written by Stephen Whitehorne, one of Scotland's best-known photographer/authors, this book brings to life some of the most breathtaking scenery in the British Isles. Stephen has explored every nook and cranny of the Highlands and Skye as well as the mountaintops. The Highlands are one of Europe's last great wilderness areas, one of the few remaining landscapes where genuine solitude can be sought and where the luxuries of silence and space abound.
While the tourist boards tend to perpetuate the myths of kilt and bagpipe, the Loch Ness monster and romantic Medieval castles, most people visit Scotland for the reality for the beauty and great diversity of its scenery, to discover remote lochs, atmospheric glens and dramatic mountains. The car tours, picnics and walks in this book will allow you to discover the very best the Highlands have to offer, whether from your seat in the car, out on a short stroll or committed to an energetic mountain hike.
The photographic images in this book all of calendar quality will whet your appetite and remain a wonderful souvenir of your holiday in the Highlands.
Best months for walking: May to September
Where to Stay: the book covers such a large area that users are assumed to be likely to tour by car, taking in the walks en route. This being the case, we recommend following the car tour routes and choosing convenient accommodation from the wide choice of centres that are available.
11 Car tours, 40 walks, 12 picnic
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| Landscapes of Sicily (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913027) Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and long a Mecca for culture freaks. Sicily also rewards the countryside lover with its magnificent landscapes. Peter Amann knows the island intimately; he leads walking groups on Sicily and works for the preservation of its national monuments. As an alternative to the stress of simply 'doing' all the sites, he invites you to savour the landscape at leisure. Thus there is enough material in this book for several holidays. The eight car tours (mostly circular and covering 2000km) follow little-used secondary roads wherever possible and, while taking in all the major sights and sites, also allow motorists to see landscapes well off the beaten track. A fold-out touring map shows all the car touring routes. The walks - a distillation of the best on the island - are as varied in length and grade as the landscape itself; there are routes to suit all ages and abilities. Most of the walks are along old farming tracks, stone-laid mule trails and shepherds' paths. Each is accompanied by an up-to-date topographical map, but the author also suggests where you can find other maps, many of which are available free. Finally, for those who like al fresco dining, there is also a selection of picnic suggestions - ranging from 'official' sites with barbecues to idyllic spots near walking routes.
Best months for walking: September to June
Where to Stay: On this large island it is assumed that most users of the book will want to tour by car. Exceptionally for a Landscapes guide (as we do not normally mention specific establishments) the author of this book suggests hotels or hostels (at least one for every walk) together with telephone numbers for convenience in making reservations. However, if you do not want to explore the entire island, the spectacular resort of Taormina is conveniently placed for access to several nearby walks. One is adjacent to Taormina, two others are within 10km, and there are eight in the Etna area (some 15 to 20km away).
8 car tours, 41 walks with alternatives, 27 picnic suggestions
136 pages + touring maps
Note: because of Sicily's shape and in order to reproduce the touring maps at the largest practicable scale, the far south west corner of the island (which is not featured in any of the walks or car tours in the book) is not included on either of the maps. If you need a touring map of the entire island, you will need to purchase an alternative map from our website.
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| Landscapes of Slovenia (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856912853) Slovenia. Small is beautiful', a much-used cliché, certainly applies to Slovenia, which is only half the size of Switzerland. With a population of only two million, the landscape is still essentially rural. The jagged snow-capped peaks of the Julian Alps contrast with fertile valleys, full of colour and activity. The porous limestone rock has created the Karst landscape. Typical features can be seen everywhere and are exciting to explore: underground rivers appear from rock faces and cascade down in dramatic waterfalls, narrow gorges are carved through the cliffs, while caves and natural rock arches
Slovenia borders Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia and was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Ernpire. After the First World War, it was amalgamated into Yugoslavia before finally gaining independence in 1991. Happily it has avoided all the recent troubles of the neighbouring Balkan states and today is a modern country, western in outlook. The people are prosperous, friendly and eager to share their pride in the beauty and heritage of their homeland. Tourist facilities are modern, spotlessly clean and blend in sensitively with the countryside.
Slovenians love the land and, while only about 10 per cent farm full time, more than 25 per cent of the population grow some of their own food. Farming is mainly traditional. The mountain valleys are immaculate, with strips of vegetables and corn amidst the hayfields and orchards. There are hop-growing areas and beautiful vineyards. Amongst these industrious people one senses an orderly contentment and a feeling that everything is in tune with nature. All over the country there are opportunities for walking and exploring.
Best months for walking: May and June, September and October
6 car tours, 25 picnic suggestions, 41 main walks (plus variations)
136 pages + touring map
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| Landscapes of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913577) Sorrento, Amalfi and Capri - a wonderful area for walkers, brilliantly described by Julian Tippett. Accident of history and steepness of terrain have preserved a network of ancient footpaths which reaches from the coastal towns of the Neapolitan Riviera into the surrounding countryside. These paths take you almost from your hotel doorstep up into the lemon groves. You can visit hillside villages or remote monasteries and be regaled by the most stunning of views all along the way. The paths are often paved in stone or, if climbing steep hillsides, consist of flights of steps. The flowers are a constant delight: from broom and rosemary in March to freesias and cistus in May. In autumn, the woods are carpeted with cyclamen.
