The Cairngorms cover 300 sq miles, making it the most mountainous area in Britain, with an equally wide range of wildlife. The native pine forest, one of the final retreats of the red squirrel, supports small, uncommon birds like crested tits, redwings and crossbills. Loch Garten is the RSPB osprey breeding site where in summer the birds fly over a considerable tract of country in search of food. In scenic contrast, there is also an ascent to the summit of Carn Daimh, part of the Speyside Way, with its splendid panorama of the countryside surrounding Glenlivet.

This guidebook to walking along the Kennet & Avon Canal covers the 94 mile (152km) route from Reading to Bristol. The canal walk is split into 7 stages of fairly easy, level walking, of between 93/4 and 181/2 miles, with advice on splitting on shortening the stages if needed. The book also includes 20 easy circular walks, ranging from 41/4 to 9 miles, taking in the best sections of the canal and visiting sites nearby, making this two guidebooks in one. Alongside OS map extracts and detailed route descriptions, there are plenty of details on the history, heritage and wildlife encountered along the way. An itinerary planner is included for walkers who want to create longer or shorter stages, and there is useful practical information including details on accessing the walks by public transport and a list of accommodation available along the route. The result is a highly useful and fascinating companion to exploring the canal and its surroundings. In the early 1800s the Kennet and Avon Canal provided an important direct trade route between London and Bristol. Today the waterway weaves its way through the rolling chalk contours of the North Wessex Downs to the southern edge of the Cotswolds, passing vibrant towns and cities as well as picture-postcard villages with thatched cottages, ancient churches and cosy pubs. Fascinating features - such as Crofton Pumping Station and Beam Engines, the impressive Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes, the aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgian Bath and Bristol's vibrant Floating Harbour - are explored as the canal makes its journey across southern England.

This guidebook describes 33 half- and full day walks on the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. The routes range from 2.5-30km, beginning with a short heritage trail around the city of Valletta. Then follows a series of walks around the coastline of Malta, with a final few moving inland to explore the island's interior, before a description of the Heritage Trail around Mdina and Rabat. Walks on Gozo start with a heritage trail around Victoria, followed by a clockwise exploration of spectacular coastal walking that allows a complete circuit of the island. The final walk on Gozo wanders over a series of little hills further inland, while the last walk in the book might be the best of them all: a circuit around the lovely little island of Comino. The guidebook also gives details of accommodation, transport and tourist information. Malta may be known as a tourist destination, but it also offers plenty of historic walks, stunningly beautiful and dramatic architecture and excellent scenery, especially around the cliffs and coastlines.

In August 1979 twenty-seven-year-old Mike Trueman set sail from the south-west coast of Wales, en route to Cornwall. The young army helicopter pilot was helping to move his friend's yacht from Northern Ireland to the south coast of England. But as they sailed out into the Irish Sea, the sky turned progressively darker and the winds gathered pace. Over the next twenty-four hours the two young sailors battled to survive force-10 gales in what became known as the Fastnet disaster and which claimed the lives of fifteen sailors off the coast of Ireland.Almost seventeen years later, Trueman was at Camp 2 at 6,400 metres on Mount Everest as the May 1996 tragedy unfolded high above him. As stricken guides, clients and Sherpas tried to survive the fierce storms which engulfed the upper mountain, Trueman was able to descend and - using his twenty-four years of experience as an officer in the British Army - coordinate the rescue effort from Base Camp. The Storms is the remarkable memoir of a British Army Gurkha officer. Trueman, a veteran of twenty expeditions to the Himalaya, gives a candid account of life inside expeditions to the highest mountain in the world. He gives a unique personal perspective on the 1996 Everest storm, as well as on the fateful day in May 1999 when Briton Mike Matthews disappeared high on the mountain after he and Trueman had summited.

A walking guide to climbing the 253 summits in England which reach the height of 2000ft (Nuttalls) in a series of 58 walks. The summits that achieve this height (and rise above their surroundings by at least 50ft) are described by region, from the Lake District to the Chevoits, on to the North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales, and finally to the Peak District and Dartmoor. They include some of England's most famous peaks, such as Blencathra, Great Gable and Coniston Old Man in the Lake District, and Kinder Scout in the Peak District, but also some with no name on the OS maps. All these ascents take the walker into some of the most beautiful hillwalking areas of England and provide a lifetime's challenge and enjoyment.

