Guidebook to walking Hampshire's Test Way, a 44 mile (71km) route from Inkpen Beacon to the Eling Tide Mill near Southampton Water. The walk, which is described over eight stages, takes in many of the region's natural, historical and architectural delights, from the ever famous 'Sprat and Winkle' railway to the River Test itself – a stunning example of the exceedingly rare chalk stream.
Each stage (they range in length from 3 to 8.5 miles) is described clearly and concisely, and is accompanied by 1:50,000 OS mapping. Worth its weight in your backpack, the guide also includes information on the history, geology and landscape of the Test Valley, as well as practical information on accommodation and transport. Additionally, it describes 15 circular walks in the Test Valley, which vary in length from 3.75 miles (6km) to 8.5 miles (13.75km).
The Test Way passes through areas of intriguing history and remarkable natural beauty. There are sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as well as Iron Age hill forts, medieval churches, age old abbeys, relics from a long passed railway era and quaint villages brimming with thatch and flint and individual 'hostelries' to match. It is a walk well suited to history and geology enthusiasts, and certainly a must for anyone interested in the iconic Sprat and Winkle railway.
This guidebook describes the Karnischer Höhenweg, a 170km long-distance walk through the beautiful Carnic Alps which straddle the border between Austria and Italy. Following a high Alpine trail along the main ridge, the route is clearly waymarked and requires a reasonable level of fitness, a sense of adventure and a head for heights, but no special equipment or technical expertise. It can be walked between mid-July and the end of September and takes up to a fortnight, though it is possible to devise shorter itineraries taking in the highlights.
The guide describes the full route of the Karnischer Höhenweg from Arnbach, near Sillian, to Arnoldstein, near Villach, and includes plenty of practical information to help you prepare for the walk. Each stage features comprehensive route description, clear mapping and fascinating insights into the history of the 'war in the mountains' plus other local points of interest. Accommodation listings and other useful contacts can be found in the appendices.
Also known as the Friedensweg ('Peace Trail'), the route follows the First World War front line, and reminders of the conflict are everywhere. But the trail isn't just rich in historical interest: this is Alpine ridge-walking at its best, boasting spectacular mountain vistas and views of the Dolomites, Hohe Tauern and Julian Alps. The guide covers two key variants of the trail, one on the Austrian side of the border, the other on the Italian side. Also included is an optional ascent of Monte Coglians, the highest peak in the Carnic Alps, and a visit to the open-air museum at the Plöckenpass.
A comprehensive guidebook detailing walks in Germany's Bavarian Alps. Lying along the German-Austrian border in a thin sliver of land roughly 300km long, this area contains some of the most spectacular walking and beautiful scenery that Germany has to offer.
70 graded walks explore mountain landscapes, wild mountain gorges and alpine meadows as well as the region's picturesque villages, opulent baroque churches and fairy-tale castles like Neuschwanstein. There is also the northernmost glacier in the Alps (Blaueis), Germany's largest ice cave (Schellenberg) and its highest mountain, the Zugspitze, all visited on walks described in this guide. The walks are divided into six mountain areas, grouped around base towns to make planning a walking holiday as easy as possible. Bases include Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Marquartstein, Inzell, Oberammergau and Ramsau among others.
The walks are mainly between 3 and 8 hours in duration, though some longer walks are included staying at mountain huts. The guidebook gives an outline of two multi-day tours and suggestions for shorter valley walks of less than 3hrs are also included. The Bavarian Alps make an ideal destination for an easy-to-organise and affordable walking holiday.
The Wild Atlantic Way is a driving route along Ireland's Atlantic seaboard, covering over 2,350km of coastline and showcasing the region's breathtaking landscapes. This guide adapts the route for cyclists – and throws in a couple of other highlights (such as the Aran Islands and Killarney) for good measure.
Since relatively few people are likely to have seven weeks to spare for a full Wild Atlantic Way tour, the book presents six self-contained cycle tours, each offering 7-10 days of riding. For the full Wild Atlantic Way experience, these distinct routes can be linked together into a 44-stage trip from Derry/Londonderry to Cork.
Each route includes detailed advice on accommodation and facilities, plus optional detours and shortcuts and points of interest. The routes themselves are presented as 'route cards': ideal for use with a cycle computer, these pages provide 'at a glance' information for when you're on the road, covering navigation, facilities and local highlights. The guide covers all the practicalities – including transport, equipment and general tips on cycling in Ireland.
