This guidebook follows the Rota Vicentina, a 220km walking route along the marvellous Atlantic coastline in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal. The 12-stage trek combines two well-marked routes, the Caminho Histórico (the Historical Way) and the Trilho dos Pescadores (the Fishermen's Trail), to create a hike starting in Santiago do Cacém and ending at Cabo de São Vicente. The guide also describes an alternative circular route for those who would prefer an 11-stage loop, moving inland from Odeceixe and back up to Santiago de Cacém.
Whichever route is chosen, the Rota Vicentina is ideal for a two-week holiday in spring or late summer to autumn, offering walkers a remarkable range of landscapes from coastal fishing villages to wooded river valleys. The guidebook includes advice about accommodation options along the route, information about the surrounding area, and a glossary of Portuguese terms to aid with reading signs and maps.
Along the Rota Vicentina are many delights for walkers. This stunning coastal region is home to a variety of rare birdlife, including white storks that nest precariously on sea stacks. Another treat is the mouth-watering Portuguese cuisine, whether the famous custard tarts or less well-known goose barnacles. With its vibrant cultural traditions and rich history displayed in Arab-era castles and 15th-century Age of Discovery sites, this route offers pleasant surprises at every stage along the Portuguese Atlantic coast.
This guidebook by Italian walking expert Gillian Price describes 40 varied day walks in the region of Umbria, taking in the towns of Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto and Norcia. The walks range from 2.5km to 19km in length, the majority of the routes are circular, and several wonderful traverses have been included, with the return to the start point always possible by public transport. This guidebook also includes lots of practical information about recommended gear and maps to take and tips on local food, wildlife and culture, as well as useful tourist, accommodation and transport information and a brief Italian-English glossary. Set between Rome and Florence, the region is dotted with UNESCO World Heritage towns. The landscape, like that of neighbouring Tuscany, is one of rolling hills and deep woodlands, without the crowds of other well-known holiday regions in Italy. Walks cross flower meadows, wander down river valleys and also climb onto rugged hills and Apennine mountains, visiting Roman and Etruscan ruins as well as myriad ancient villages.
This guidebook presents 16 graded walks exploring the world-famous Cinque Terre villages of Liguria in Italy. Suitable for beginners and experienced walkers, routes take in the villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, as well as neighbouring Levanto, Campiglia and Porto Venere. It describes the most popular pathways as well as less trodden routes to hidden gems.
Route descriptions and maps for each walk are accompanied by information on how to get around by public transport (train, ferry and bus), with background notes on history, culture, wildlife and flora, and suggestions on where to sleep and what to eat. In short, everything you could possibly need to get the most out of a holiday in this unique corner of the Italian Riviera.
One of the best loved places in Italy, the Cinque Terre are UNESCO World Heritage listed, a string of centuries old fishing villages where colourful houses, terraced fields and vineyards perch on plunging cliffs above a breathtaking coastline. It's a paradise for walkers and food-lovers, who can follow age-old routes constructed by the locals and sample the seafood specialities on offer at harbour-side trattorias.
This guidebook describes 30 walks around Lakes Como and Maggiore in Northern Italy. The routes range from 3 to 20km in length and are graded 1 to 3. There is something for everyone, from easy leisurely strolls for first-time walkers to strenuous climbs up panoramic peaks.
The clear maps, inspirational photographs and information about accommodation and public transport options help to make this guidebook an ideal companion to exploring the exceptional scenery, views and culture of the Italian Lakes. A basic English-Italian glossary is also included.
Picturesque Lago Maggiore has been working its magic on writers and visitors for centuries. Blessed with a mild climate and delightful position close to the Alps, it attracts flocks of admirers to its shores and islands adorned with sumptuous villas and gorgeous ornamental gardens, a legacy of the late Renaissance. Ever magnificent, the splendours of Lago di Como were broadcast by the likes of Pliny and Strabone back in ancient Roman times. Overseas visitors are attracted by the breathtaking scenery and romantic atmosphere, augmented by the host of villas and superb gardens, where pretty camellias and rhododendrons spill over terraces.
