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 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.