This handbook is an inspirational resource to help you discover the thousands of miles of Scotland's spectacular coastline - from its stunning geology and diverse marine and bird life to its coastal history, culture and landmarks. Fishing ports, arts communities, clifftop castles, island hideaways, local legends: all have their place here. With contributions from leading nature writer Jim Crumley, geologist Ronald Turnbull, historian Michael Kerrigan and sailor/poet Ian Stephen - a contemporary bard for our islands - Fi Martynoga adds her own expertise in foraging for seaweeds, shellfish and coastal plants, and exploring the rich flora of our shorelines, from dune grasses to wildflowers. Whether you yearn to watch the sunset or swim from achingly beautiful coves, discover quirky highlights of island life or hints of a prehistoric past, or seek out otters or dolphins, this volume is your indispensable companion.

This climber's handbook contains all the useful information that any climber will need. It presents a clear and straightforward picture to all the climbing facilities and opportunities in the area.

Deciding what user impacts are natural or unnatural has inspired much debate. Biophysically, moose cause similar kinds of soil and vegetation impacts as hikers. Yet moose are the sign of nature while hikers are the sign of damage. The field of outdoor recreation is beset with paradoxes, and this book presents a unique, alternative framework to address these dilemmas. Examining outdoor recreation through the lens of ecological theory, Ryan draws from theorists such as Foucault, Derrida and Latour. The book explores minimum impact strategies designed to protect and enhance ecological integrity, but that also require a disturbing amount of policing of users, which runs counter to the freedom users seek. Recent ecological theory suggests that outdoor recreation's view of nature as balanced when impacts are removed is outdated and incorrect. What is needed, and indeed Ryan presents, is a paradoxical and ecological view of humans as neither natural nor unnatural, a view that embraces some traces in nature.

Classic Day Walks in England & Wales features a selection of 20 of the best day-length hillwalking routes from Vertebrate Publishing's popular series of walking guidebooks. Edited by Jon Barton, this guidebook takes you to the best hiking country in England and Wales: take in Lake District fells, traverse Hadrian's Wall, ramble in the South Downs, enjoy the coastline in Pembrokeshire, or explore Lizard Point in Cornwall. Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and navigation information, and refreshment stops and local information.

Walking in Kent describes 40 circular day walks in the Garden of England. This guidebook includes routes ranging from 5 to 9 miles in west Kent and The Weald and north and east Kent. Encompassing woodland walks, clifftop paths and riverside rambles, there is something for everyone. The guide includes easy-to-follow route descriptions, 1:50K OS map extracts, background information and a route summary table. It also gives outlines of 11 longer walks in the Kent area, including the Darent Valley Way, the Saxon Shore Way and the North Downs Way National Trail. Kent is a wonderfully diverse county and these walks explore every corner, from the estuaries of the Medway and to the vast sweep of the Weald with its historic villages, orchards, hop gardens and vineyards. But best of all, there is the surprise of long unhindered views and big skies over Kent, where Britain begins.

The 130 mile/210km long Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path passes through some of the grandest coastal scenery in Wales--wide sandy bays and estuaries, intimate coves, dramatic cliffs and rocky islets, sand dunes and forests--much of it designated 'An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This Official Guide has been designed to provide all the information needed to plan and walk the coastal path and includes: Information on accommodation, public transport, seasonal closures and tidal restrictions. Twelve day-walk chapter sections with detailed route descriptions and full Ordnance Survey mapping. Fascinating notes on points of interest.

The end of the world is coming. Are you going to be ready when the sh*t goes down? Here's a quick checklist:

Have you dug up your wife's rose garden and built a fallout shelter, equipped with a prison where you can lock up annoying family members?

Have you mapped out an escape route to your safe zone?

Is there a vehicle of death sitting in your garage?

Have you filled your go bag with all the needed instruments, including waterproof matches, postapocalyptic goggles, and at least one sexual party favor?

Have you learned how to milk various types of animals, including a giraffe?

You need this book more than you even know. Without it, you're roadkill. Lucky for you, Forrest Griffin is the perfect apocalyptic chaperone. From spotting the signs of the global downfall to alienating your loved ones "now" so they don't come looking for you "after," to hot-wiring a car to starting a religion in your own image, Griffin provides you with all the hot knowledge you need to survive the downfall of civilization. Simply put, this is the most important book about the apocalypse that you will ever read by a UFC fighter from Georgia.