Following the success of "A Pocket Guide to Snowdonia's best Mountain Walks" published in 2007, Mara Books have launched Carl Rogers' new book "Mountain and Hill Walking in Snowdonia", a two-volume in-depth pocket sized guide to mountain walks in the Snowdonia National Park. Every hill group in the National Park is covered in detail and the book is lavishly illustrated in full colour with the author's photographs and relief maps. Volume 2 covers the lesser-known southern half of Snowdonia - Moelwynion, Rhinogydd, Arenig, Arans, Cadair Idris and Dyfi hills, as well as outlying areas like the Tarrens, Snowdonia's southern-most summits, and the Berwyns, lying just outside the National Park boundary. Every summit of note in Snowdonia is covered by at least one route, all the routes are full-day circular walks and include some low-end scrambles. The routes are a mix of well known 'classic rounds' such as the Snowdon Horseshoe and Moel Siabod, as well as many lesser-known routes and summits. Each route is described in detail and is accompanied by a full colour relief map as well as information on official parking, distances and height gained.

This new title is one of the first two in an 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, in this case featuring the entire North York Moors National Park. The walks include such iconic landmarks as Robin Hood's Bay, Rievaulx Abbey, Goathland, Farndale, Roseberry Topping and the White Horse of Kilburn. 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 `Short Scenic Walks - Harrogate & Nidderdale', a merging of two popular titles which are now out of print. All these walks have been fully revised.

Much of central Dartmoor is an uninhabited wilderness almost free of villages, farms, trees and roads making it outstanding environmental value. From this mass rise Dartmoor's rivers, including the Lyd, Tavy, East and West Dart, Bovey, Teign, Taw and Okement, nearly all of which flow southwards to the English Channel. The large numbers of tors that dominate Dartmoor are the remnants of hard masses of granite, drastically reduced in size and moulded into their present shapes by millions of years of weatherings. Bowerman's Nose, Hound Tor and Haytor Rocks are famous examples included on these walks.

Though labelled Volume One, this is the second to be published (Nov 2007) of a new series to the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. "The Sandstone Outcrops of the Forest of Dean" by Martin Crocker appeared in 2006, and a new Symonds Yat guide, including also the central Forest quarries and the Cotswolds, should follow in two or three years' time.The 432 pages are printed in full colour throughout in the new Climbers' Club guidebook design, and the book is generously illustrated with maps, photodiagrams, and a wide selection of action photos.The guide has been compiled by a mixed team of experienced Wye Valley hands and younger activists, and the work has incorporated not only a radical reassessment of virtually all the climbs but also substantial cleaning and regearing of all those considered worthwhile. This operation was spearheaded by the GO Wall Restoration Project undertaken by Martin Crocker in late 2005 (funded by the Access and Conservation Trust, and The Climbers' Club Colin Kirkus Guidebook Fund).The Lower Wye crags (Wynd Cliff, Wintour's Leap, Ban-y-gor, Tintern Quarry, Shorn Cliff) now offer a huge variety of excellent climbing: trad routes in all grades from Moderate to E6 and sport climbs from F4 to F7c+. The sport climb descriptions are printed on a pale orange-coloured background for quick recognition, while the unrecommended and unrestored routes are set on a light grey background.A complete set of new path and crag-base maps for Wintour's Leap and Shorn Cliff has been surveyed by members of the team and redrawn inimitably by Don Sargeant. It is hoped that these will mitigate the notorious problems people sometimes experience locating the buttresses and climbs amongst the trees at these two crags.There is a brief historical overview in the usual slot after the Introduction, and there are a number of mini crag historicals printed on yellow panels throughout the book. However, the main and more detailed threads are woven into the first ascents list, now entitled Chronology (this latter may be a feature also in some future CC guides).The usual index of climbs is brightened up by the inclusion of thumbnail-type replicas of all the main action photos, and there is also an index of crags and crag features with replicas of the photodiagrams.

One of the series of books in the new Top 10 Walks: Wales Coast Path series. Handy, pocket-sized, full colour walking guides written by experts. Each volume outlines the most popular circular walks along key sections of the coast path. With clear information, an overview and introduction for each walk, expertly written numbered directions, enhanced Ordnance Survey maps, superb, eye-grabbing panoramic photographs, and interpretation of points of interest along the way, these guides set a new standard in reliability, clarity and ease-of-use. Featured walks include: Marloes Peninsula, Dale Head, Angle Peninsula, Freshwater West & Angle, Elegug Stacks & the Range, Broad Haven & Bosherston, Stackpole Estate, Manorbier, Tenby & Giltar Point and Colby Woodland Garden.

