Sunflower Books Southern Peloponnese: 5 car tours + 50 long and short walks

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 has drawn 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 just a few. The best months for walking in the Peloponnese are April and May, late September and October. The Mani was probably our best ever holiday in Greece and your book played its part! (JHG, Walton-on-Thames) [The Author] chose the Southern Peloponnese because it packs the most variety into the smallest space… I cannot recommend this guide more warmly. It may just infuse you too with a little madness for the mountains. (Athens News)   As someone who has enjoyed trekking in Greece with Michael, I can tell you that this book is almost as good as having him by your side. His directions are full of his characteristic wit and humor and he shares his deep knowledge of Greek culture effortlessly, providing nuggets of history, botany and such miscellany as how to deal with fierce sheepdogs. Reading his descriptions may whet your appetite for taking every single walk, but he also tells you where you might not want to go if your legs are a bit weak or you have no head for heights. But you don’t have to have stout calves and hiking boots to enjoy this book. It also includes five possible car itineraries that take in suggestions for picnic spots, short walks and local landmarks. You’ll find places in here that you won’t find in any guidebooks, because Michael has been exploring the Greek mountains since childhood and worked on this guide for 10 years. If you think Greece is just islands and beaches, this book will introduce you to its other side, one that most visitors barely suspect exists. You couldn’t be in better hands. (DFL, Amazon)

Sunflower Books Zakynthos (Zante) - Sunflower Complete Guide with Walks

This guidebook is an ideal companion for motorists who want to tour Zakynthos by car, as well as those planning a holiday walking in Zakynthos. The book combines the best features of our ‘Landscapes’ walking and car touring guides with all the detail you would expect in a hefty general guide, but it is pocket size and in full colour. Coverage includes getting there and getting about; recommended accommodation and restaurants; practicalities A-Z; history; 22 main walks with many variations, all with both hand-drawn and GPS-compatible maps; copious notes on geology, flora and fauna (all illustrated). I searched everywhere. On the Internet, in libraries, in every bookstore that I could find, but although I found a lot of general guides on the Greek islands, they could only provide a small description of [Zakynthos] and all the common tourist attractions — water park, navaggio, carreta turtles, etc. Having the experience of Paris, when doing some walking tours in the old town was the best part of our trip, we searched for the same thing for Zakynthos, but weren’t really finding anything. When this Zakynthos (Zante) with walks book opened its pages to us, it was all we are looking for, and even more. I think one of the best things about the book is that the author, Gail Schofield, lives there and knows the surrounding and also that she was a zoology student, so has insights on all the plants and animals that live on the island. A book on culture and architecture is a marvel in large cities, but on islands like Zakynthos, where the main attraction is its savageness, you need to know everything about the environment, beaches and life in general. I skimmed the book preparing for our trip, and I found interesting the fact that it has hand-drawn maps of every walking tour, a thing that I haven’t encountered that frequently in travel books. The illustrations of plants and animals are also high quality but the best part of the book is the folding map at the end which is by far the most complete map I have found to date. It has all the walking tours and car tours on it so you don’t have to struggle planning them by yourself and if you go on the official site you can also download the GPS waypoints for the walking tours (that of course if you’re not to lazy to enter them yourself from the end of the book). I highly recommend this books to anyone visiting Zakynthos. (RP, Amazon) Area covered: There are car tours and walks all over the island. Although the main towns can be reached by bus, to really take advantage of the island and to reach most of the walks you will need to hire a car (to save money, hire through your travel agent when booking your holiday or book in advance on the web). If you would like to explore the island’s back roads or cover some of the walking routes by car, the author advises hiring a four-wheel drive vehicle. (But 4WD vehicles are not necessary for reaching the starting points of the walks). The best months for walking on Zakynthos are from late September to May; summer is far too hot.

