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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Active outdoor pursuits
In 1909, while dreaming of the Himalaya, Norwegian mountaineer Alf
Bonnevie Bryn and a fellow young climber, the Australian George
Ingle Finch, set their sights on Corsica to build their experience.
The events of this memorable trip form the basis of Bryn's
acclaimed book Tinder og banditter - 'Peaks and Bandits', with
their boisterous exploits delighting Norwegian readers for
generations. Newly translated by Bibbi Lee, this classic of
Norwegian literature is available for the first time in English.
Although Bryn would go on to become a respected mountaineer and
author, and Finch would become regarded as one of the greatest
mountaineers of all time - a legend of the 1922 Everest expedition
- Peaks and Bandits captures them on the cusp of these
achievements: simply two students taking advantage of their Easter
holidays, their escapades driven by their passion for climbing. As
they find themselves in unexpected and often strange places, Bryn's
sharp and jubilant narrative epitomises travel writing at its best.
Balancing its wit with fascinating insight into life in early
twentieth-century Corsica, the infectious enthusiasm of Bryn's
narrative has cemented it as one of Norway's most treasured
adventure books. Peaks and Bandits embodies the timeless joy of
adventure.
The Climbing Chronicles record the 1940s climbing exploits of Harry
Parker. Born in Blackburn on 29 February 1916, Harry started
climbing before the war and continued to do so after its
conclusion, exploring the Peak District, Wales, the Lake District
and Scotland. Each night he noted down his adventures in his
'chronicles', recording the routes he climbed, the walks, bicycle
rides and journeys he undertook, and the people he met along the
way. Harry's remarkable diaries have now been transcribed by his
son John, and the resulting Chronicles offer a first-hand view of
climbing and walking in Britain in the 1940s. With an enthusiasm
for the outdoors and a sense of fun that springs from every entry,
The Climbing Chronicles is an entertaining and fascinating - not to
mention quirky - read.
This is a complete introduction to Alpine mountaineering. If you
are planning your first trip to the Alps or anxious to improve on
your performance on previous trips, you need this book. Even
seasoned Alpinists will benefit from Bruce's clarity and depth of
experience. Everything you need to know is here and none of the
issues are ducked, from dealing with hut guardians to moving roped
together. The first part of the book deals with the knowledge and
techniques you will need. The second part consists of a choice of
good routes to help you gain experience. In this guidebook-style
section the route length is included together with the area, where
to stay, access, map and kit requirements and the full route
descriptions. The chapters are: Going Alpine; About the Alps;
Objective Dangers; Weather; Kit; Technical Equipment; Alpine
Movement; Protecting Yourself; Glacier Travel; Speed vs Security;
Navigation; Rescue; Via Ferrata; Planning an Alpine Trip; Am I
Ready?; and, Guidebook.
The 153-kilometre West Highland Way encompasses the variety of
Scotland’s wild places. The route, which begins in Milngavie and
finishes in Fort William, passes from Glasgow, Scotland’s
friendliest city, through lochs and forests, and across wild moors
in the shadows of Munros. Offering panoramic views and clear
waymarking, it is no wonder this is one of Scotland’s most
popular long-distance routes. The West Highland Way appeals to
people who have different levels of experience and travel at all
speeds, and this Vertebrate Publishing Guidemap is unique in that
it caters for four categories of user, providing custom itineraries
for walkers, trekkers, fastpackers and trail runners. This
lightweight, waterproof, durable and easy-to-use folding map
features all the essential information for a successful West
Highland Way, including 1:40,000-scale mapping for the linear route
starting in Milngavie and finishing in Fort William. It also
includes a detailed elevation profile and route planner, safety
advice, terrain information and an accommodation directory, and a
link to a GPX file download.
Comprehensive, illustrated guidebook to the magical land of Ladakh
in the far north of India, beyond the Himalayas. Up to date
information on hotels and transport and practical advice on
planning and budgeting your trip. Detailed explanatory descriptions
of the regions' famous Buddhist monasteries and other sights
besides the stupendous road journeys to Ladakh from Manali and
Kashmir, with entire sections on these two regions. There are
extensive sections on Zanskar, Nubra, and the Pangong-Tsomoriri
lakes, besides a chapter on the treks in Ladakh. Also included is a
detailed introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and a section on the
people and history of Ladakh. Apart from a foldout map of the
Ladakh-Kashmir region at the back, there are some 25 other maps in
the books, and about 270 colour photographs.
London is one of the world's most exciting cities, but it's also
one of the noisiest; a bustling, chaotic, frenetic, over-crowded,
manic metropolis of over 8 million people, where it can be
difficult to find somewhere to grab a little peace and quiet.