Foreword by Levison Wood, presenter of Walking the Americas. A comprehensive, fascinating and inspiring gallery of the great adventures that changed our world. Throughout history there have been brave men and women who dared to go where few had gone before. They broke new ground by drawing on incredible reserves of courage, fortitude and intelligence in the face of terrible adversity. Their endeavours changed the world and inspired generations. Spanning several centuries and united by the common theme of the resilience of the human spirit, this is the ultimate collection of the stories of the intrepid explorers who forged new frontiers across land, sea, skies and space. 50 incredible journeys including; * Tenzing and Hillary's conquest of Everest * Neil Armstrong's giant leap * Christopher Columbus' new world * Amelia Earhart flying the Atlantic * gold fever in the Yukon * the hunt for a man-eating leopard in India Great Expeditions includes not only some of the most famous journeys in history but also introduces many more that ought to be more widely recognised and celebrated.

OS Explorer is the Ordnance Survey's most detailed map and is recommended for anyone enjoying outdoor activities like walking, horse riding and off-road cycling. The OS Explorer range of OL maps now includes a digital version of the paper map, accessed through the OS smartphone app, OS Maps. Providing complete GB coverage the series details essential information such as youth hostels, pubs and visitor information as well as rights of way, permissive paths and bridleways.

A guidebook to the rich mix of summer scrambling, rock climbing and winter mountaineering on Scotland's ridges, from the remote Cairngorms to the splendour of the Cuillin. Graceful carved walkways slung between summits, twisted spines of stone - ridges can be the most beautiful of mountain landforms. With elegant lines and giddy exposure, ridge climbs emit a powerful siren call, drawing us out onto the rocks. Life on the edge has a special quality, born of the contrast of empty space all around, and intricate detail in close-up. The crests are strangely irresistible. Scotland's ridges are among the finest mountaineering lines in the country, every one a unique adventure. The variety of these routes reflects the breadth of the mountain experience: a rich mix of summer scrambles, technical rock and challenging winter climbs. This book covers both the popular classics and some obscure gems, aiming to celebrate these thrilling climbs as much as to document them. Along the way it explores landscapes of magnificent diversity, ranging from the remote desolation of the Cairngorms to the seaside splendour of the Cuillin, the great trench of Glencoe to the surreal exhibitionism of the far north. The chosen selection spans the grade range, with routes to suit all levels of ability. Whether an earthbound hillwalker or an accomplished climber, Scotland's ridges cannot fail to stir your imagination.

This guidebook describes 35 varied day walks in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in southern England, which stretches through Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. The routes range from 4 to 12 miles and cover fairly low-level terrain, and although some have several, sometimes steep, climbs and descents, they should be suitable for most walkers. The walks take you on a journey through this classic Chiltern landscape that has been shaped by human activity for thousands of years, visiting interesting historic sites, colourful gardens and picture-postcard villages with thatched cottages, fascinating churches and cosy pubs. Step-by-step route directions include lots of information about all these sites along the way, and are illustrated with clear OS mapping and vibrant photographs. There is also information on the region's rich geology, history and plantlife, as well as advice on accommodation, transport and refreshments. The Chiltern Hills follow a line of chalk from the River Thames at Goring up to the Barton Hills just west of Hitchin, boasting great views from the north west edge and, on the south east side, a more intimate undulating landscape of rounded hills and valleys, covered in a mix of broadleaved woodland and open farmland. Despite its relative proximity to London, the region abounds in peace and tranquility, making it an idyllic destination for a day's walk in the countryside.

The Isle of Skye (or Ant-Eilean Sgitheanach in its native Gaelic tongue) occupies an almost mythical place in the minds of many Scots. Romantic castles, magnificent sea-scapes, the alpine peaks of the Cuillin Ridge, marching pipe bands, scattered white crofters' cottages and a bloody history; the island has all these and more. This book features 40 moderate walks that take in much of this celebrated landscape, but reveal hidden gems too. In spite of its popularity Skye is still rich in undiscovered treasures, from coastal caves and arches, ruined villages cruelly cleared of their inhabitants, to fossilised dinosaur footprints and a rich array of wildlife. Written by Skye residents Paul and Helen Webster, these walks will reveal both the wild and gentler sides of this dramatic landscape.

The Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-2999ft mountains) are every bit as interesting as the Munros (3000ft and over), often clear when the Munros are in cloud, walkable on short winter days and free of the peak-bagging crowds of their taller neighbours. Walking the Corbetts is divided into two volumes. This guide covers the Corbetts to the south of the Great Glen, which runs from Fort William to Inverness and includes the Southern Uplands, Southern Highlands, Cairngorms and also the islands of Arran and Jura. Choosing the best, rather than the quickest routes up each summit the author covers 112 Corbetts described in 95 routes, illustrated with custom 1:100,000 mapping. South of Glasgow and Edinburgh are the moorland hills of the Southern Uplands, where seven peaks rise to Corbett status. In the Southern Highlands plenty of interesting Corbetts provide spectacular views of the Munros with easy access from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Corbetts of the Eastern Highlands and the Monadhliath Mountains sit in sprawling heather plateaus, ideal for those seeking solitude. The South-West Highlands is known for its rocky peaks in places like Glen Coe and the highlights are probably Arran and Jura, with their similarly rocky and isolated summits.