Sunflower Books Walk & Eat: Kefalonia

If holidays are about new experiences, then this pocket guide solves two problems — where to enjoy walking in Kefalonia and where to find some good, traditional food. There are strolls for hot days and longer walks to work up an appetite. And if you‘re just after some recommendations for where to eat out in Kefalonia, you need look no further! For each suggested restaurant there is a photograph of the décor and one of their dishes, plus sample menu, price guide, opening times, and a recipe for one of their specialities. Other sections include: planning your trip, logistics on arrival, shopping for self-catering (including health food shops), local markets and specialities, glossary of local food terms, etc. A special feature is the emphasis on natural local foods suitable for those with food intolerances. All recipes have been made by the authors and are known to ‘work’. This was an absolutely invaluable book… I have to be honest, I was more interested in the eating than the walking because when we last went to Kefalonia the food was pretty average… We went to a lot of the featured restaurants and they were all fantastic. We even ended up doing some of the walks. (SC, Amazon) I spent a week on Kefalonia with this book and I have no idea what I should have done without it. The walks are easy and can be done by everyone. After the walk the selection of places to eat seemed superb to me. (HH, Amazon) Area covered: The walks are spread all around the island and there is at least one near every major resort. There isn’t much information available for walking on the island, and this book brings together ten of Kefalonia’s best walks. The best months for walking in Kefalonia are from early April to end May and late September till October.

Sunflower Books Western Crete: 8 Car Tours, 45 Long and Short Walks

NEW EDITION MARCH 2023 ‘Mountains rearing straight up from the sea, deep wooded gorges, ravines and valleys — and yet more glorious mountains, standing proud and acting as a magnet to the eye and the imagination — that’s Western Crete, or real Crete, as some would say. Its strong, dramatic scenery and colours create sweeping landscapes of harsh but beautiful countryside — countryside that has been the backdrop for heroic deeds, ancient civilisations and constant intrigue for thousands of years, and the home of obdurate, tough-spirited people — made so by their labours on the land and their experiences. ‘Getting to know Western Crete takes time; the number of people who explore beyond the obvious is slowly growing. We hope we will lead you straight to the heart of the matter with this book, whether you are a first- or second-time visitor unsure about how best to get to know the island or, indeed, if you are someone who doesn’t need convincing but would like a reliable, thorough and different guide. We encourage you to explore to the full. We won’t need to inspire you; one look at Western Crete will do that.’ (from the Preface) Key features: 45 long and short walks, colour-coded for grade 1:50,000 topo maps with waypoints Free downloadable GPS tracks E4 long-distance hiking route highlighted on all relevant maps satnav coordinates to walk starting points 8 car tours and fold-out touring maps of both Eastern and Western Crete – ideal for planning plans of Hania and Rethimnon strolls to idyllic picnic spots timetables for local transport online update service Area covered: From the Gramvousa Peninsula east to the area around Rethimnon The best months for walking in Crete are April to June, September or October

Sunflower Books Corfu: Walks And Car Tours

The book focuses on walking in Corfu, but it is not intended only for walkers. The touring section will show you the best of Corfu by car, and the picnic suggestions make an excellent introduction to the countryside. This Eighth edition has been completely revised just prior to publication, with many new walks (there are now 60 long and short walks), brand new maps based on OpenStreet mapping, free GPS tracks and colour-coded grading of the walks. For centuries Corfu’s magnetic beauty has attracted travellers, who have sung the praises of the peacock-hued bays, the hillsides drenched in silvery-green olive trees, and the emerald greenness of the countryside. And when you leave Corfu, these will be your impressions too. While time brings change, the pristine Corfu so beloved of Lear and the Durrell brothers can still be found — this new edition tells you where. It turns the island inside-out and helps you find a Corfu unknown to most tourists. Area covered: There are walks for all ages and abilities criss-crossing the whole island, from strolls to beaches to challenging day-long hikes in the mountains. The best months for walking in Corfu are April, May, early June, late September and October — temperatures are moderate and the countryside at its colourful best.