Nevertheless, if you know where to look London has a wealth of
peaceful places - places to relax, chill out, contemplate,
meditate, sit, reflect, browse, read, chat, nap, walk, think, study
or even work (if you must) - where the city's volume is muted or
even switched off completely. Peaceful Places contains over 200 of
the author's and his friends', colleagues' and acquaintances'
favourite locations throughout the city, from restful gardens and
serene churches to silent libraries and inspiring galleries;
intimate hotels to blissful spas and cosy caf s; smart shops and
atmospheric markets to appealing restaurants and charming tea
rooms; quiet museums and sweeping parks to relaxing walks and
friendly pubs - and much more. Moreover, these places haven't just
been selected for their quietude but also for their excellence:
every entry has something special to offer, be it a warm welcome,
excellent food/drink, fascinating history, attractive ambience,
glorious scenery or tempting goods for sale. Peace is a relative
term, however, and not all places are whisper-quiet all the time;
even churches have bell-ringing and organ practice, and many parks
host noisy school parties and sports events. You can, of course,
expect bookshops, libraries, galleries, museums and spas (and
churches and parks!) to be tranquil most of the time, but even caf
s, restaurants, pubs and bars can be surprisingly quiet - although
you may need to time your visit a little more carefully. With
regard to the latter, we have chosen venues with gardens, terraces,
panoramic views and cosy corners - places where you can find a bit
of personal space and grab some 'me' time along with your
refreshments. So whether you're seeking a place to recharge your
batteries, rest your head, revive your spirits, restock your larder
or refuel your body; somewhere to inspire, soothe or uplift your
mood; or you just wish to discover a part of London that's a few
steps further off the beaten track, Peaceful Places will steer you
in the right direction.
La Gomera is the ultimate get-away-from-it-all island: easy-going,
unspoilt, friendly, isolated from the hustle and bustle of modern
living, and so laid back it's virtually supine - even the volcanoes
have been dormant for millions of years. The walks, however, are a
bit more energetic. For the new 4th edition of Walk! La Gomera
Charles Davis has teamed up with Jan Kostura. Jan brings his wide
experience and passion for the Canaries, checking, re-walking and
revising existing routes, and adding a couple of his own
adventures, including a new Top Three Gomeran walk. Two routes have
been dropped as having become too dangerous, but the good news is
that many of the more harum-scarum walks have been improved through
path clearing and the addition of railings to the vertiginous
stretches. Other good news is that the devastating forest fires of
2012 have proved not nearly as damaging as we feared, leaving most
of our itineraries unscathed. In short, there is every reason to
take off and explore La Gomera, or to return with this new edition
to revive acquaintances and make some new discoveries at the same
time. All the trails have been surveyed and mapped using GPS
satellite navigation.The authors and their co-walkers have walked
all these routes, ensuring accuracy and up to date information for
hikers. Clear descriptions guide the walker both to the starting
point and throughout the routes, with gradings, distances, timings
and altitudes all symbolized, as are vertigo alerts and refreshment
possibilities on or at ends of the routes. There are 34 detailed
walking adventures with routes ranging from a couple of 90 minute 4
kilometre walks, up to challenging trails taking over 6 hours,
covering 20 kilometres including ascents & descents of 1060
metres. Each route includes its own map sections with the route and
waypoints clearly marked. Map sections are developed from the La
Gomera Tour & Trail Super-Durable Map, the most up to date and
toughest map of the island. GPS waypoint files for all the 34
routes are available in three formats as a free zip file download
from the Discovery Walking Guides website.
The Eastern Fells include the greatest single concentrated mass of
high ground in Lakeland: a tremendous barrier running north and
south, high and steep all along its length, rising to above 3000
feet on Helvellyn - the most-often climbed mountain in the Lake
District. Popular resorts such as Ambleside and Grasmere lie in
this sector of the fells, as does the beautiful Patterdale valley
(the best base, in Wainwright's view, for exploring the area). This
is the original Pictorial Guide to the Eastern Fells of Lakeland,
freshly reproduced from Wainwright's original pages. These popular
Pictorial Guides have been treasured by generations of walkers and
are as enchanting and inspiring now as when they were written, half
a century ago.
Mark Atkinson is living proof that you don't have to be 'good' at
running to make it through a marathon or even further. Packed with
insights and tips, pitfalls and joy, Ducking Long Way invites you
to join him for a beer at mile thirty as he pushes himself as far
as he can while still running for the sheer joy of it.
A Wall Street Journal bestseller. In this groundbreaking book, New
York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler decodes the mystery of
ultimate human performance. Drawing on over a decade of research
and firsthand reporting with dozens of top action and adventure
sports athletes like big wave legend Laird Hamilton, big mountain
snowboarder Jeremy Jones, and skateboarding pioneer Danny Way,
Kotler explores the frontier science of "flow," an optimal state of
consciousness in which we perform and feel our best. Building a
bridge between the extreme and the mainstream, The Rise of Superman
explains how these athletes are using flow to do the impossible and
how we can use this information to radically accelerate performance
in our own lives. At its core, this is a book about profound
possibility; about what is actually possible for our species; about
where-if anywhere-our limits lie.
The county of Ayrshire is located on the Firth of Clyde on the
beautiful West Coast of Scotland and is known as one of the most
fertile areas of the country, famed for its cattle and crops.