The 2000km Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome is one of the world's great pilgrim routes, with a history spanning well over a millennium. This guide describes the first section, from Canterbury to Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva, a journey of 1090km passing through England, France and Switzerland. The route is suitable for walkers of all levels of ability, and the section from Canterbury to Besancon is also suitable for cyclists (mountain or hybrid/gravel bike). There are various options for accommodation, ranging from hotels and B&Bs to camping (although it is not essential to carry a tent), and the French section offers a unique opportunity to lodge with host families in welcoming chambres d'hotes. The guide has all the information you need to plan and prepare for a journey on the Via Francigena. You'll find a wealth of detail about facilities on route and accommodation, as well as tips on training, kit, travel and pilgrim credentials. The route is presented in 52 stages of 11 to 39.5km, although the clear presentation of facilities and intermediary distances makes it easy to customise your own itinerary. There are also notes on interesting features passed and local points of interest. Beginning in historic Canterbury, England, with a gentle walk to the White Cliffs of Dover, the Via Francigena crosses the English Channel before turning inland to the rolling French countryside, site of WWI battlefields and charming French villages and towns. After visiting two of France's most beautiful medieval cathedrals, it passes through forests to the hilltop fortress of Langres. Besancon offers al-fresco dining in the city's historic plazas before the route continues, following the Loue River to its mountainous source. The unforgettable Gorge de l'Orbe of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland leads to the section's finish-point on the shores of Lake Geneva in beautiful, cosmopolitan Lausanne. Celebrating the diversity of the countries through which it passes and offering an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in Europe's beautiful landscapes and experience their culture, this is truly an international journey that will linger long in memory.

The 54 walks in this guidebook explore the popular region around Mont Blanc. These routes showcase the best mountain walking to be found on both the French and the Italian sides of the Mont Blanc massif. The 50 contrasting day walks (3-20km) range from high-level walks to easy summits, mountain huts, viewpoints and mountain lakes, as well as less strenuous valley walks. Also included are four multi-day treks: Vallorcine to Plaine Joux, Vallorcine to Servoz, the Tour of the Aiguilles Rouges and a circuit of the Italian Val Ferret. Walks are organised according to the nearest town base: St Gervais les Bains and Les Contamines, Servoz and Plateau D'Assy, Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentiere, Vallorcine and Courmayeur. Walks are Graded 1 to 3: grade 1 walks are manageable by any reasonably fit person on good, usually waymarked paths, while grade 3 routes are long, tough routes, often without waymarking, making navigation difficult: there could also be some scrambling. Additionally there is often a valley walk that can be done whatever the weather, or on rest days, with children, by bike, or as a run. All routes feature a detailed route description and mapping.

South Africans are world-renowned for their love of extreme endurance sporting activities and their ability to organise world-class events. Some of these events are recognised as the oldest, largest and toughest in the world. Held in locations that range from rugged coastlines, lush green valleys, berg, bush and dessert, they offer some of the most scenic countryside to be found worldwide. Each year, thousands of competitors pit themselves against the elements and test their mettle to take part in many of South Africa`s hardest physical challenges. From the cold of the highest mountains to the unforgiving heat of the desert, by foot, water or bike seemingly ordinary people take on these endurance sporting events. Whether seeking to prove themselves as athletes, or attempting to escape the humdrum, one thing they all have in common is an unbreakable drive to test the very limits of their endurance. South Africa`s Toughest and Most Scenic Endurance Sporting Events, profiles 40 of the country`s toughest, unique, iconic and most scenic trail runs, marathons, swimming, off-shore and trans ocean sailing, canoeing, surf skiing, cycling, mountain biking, off-road motorcycling, off-shore ridged hull and multi-sports events. Breath-taking photographs and detailed information about each event will thrill endurance athletes, extreme sports addicts, and outdoor adventurers of all types and disciplines.

For generations of resolute adventurers, from George Mallory to Sir Edmund Hillary to Jon Krakauer, Mount Everest and the world's other greatest peaks have provided the ultimate testing ground. But the question remains: Why climb? In High Exposure, elite mountaineer and acclaimed Everest filmmaker David Breashears answers with an intimate and captivating look at his life.

For Breashears, climbing has never been a question of risk taking: Rather, it is the pursuit of excellence and a quest for self-knowledge. Danger comes, he argues, when ambition blinds reason. The stories this world-class climber and great adventurer tells will surprise you -- from discussions of competitiveness on the heights to a frank description of the 1996 Everest tragedy.

This guidebook describes 30 circular day walks in the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, taking in the rich variety of landscapes across this beautiful area of South Wales. Ranging from 2.5 to 14 miles long, there are walks to suit all abilities. The peninsula is famous for its spectacularly steep, rugged coastline and perfect golden sand beaches but this guide also takes walkers to the inland valleys, hills and ridges little explored by most holidaymakers. Many of the routes combine a section of coastal path, which may visit a secluded cove or wide-sweeping beach, with a ridge offering stunning panoramic views or with a tranquil stream valley. All avoid road-walking wherever possible. Coastal areas such as those around Langland, Oxwich and Port Eynon are well frequented, but this guidebook concentrates on places where walkers can escape the crowds to find peace and solitude in this exceptionally beautiful and unspoilt area. Route descriptions are illustrated with 1:50,000 OS mapping extracts and inspiring photography and accompanied by a route summary table to help you choose walks to suit your location and ability. Along the way, the author provides a wealth of information on the plants, animals, geology, history and archaeology of a region with something for everyone, all within a compact area easily accessible from Swansea and Mumbles.