This guidebook describes 20 walks around Lakes Garda and Iseo in Northern Italy. The routes range from 4 to 13km in length and are graded 1 to 3. There is something for everyone, from easy leisurely strolls for first-time walkers to strenuous climbs up panoramic peaks. The clear maps, inspirational photographs and information about accommodation and public transport options help to make this guidebook an ideal companion to exploring the exceptional scenery, views and culture of the Italian Lakes. A basic English-Italian glossary is also included. Formed by ancient glaciers and hemmed in by awesome towering cliffs, Lago di Garda boasts a superb network of well-marked trails exploring alpine ridges and peaks, in addition to ancient stepped ways to fascinating industrial archeology sites. The southern shores are very Mediterranean in flavour, lined with olive groves and vineyards. Beautiful Lago d'Iseo is one of Italy's well-kept secrets. Well out of view until you actually reach its shores, it boasts an attractive mountainous island, appropriately named Monteisola.
Guidebook to walking and trekking in the Maritime Alps on the border of Italy and France, just north of Nice. It includes 18 graded day walks, on both the French and the Italian sides, ranging from 6km to 20km in length and suitable for a range of abilities. There are also 6 longer treks, including a 5-day traverse of the Parc National du Mercantour and a 7-day traverse of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime.
Detailed route descriptions sit alongside colour maps, and there is full information about accommodation options down in the valleys and up in the mountains. Useful French-English and Italian-English glossaries of walking terminology are included, too.
Rising to over 3000m above the sun-drenched French Riviera, the Maritime Alps form the western edge of the mighty Alpine chain. Wildflower lovers will also appreciate the remarkable range of flowers, including many unique to the area. Worlds away from the hustle and bustle and crowds of the coast this is a marvellous area for novice walkers and seasoned long-distance trekkers alike.
Northern Italy's famous Alta Via long-distance walking routes are spread across the Dolomites, running roughly north to south and reaching as far as the Austrian border. There are six of these routes, and they increase in difficulty: Alta Via 1 has few exposed sections and is suitable for novice alpine trekkers; AV2 is much more challenging, only suitable for experienced alpine trekkers with a good head for heights, while AVs 3-6 have extended via ferrata sections and considerable exposure.
AVs 1 and 2 are described in detail in this guidebook. The 120km AV1 is described over 11 day stages; AV2 covers 160km in 13 days and is more strenuous and technical. Overnight stops are at mountain huts or guesthouses. The demanding AV3-6 routes are described in outline.
Now a World Heritage Site, the Italian Dolomites make a first-rate trekking destination. There is an excellent network of paths dotted with welcoming 'rifugi' (mountain huts) in stunning locations, and efficient public transport serving key trekking points.
Written by an expert in Italian trekking, with information on the fascinating wartime history of the region, plants and wildlife and also practical considerations such as the best time to go, what to take and hut protocol, this guide offers trekkers all the information they need to enjoy the mountains to the full.
A guidebook to the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Valle d'Aosta, in north-western Italy, describing the 12-stage 148km Alta Via 2 trek, and 28 day walks ranging from 2 to 33km.
The first part of this guidebook describes the Alta Via 2, a strenuous trek in 12 day stages from Chardonnay to Courmayeur, passing beneath the foot of Mont Blanc, which is best suited to experienced Alpine hikers. The successive chapters contain walks suitable for visitors who prefer to make their base in a valley hotel or campsite and embark on shorter excursions. A handful of excellent traverses is also included, brilliant routes that convey walkers to wild exhilarating heights and act as links between the valleys. Suggestions are given for combining these into a further series of long-distance routes.
The guidebook provides plenty of practical information on getting to and around the region, as well as advice on accommodation, language, equipment, planning and how to make the most out of any adventure in one of Italy's most spectacular national parks. A wealth of detail of information on wildlife, history, geology and flowers is also included.
A guidebook to walks in the Italian region of Tuscany. 43 graded routes range from 2.5 to 18km, and take in the Renaissance splendour of Florence and Siena, the World Heritage scenery of Val d'Orcia and San Gimignano and the stunning island of Elba. Alongside detailed route descriptions and clear mapping there is essential practical information on public transport and food and drink, as well as a comprehensive list of accommodation, and a useful Italian-English glossary. The guide is packed with interesting details about the area's wildlife, landscape, culture and history, making it a perfect companion to getting to know this beautiful region.
Tuscany is justifiably renowned for its glorious landscapes. Romantic hilltop villages clinging to rolling hills contrast with dense forests, rugged mountains and long, sandy beaches. This is a region that resonates with history – Etruscan remains, Medici villas, Renaissance towns and landscapes that inspired Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Dante. Add in the climate and superb food and wine and you have a perfect walking destination.