By the late 1880s, after more than two centuries of European presence at the Cape, only eight routes led up Table Mountain. Thousands had climbed to the summit via the gash in the face of the mountain known as Platteklip Gorge, yet vast tracts remained unexplored. Only with the formation of the Mountain Club of South Africa in 1891 did climbers begin a systematic exploration in their quest for new routes.

Lines of Least Resistance tells the story of Table Mountain through its 101 hiking and scrambling routes. Drawing on his intimate knowledge and experience of the mountain, Riaan Vorster pays tribute to the early pioneers by examining their routes, clearing the sands of time from those which have slipped into oblivion. No two routes are alike; each possesses unique qualities that reveal something of the mountain’s character.

Written from a personal as well as historical perspective, the book takes the reader on a journey of discovery along the highways and byways of Table Mountain.

Ideal for independent travellers, this guidebook to Mexico, written by Mexico experts, goes beyond the basics. It blends must-see sights with hidden gems and offers unmatched practical guidance for seamless planning and on-the-go exploration. Packed with in-depth advice often missing from other guides, it helps you navigate with ease. From using public transport to discovering the best dining, accommodations, and local experiences, this guide covers it all. Every detail you need for a smooth and enriching journey.

Batsford's Walking Guides is an exciting new gift series of walking books, aimed at the weekend, family walker. These small-format, portable, hardback books have an attractive retro feel, with nostalgic line drawings and hand-drawn maps. Each of the 20 walks have been carefully selected to appeal to family walkers, most are circular and none are too strenuous. Each walk contains the following: Clear, easy-to-follow route directions Detailed hand-drawn maps Refreshments and pubs Parking information OS map references In addition, each walk contains information on wildlife, or other special attractions to watch out for while walking. The ideal gift for anyone wanting to explore the countryside within easy reach of London.

The Climbing Bible: Practical Exercises by Martin Mobråten and Stian Christophersen is a collection of exercises specifically designed to help you train technique and strength so that you can develop and improve as a climber. After two decades of climbing, training and coaching, the authors have built up a huge library of exercises, and they share many of them with you in this book. The first section focuses on your technique, with emphasis on footwork, grip positions, balance, direction of force and dynamics, among other things. The second section features exercises to help you train strength and power – with on-the-wall exercises, finger strength and fingerboarding exercises, arm exercises and more. Also included is a section for children and young climbers to help their parents and coaches create great sessions for kids. This chapter presents games, technique exercises and physical training ideas for children. Illustrated with over 200 technique and action photos, and with insights from the authors and other top climbers, The Climbing Bible: Practical Exercises will inspire you to try new exercises in every training session. Keep it in your climbing wall bag, cover it in chalk and embrace the variety so easily found in climbing.

Our authors have chosen 15 of the best short walks around the Surrey Hills for you to explore. Our guide comes with easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps and clear route descriptions, perfect if you're new to walking or are looking for something you can enjoy with the whole family. We've included information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops, and most of the walks can be completed in under 3 hours. We haven't included any walks with challenging terrain or complicated navigation, and all you'll need to take with you are a waterproof jacket and a pair of comfortable trainers.

All the mapping you need to walk the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail that runs for 177 miles along the English-Welsh border between Sedbury (near Chepstow) and Prestatyn on the north Wales Coast. NOTE An accompanying Cicerone guidebook - Offa's Dyke Path - describes the full route from south to north with lots of other practical and historical information. The accompanying guidebook INCLUDES a copy of this map booklet. This booklet of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps is conveniently sized for slipping into a jacket pocket or top of a rucksack. It shows the full and up-to-date line of the Offa's Dyke Path, along with the relevant extract from the OS Explorer map legend.

This attractive and cleverly structured guidebook gives dog walkers access to 20 of the finest walks in the west region (Hampshire) of the South Downs National Park. The book is the third in a series of three books covering the National Park. Areas included are: Liss Forest, Petersfield, Butser Hill, West Meon, Droxford, Beacon Hill, Avington, Itchen Way and Old Winchester Hill. With clear information, an introduction for each walk and simple, easy-to-read maps, this beautiful book will appeal to all who want to venture out into the countryside with their dogs. The walks are for all levels of fitness and abilities and having no stiles ensures a hassle free walk for both dog and owner. Both authors are experienced walkers, qualified in mountain leadership and countryside management.

""It's not so surprising that on the day of my fifth wedding anniversary I would be crouched in the open door of an airplane, thirteen thousand feet above the Colorado plains, about to jump out. That coincidence of timing really wasn't.""
Steph Davis is a superstar in the climbing community and has ascended some of the world's most awe-inspiring peaks. But when her husband makes a controversial climb in a national park, the media fallout--and the toll it takes on her marriage--suddenly leaves her without a partner, a career, a source of income . . . or a purpose.
In the company of only her beloved dog, Fletch, Davis sets off on a search for a new identity and discovers skydiving. Though falling out of an airplane is completely antithetical to the climber's control she'd practiced for so long, she turns each daring jump into an opportunity to fly, first as a skydiver, then as a base jumper, and finds herself indelibly changed. As she opens herself to falling, she also finds the strength to open herself to love again, even in the wake of heartbreak. And before too long, she fortuitously meets someone who shares her passions.
"Learning to Fly "is Davis's fascinating account of her transformation. From her early tentative skydives, to zipping into her first wingsuit, to surviving devastating accidents against the background of breathtaking cliffs, to soaring beyond her past limits, she discovers new hope and joy in letting go. "Learning to Fly "isn't just an adventure but a woman's story of risk-taking and self-discovery, with love at its heart.