This guide offers 40 walking routes on the Uists and Barra - a unique 100km cluster of islands in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. The walks are varied and graded, from short, flat beach walks beside crystal clear waters to long excursions across wild mountainous terrain, the routes visit all the major islands from Berneray to Vatersay but also those smaller and offshore such as Eriskay and Mingulay. Routes are described in four sections, by area, and illustrated with vivid colour photographs and OS mapping. Walking across these landscapes, especially the hill country, gives a sense of remoteness and peaceful solitude that cannot be found in the mainland's National Parks or on the Munros busy with peak baggers. Despite a relatively narrow area, Uist and Barra's diverse islands offer a contrasting walking terrain and many ancient historic sites such as chambered cairns and standing stones as well as lots of local wildlife. Upland areas are home to red deer and golden and white-tailed eagles, while along the coast grey seals are common and thousands of birds set up their breeding grounds in the machair. Daily flights between Glasgow and Benbecula as well as the ferry network mean that all of the islands are readily accessible.

On eight treks in Nepal's Himalaya; to Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Annapurna, Everest, Langtang, Dolpo, Api and Mugu, the true spirit of trekking is captured in Kev Reynolds' reverence, curiosity and ongoing love of the world's greatest mountain range. The Himalaya are no ordinary mountains. Stretching through five countries and dwarfing all others, they have captured the imaginations of travellers and mountain lovers for centuries. While some seek to reach their snowy heights, many more step out onto winding and climbing trails to trek through the heart of the mountains, and live - if only for a little while - the life of an adventurer. The first time a trail is explored offers unknown beauty and fresh experience around every turn. This is Kev Reynolds' collection of eight such discoveries along popular trails and into lands previously locked away. Brought to life in vivid style, Reynolds evokes the scent of fragrant rhododendron jungles and travelling past terraced fields, hillside villages and ancient temples. Then exploring into hidden valleys beyond the reach of civilization, and on to towering, ice-locked peaks that scratch the sky. All proceeds from sales of this book will be donated to the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.

This is a dual language (English and French) rock climbing guide to the Mont Ventoux area in the Avignon region of Southern France. The South of France with its excellent record of fine weather and superb quality limestone cliffs, has always been one of the most popular climbing destinations in Europe. This is a highly modern and up-to-date topo guidebook, with over 1000 routes from beginners 3a's up to an 8c's, and will suit anyone going on holiday, and at any time of the year. With over 200 colour photos and 100 colour topos that evocatively illustrate both the climbing and the region, this book will be the ideal holiday companion for anyone that seeks sunshine and climbing.

'Enthusiastic, pleasingly madcap' Geographical Adventure - something that's new and exhilarating, outside your comfort zone. Adventures change you and how you see the world, and all you need is an open mind, bags of enthusiasm and boundless curiosity. So what's a microadventure? It's close to home, cheap, simple, short and 100% guaranteed to refresh your life. A microadventure takes the spirit of a big adventure and squeezes it into a day or even a few hours. The point of a microadventure is that you don't need lots of time and money to meet a new challenge. This practical guide is filled with ideas for microadventures - for you to experience on your own or with friends and family - and over 150 stunning photographs, plus tips and advice on safety and kit. Whether it's sleeping on a hilltop or going for a wild swim, cycling a lap of the Isle of Wight or walking home for Christmas, it's time you discovered something new about yourself and the world outside your window. Adventure is everywhere, every day and it is up to us to find it.

Baffies, the entertainments convenor of the Go-Take-a-Hike Mountaineering Club, is allergic to exertion, prone to lassitude, suffers from altitude sickness above 600m, blisters easily and bleeds readily. Think the Munros are too difficult? Think again. Baffies' Easy Munro Guide is the first of a series of reliable rucksack guides to some of the more easily tackled Munros. Twenty-five routes, each covering one main Munro, all with detailed maps and full colour throughout - this lightly humorous and opinionated book will tell you everything you need to reach the summit. Thousands of people each year attempt to conquer the Munros. This guide allows beginners and those looking for a less strenuous challenge to join in. It is perfect for anyone exploring Scotland's beautiful mountains, whatever his or her level of experience.

The Cateran Trail is a circular waymakred walk which runs from the town of Blairgowrie for 64 miles (103km) through the hills and glens of eastern Perthshire and Angus. This revised 2nd edition includes new maps of the whole route based on OS data. Compact and concise, it is packaged in a durable slipcase and thus ideal for walkers. For every copy of this map sold, a donation goes towards the practical management of The Cateran Trail.