This comprehensive book is an excellent planning resource for those who wish to venture into the Swiss Alps. Whether you are planning a walk, scramble, climb or ski tour this larger format guide describes each mountain area throughout Switzerland - the peaks, passes, valleys and bases - to help readers identify the best destinations for their chosen mountain activity. Dozens of individual valleys are described, together with the mountains that wall them, with recommendations given for their finest walks, treks and climbs. Working eastwards across the country, this guide is divided into seven chapters: Chablais Alps, Pennine Alp, Lepontine and Adula Alps, Bernina, Bregaglia and Albula Alps, Bernese Alps, Central Swiss Alps and the Silvretta and Ratikon Alps, each devoted to a specific range or group of connecting ranges. However, this is not a route guide and detailed descriptions are not provided. The aim of the book is to inspire as well as inform; to show first-time visitors just what the Swiss Alps have to offer and provide a new perspective for those who have been before.

The Joy of Climbing is the result of a search through Britain, Europe and America for the esoteric gems at the easier end of climbing. This special selection demonstrates the sheer fun and enjoyment of climbing. The articles have been especially chosen to provide a stimulating but achievable challenge, whether on a climb itself or appreciating the moves from the comfort of an armchair. In his writing, Terry adopts a variety of styles, resulting in a blend that enhances the dramatic nature of the subject and provides the reader with both the lyrical and the unexpected.

In 1976, areas of the great mountain regions remained unknown and acute mountain sickness was a medical mystery waiting to be explored. Into this arena stepped the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society. It was formed by a group of young doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and its members were looking for excitement. They were inquisitive, energetic and fearless. Having gathered ideas and borrowed some medical equipment, they took a plane to Kathmandu. From there they trekked to the north side of Annapurna, exploring and testing the effects of low oxygen levels on their bodies and minds. there has been a further twelve expeditions since, all investigating the effects of low oxygen on the human body. This book is a recollection of those expeditions.

This brand new title is one of two concurrent additions to the updated series of Paul Hannon's 'Short Scenic Walks' guidebooks. The principle feature is that all walks are less than five miles in length, offering a perfect half day's stroll for families, casual walkers and all who want to enjoy a leisurely exploration of Britain's outstanding country landscapes. A range of enhancements include a wider geographical spread, with this book including the area covered in the now superceded 'Around Pendle'. This title is based around the absorbing countryside of East Lancashire, from Pendle Hill around to the West Pennine Moors. Starting from villages such as Barley, Rivington, Hurstwood and Belmont, the book's many highlights include the delights of Newchurch, Winter Hill, Thieveley Pike, Haslingden Grane and Wycoller Dean. In addition to being more visually appealing than their predecessors, with a more modern house style, this new series offers 30 walks rather than 20, and these more substantial books feature a full spine rather than wire-stitched binding. Over 30 colour photographs depict features and landscapes along the routes. Published at the same time is 'Arnside & Lunesdale'

See through the eyes of the Brontes as you immerse yourself in their lives and landscapes, wandering the very same paths they each would have walked in search of the inspiration behind their novels and poetry. An 'imaginative and elegant trek through the landscape of the Brontes' Grazia In his journey to get closer to the Brontes, award-winning author Michael Stewart began walking the historic paths they trod while writing their most famous works. From Liverpool to Scarborough, across wild, windy, and often unforgiving scenery, he discovered echoes of the siblings' novels. And with the help of an unlikely cast of Yorkshire's inhabitants, Michael found himself falling further into their lives and writings than he could ever have imagined. Vivid and evocative, and including a series of beautiful maps of walks Michael devised when creating the iconic Bronte Stones project, Walking the Invisible invites you to experience the lives and landscapes that inspired the Brontes as they've never been experienced before. Along the way, you'll find yourself getting closer to classics such as Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and Agnes Grey, discovering the real locations behind their fictional settings, and uncovering the myths that surround this much acclaimed and wholly unique family.

"Preposterous Tales" captures an energy charged tour of the globe by two of Britain's best known and most colourful climbers. Having honed their rock and ice skills on home turf, Neil Gresham and Tim Emmett set out on a crusade which landed them in scrapes in such unlikely destinations as Mongolia, Cuba, Brazil, Quebec and Vietnam. This is an inspiring and uninhibited celebration of climbing at its most diverse.