This guidebook to mountain biking routes in West and North West Scotland describes 25 MTB routes north of the Great Glen, Covering a large geographical area, including Fort William, Rannoch Moor, Glen Spean, Ben Nevis, Sutherland, Torridon and Skye, the routes give a real flavour of the variety of different bike riding available. The routes range from 19.5km to 73.25km, graded moderate to very hard. Many are long and committing, so good preparation and fitness are essential, and in some cases a willingness to "hike and bike". Each route has a clear and detailed route description along with 1:50,000 OS mapping and a height profile. All routes have key information, including distance on and off-road, ascent, grade, time and the nearest pub and cafe. There is also advice on equipment, planning and preparation, and maintenance, before you hit the trails. Scotland is rightly regarded as one of the world's top mountain bike destinations, with magnificent riding and stunning scenery. From the self-proclaimed Outdoor Capital of the UK, Fort William, to the majesty of the Outdoor Hebrides, this guide you will access some of the wildest and remote parts of Scotland, offering scintillating single track, challenging descents, incredible mountain vistas and many rewarding days in the saddle.

Guidebook to 30 day walks in the West Pennine Moors, the wide open country between Blackburn, Darwen, Chorley and Bolton in the heart of northern England. Walks range between 2.5 and 9 miles in length, and from short, easy rambles to challenging hikes. The West Pennine Moors cover over 80 square miles of wild and diverse landscape. The area is rich in historical heritage, including historic houses, monuments such as Holcombe Tower and Jubilee Tower, and other reminders of the industrial revolution. The walks are described step-by-step clearly illustrated with OS map extracts and colour photographs, with lots of information on local history and geology explained along the way.

This guidebook provides 45 day walks in the Scottish Borders. Separated into six sections, these walks are divided between the north and south Cheviots, Tweed, Ettrick, Moffat and Manor hills and feature main centres including Wooler, Kelso, Melrose, Peebles and Moffat. The guide's seventh section outlines long distance routes, including a walk along the Border from Gretna to Berwick-on-Tweed. The Scottish Borders are rich in both history and geology. These walks explore many historical sites, from Iron Age forts on hillsides to bastles and towers dating from the Border Reivers era. The stunning and varied scenery is a result of complex geological processes; a visit to Dobb's Linn showcases preserved fossils, while the coastline at St Abbs Head features iconic folded rock formations which are home to a myriad of birds including guillemots. Each walk features 1:50,000 OS mapping, comprehensive route description and plenty of information about points of interest along the route. The walks are graded and can be easily customised with alternative start points, route variants and shortcuts. The guide's introduction offers plenty of practical information about how to get there and where to stay, while the appendices list useful contacts and tourist information centres.

Knots is a handy guide to tying purposeful knots. If you need to handcuff a burglar, lasso a steer, escape from an asylum or tie a perfect bowtie, this is the guide for you. Fifty effective knots that can be used for a variety of purposes are highlighted. Knots is a great resource of portable information and is ideal for field use by both novices and experts. Made in the USA.www.waterfordpress.com

A guidebook to 43 circular day walks covering the northern and eastern Yorkshire Dales. The walks range between 3 and 11.5 miles in length, and there are suggestions for devising longer days by combing routes. Step by step route directions include lots of information about the area, and each walk is illustrated with clear OS mapping and vibrant photographs. From Pateley Bridge and Aysgarth in the East to Kirkby Stephen and Richmond in the north, each valley has a character and history of its own and this guide covers the varied fell and dale landscapes of the Howgills, Mallerstang, Swaledale, Wensleydale, Coverdale and Nidderdale. The north and eastern regions of the Yorkshire Dales are full of wild, rugged fell tops carved by limestone crags, deep scooped-out dales with lonely farms far from villages, the ruins of medieval castles as well as the warm bustle of Dales villages and good pubs. The Howgills north of Sedbergh have a different look, with their wide domes, steep sides and long miles of grassy ridges.

Women's London is the only guidebook that focuses on the women who have shaped London through the centuries and the legacy they have left behind. This new book provides the perfect opportunity to explore sights, statues, plaques and buildings associated with famous and some not so famous women who have left their mark on London's heritage, culture and society. Their stories include scientists and suffragettes, reformers and royals, military and medical pioneers, authors and artists, fashion and female firsts ... and more. The author, a popular London tour guide and lecturer, specialises in women's history and has provided a series of original self-guided walking tours taking you to historic areas where important women lived, worked and are commemorated. Illustrated with new full-colour photography and specially commissioned maps, Women's London will inspire visitors and Londoners alike to discover how much London owes to women.

With over 400 miles of mainland coastline and an excellent public path network, Cornwall is all about rugged shorelines, gorgeous sandy beaches, turquoise waters, meandering rivers and wide open countryside. Add to the mix a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna, interesting geology, fascinating history and some of the most striking views in the country and you have one of England's best regions to explore on foot. In these 40 walks all between two and eight miles in length Keith Fergus leads you through some of the best rambles Cornwall has to offer. Although the terrain followed varies, and can be hilly, most of the walks are on well-established paths making navigation straightforward and suitable for families.