Although more industrial to the north, it is in the main a
landscape made for walking with an abundance of open countryside
and rugged little hills, golden sandy beaches and beautiful
sunsets. It is also home to several renowned golf courses,
including Turnberry and Royal Troon, and as the birthplace of
Robert Burns, it attracts visitors from far and wide keen to
explore the land that inspired the national poet. This guide
features 40 mostly moderate walks full of interest which explore
all aspects of the region, from craggy cliffs and caves to historic
castles, ancient forests to sandy shorelines. Many of the routes
are suitable for families and can be accessed by public transport.
This handy new field guide provides a simplified introduction to
common safe practices and procedures for field dressing various
species of game and fish. including rabbits, squirrels, deer and
large mammals, ducks & geese, pheasant, turkeys, small game
birds. Also includes sections on hunting etiquette, safe cooking of
wild game and the edibility of reptiles, amphibians, insects and
road kill. This practically indestructible guide is the perfect
companion to have in your pocket whenever you head out during
hunting season.
Walking in Northern Snowdonia is dedicated to the northern half of
the National Park, bounded by the Conwy Valley to the east, Glyn
Lledr and the Vale of Ffestiniog to the south and Cwm Pennant to
the west. Twenty circular walks are described, ranging in length
from 4.5 to 9 miles, which explore the woods, valleys and lower
hillsides of this unique and beautiful area. First published in
2000 this edition is fully revised in 2014.
Hard Rock is the best of British rock climbing. Featuring over
fifty crags and sixty-nine routes in England, Scotland and Wales,
it epitomises all that is great about traditional climbing in Great
Britain. Ken Wilson's first edition of Hard Rock was published in
1974 and quickly established itself as the definitive
representation of British rock climbing. Ken's vision for the
book's format - part guidebook, part literary celebration and part
coffee table visual showcase - is one that has been much copied but
never equalled. In this new edition, editor Ian Parnell has ensured
Hard Rock continues to honour Ken's original concept, in particular
keeping the route, not the climber, centre stage. While the
activity of climbing has undergone myriad changes since 1974 -
sticky rubber, camming devices, and the rise of sport climbing and
indoor climbing walls - many climbers are still drawn to the drama
and challenge of traditionally protected climbing. And this is why
Hard Rock is still as relevant now as it was in 1974. Stretching
across the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the Lake District, the
Pennines and the Peak District, North and South Wales and down to
South-West England, the routes tackle big mountain walls, gritstone
outcrops and epic sea cliff adventures. Focusing on the trad
connoisseur's grade range of VS to E2, with additional routes at E3
and E4, the featured climbs are within reach of a majority of
climbers. Timeless classics include The Bat on Ben Nevis, the Old
Man of Hoy, the Central Buttress of Scafell, Cenotaph Corner on
Dinas Cromlech in the Llanberis Pass, Vector at Tremadog, Right
Unconquerable at Stanage Edge and Suicide Wall at Bosigran on the
Cornish coast. Alongside many of the original essays, written by a
formidable cast of climbers including Pete Crew, Ed Drummond, Royal
Robbins, Chris Bonington, Hamish MacInnes and Al Alvarez, this new
edition features thirteen new routes and pieces by Eleanor Fuller,
Stephen Reid, Kevin Howett, David Pickford, Paul Harrison, John
Lawrence Holden, Martin Moran, Paul Donnithorne and Emma Alsford.
It is illustrated with all-new colour photography throughout. Hard
Rock's timeless collection is sure to inspire for generations to
come.
"The Sutherland Trail - A Journey Through North-west Scotland", is
the long awaited latest book by the UK's best known hillwalker and
backpacker, Cameron McNeish. In partnership with award-winning
photographer and film maker Richard Else, Cameron has developed a
superb week-long walking route through one of the finest landscapes
in Europe. Sutherland, in the far north-west of Scotland, has long
been described as 'the empty lands'. Much of the land is
magnificently untamed and unpopulated, and the grandeur of the
landscape attracts hillwalkers and backpackers from throughout the
world. The Sutherland Trail between Lochinver and Tongue follows
ancient pathways, stalker's routes and hill tracks through one of
the most geologically fascinating regions of the UK. It passes
caves, chambered cairns and the remains of ancient shielings,
follows river banks and loch-sides, climbs iconic hills and visits
the highest waterfall in Britain. Along the way, the voices of the
local people are heard loud and clear. The passions of the
crofters, hoteliers, fishermen, climbers and hillwalkers give a new
momentum to life in the region, looking forward to a positive
future for these spectacular northern lands. Sutherland is revealed
as a land rich in glorious scenery, wildlife and natural resources,
a region that was once vastly more populated than it is today, but
is slowly regaining some of its lost population - a region that
belies its common perception as 'the empty lands'. This is the
first guidebook to Scotland's latest long distance walking route.
It is illustrated by top quality, original images. It is based on a
highly successful BBC television programme. It features a foreword
by Robert Macfarlane.
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