Most of the paths described can be followed easily by people who do not claim to be regular walkers, though committed hikers will like them just the same. If you're having a 'lazy' day, you can just take a bus up into the hills and walk back down to your hotel.
Walking is best in April, May, June, September and October.
Where to Stay: choose Sorrento or Amalfi - you will be able to access all the walks quite easily using local buses and ferries.
7 car tours, 73 walk segments, 17 excursions with picnic
Plans of Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello
136 pages + touring/walking map
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| Landscapes of Southern Peloponnese - OUT OF PRINT (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913102) There are hidden landscapes throughout mainland Greece, but the region which packs the most variety into the smallest space is the Peloponnese. From the beaches of Arcadia to the fir forests of Mt Parnon, from the olive groves of Kalamata to the pyramidal peak of Prophet Elijah, from classical Sparta to medieval Mani, this compact semi-island has it all. Though the ancients called it 'the island of Pelops', after their mythical king, this three-fingered landmass is joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus at Corinth.
Only in the 19th century was a canal finally cut through the isthmus, but it retains the cultural diversity and spectacular scenery of the mainland. Because there's so much to discover, the author drew an east-west line roughly through the middle of the Peloponnese, and limited the book to the southern half. By good fortune, this contains its highest mountain range (Mt Taygetus), its finest Byzantine chapels and medieval forts (in the Mani), its wildest seascapes (Capes Tainaron and Maleas), its largest forest (Mt Parnon) and, arguably, some of its loveliest beaches (Pylos, Kiparissi and Elafonisos, to name a few). more>> |
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| Landscapes of Southern Tenerife and La Gomera (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856912181) This is the book to buy if you are staying in the the south of Tenerife or on La Gomera. (If you will be based in the north of Tenerife, near Puerto de la Cruz, see Landscapes of Tenerife). La Gomera is only an hour and a half from Tenerife by ferry, or only 35 minutes by hydrofoil. The schedules allow you enough time to get there for a day's car touring or walking.
This book is divided into two parts. The Southern Tenerife section has car tours covering the whole of Tenerife, using Playa de las Américas/Los Cristianos as a base. It also describes several spectacular walks but only in the south of Tenerife. (If you are going to Tenerife for a long walking holiday, but you will be based in the south, ideally you should have this book and Landscapes of Tenerife.
The Gomera section describes tours and walks all over that island (which, incidentally, is the author's favourite of all the Canaries). Gomera is still unspoilt, and its mountainous terrain affords some really challenging walking.
Best months for walking (on both islands): October to June.
Where to Stay: For Southern Tenerife, the Playa de las Américas/Los Cristianos area makes the best centre. For La Gomera, convenient bus services for walks run from Valle Gran Rey, Playa de Santiago and San Sebastián.
Tenerife: 4 car tours covering the whole of Tenerife, 9 walks (in the south), 13 picnic suggestions
La Gomera: 2 car tours, 50 long and short walks, 18 picnic suggestions
144 pages + 2 touring maps
Plans of Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, and San Sebastián (Gomera)
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| Landscapes of Tenerife (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913379) Based on Puerto de la Cruz, this book features car tours all over the island and is the best choice for those staying in the north. Walks cover the Orotava Valley, Las Cañadas, the Teno and Anaga peninsulas. (For walks in the south of Tenerife, see Landscapes of Southern Tenerife and La Gomera.)
This was the first walking guide for Tenerife, but in recent years the island has become the most popular of all the Canaries amongst walkers. And for good reason. Tenerife has something for everyone country lanes for strolling, nature trails for hiking, and mountains to be scaled including El Teide, the highest in all Spain. The profusion of wild plants and flowers makes the island a botanical treasure.
Best months for walking: October to June.
Where to Stay: if you are taking a package tour, aim to stay in Puerto de la Cruz: good bus services bring most of the walks within easy reach. If you are not tied to specific accommodation, you may like to spend a couple of days at the peaceful Parador de las Canadas or you could use hotels in La Laguna or Santa Cruz for ease of access to the superb walking in the Anaga peninsula.
5 car tours, 60 long and short walks, 35 picnic suggestions
Plans of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz
144 pages + touring map
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| Landscapes of the Tatra Mountains (Poland and Slovakia) (Sunflower Books, ISBN: 9781856913058) Walking and car touring in Poland and Slovakia. This trans-national guide explores two outstanding national parks in southernmost Poland: Pieniny and Tatra, and the best of neighbouring Slovakia’s mountain areas in four national parks: Tatra, Slovensky Raj (Slovak Paradise), Low Tatra and Mala Fatra. In every one the natural landscapes are exceptionally beautiful, while each park has a distinctive identity. In the Pieniny you’ll find the river Dunajec gorge and limestone cliffs and crags. The Polish Tatra’s clusters of tarns lie at the bases of spiky arêtes, while the adjacent Slovak Tatras are synonymous with long deep valleys and precipitous, narrow passes. Slovensky Raj has the river Hornad gorge, but the Low Tatras are characterised by spaciousness and wide views from the broad central ridge. Mala Fatra isn’t entirely dissimilar, but with the added distinction of a network of narrow, accessible gorges. Beautiful conifer and deciduous forests are ubiquitous, the latter a delight during autumn.
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