This guidebook presents 50 half-day and day walks in Mallorca's Serra de Tramuntana, the striking limestone range that stretches along the northwestern flank of the island. Whilst the region promises breathtaking scenery and some fantastic walks, there is also some potentially challenging terrain, making guidance when choosing, planning and walking the routes all the more valuable. As many involve steep ground, navigational challenge and hands-on scrambling, these routes are primarily geared towards those with some experience of mountain walking.
Comprehensive route description is illustrated with 1:25,000 Alpina mapping and each walk includes a statistics box to aid route selection. Useful contacts are listed in the appendix. There is also background information on history, plants and wildlife, plus language notes in native Catalan and Castilian Spanish. The routes are spread across the Serra de Tramuntana, with characterful towns and villages such as Sóller, Deià, Fornalutx, Valldemossa and Pollença serving as potential bases for a walking holiday.
Ranging from 5.5km to 24km, the carefully selected routes showcase the region's rugged limestone peaks, mountain and coastal vistas and rich mountain heritage manifested in numerous drystone constructions, charcoal-burning sites and irrigation systems. Highlights include the lush island of sa Dragonera and the dramatic gorge of Torrent de Pareis. The majority of walks are accessible by public transport and many can be linked, opening up further possibilities for exploration.
A guidebook to walking the Camino Portugués (Portuguese Way), 620km from Lisbon in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The book gives stage-by-stage directions for the Central Camino, starting from Lisbon, Porto or Tui, the Coastal Camino between Porto and Redondela, and the Spiritual Variant route from Pontevedra to Padrón. It also describes link routes that can be used to swap from one route to another.
Detailed route guidance and maps are accompanied by fascinating information about historic and religious sites passed along the way. It is packed with essential information for pilgrims, with advice on getting there, when to go, where to stay and equipment. An indispensable facilities table showing the availability of accommodation, refreshments, supermarkets, ATMs and pharmacies along the route, and a handy glossary, make this the complete guide to the Camino.
Since 1211 Santiago de Compostela has been a place of holy pilgrimage and the Camino Portugués is the second most travelled pilgrim route. The largely rural journey takes in four UNESCO World Heritage Areas – the Knights Templar Castle at Tomar, Portugal's oldest University at Coimbra, and the old towns of Porto and Santiago – culminating at the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela.
This comprehensive guidebook to EuroVelo route 15 offers a detailed stage-by-stage description of the 1370km route along the Rhine, one of Europe's great rivers, passing through six countries on its way from Switzerland to the North Sea. The cycling is easy, downhill and along dedicated cycle lanes, the countries visited are very cycle-friendly and the waymarking is excellent. The whole trip can be completed in two weeks by a fit cyclist.
The guide includes plenty of information to help you plan your trip, with advice on travel, accommodation and facilities. The full route is presented in 27 stages of 32-69km, with step-by-step route description, 1:100,000 mapping and notes on local points of interest. A facilities table, glossary and list of useful contacts can be found in the appendices.
Starting in the Swiss Alps with high mountains, deep glacial valleys and gorges, it soon reaches Europe's third largest lake, the Bodensee, and its greatest mainland waterfall. After Basel, the Rhine becomes a broad river, now the world's busiest river trading artery. The middle Rhine, between Bingen and Koblenz, forces its way through the narrow rocky Rhine gorge, lined by romantic castles perched above Germany's finest vineyards. Finally, the river passes through low-lying Holland, famed for its many flood dykes and windmills.
The 40 walks in this guidebook explore the stunning summer landscapes around Briançon. Walks range from 4 to 21km, and cover the valleys of Clarée, Cerveyrette, Ayes, Durance and Guisane, as well as the area around Vallouise and Montgenèvre. All the routes are circular and graded from easy to very hard, so there are walks to suit all abilities.
Alongside detailed route descriptions and maps, the guidebook provides practical advice on when to visit and the best bases for exploring the region. There are notes on plants and wildlife, and information on the many hill forts in the area. Stunning photographs add to the appeal of this informative guide.
The Briançonnais is a stunning mountain wilderness packed with snow-capped peaks, idyllic Alpine valleys, pastures full of wildflowers, sparkling alpine lakes, historic hill forts and a labyrinth of quiet paths. With a rural charm and a milder climate than the northern Alps, it is a region ripe for discovery, and this guide is the perfect place to start.