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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Active outdoor pursuits
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.
This guidebook follows the Rota Vicentina, a 220km walking route along the stunning Atlantic coastline in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal. The 12-stage trek combines two well-marked routes, the Caminho Historico (the Historical Way) and the Trilho dos Pescadores (the Fishermen's Trail), to create a hike starting in Santiago do Cacem and ending at Cabo de Sao Vicente. The guide also describes an alternative circular route for those who would prefer an 11-stage loop, moving inland from Odeceixe and back up to Santiago de Cacem. Whichever route is chosen, the Rota Vicentina is ideal for a two-week holiday in spring or late summer to autumn, offering walkers a remarkable range of landscapes from coastal fishing villages to wooded river valleys. The guidebook includes advice about accommodation options along the route, information about the surrounding area, and a glossary of Portuguese terms to aid with reading signs and maps. Along the Rota Vicentina are many delights for walkers. This stunning coastal region is home to a variety of rare birdlife, including white storks that nest precariously on sea stacks. Another treat is the mouth-watering Portuguese cuisine, whether the famous custard tarts or less well-known goose barnacles. With its vibrant cultural traditions and rich history displayed in Arab-era castles and 15th-century Age of Discovery sites, this route offers pleasant surprises at every stage along the Portuguese Atlantic coast.
From Eric Robson’s Foreword: When Richard first mentioned this book to me and outlined the themes he hoped to address in it, I confess that I didn’t think he’d be able to carry it off. Surely we only ever scratched the surface of Alfred Wainwright’s complex character? Even after all the months of filming together, the passions that drove him remained locked in his private, silent world. Against that background Richard had surely set himself an impossible task. I was wrong. Richard has produced a book that’s entertaining and knowledgeable in equal measure. I should never have doubted him. It was, after all, the young Mr Else who persuaded AW to sup with the devil in the first place and against his better judgement agree to work with us television people. ***** It was the most unlikely of relationships. Britain’s most distinguished guidebook writer was in his late seventies and a young, inexperienced documentary film maker who was less than half his age. Yet Richard Else persuaded Wainwright out of the shadows and onto the nations television screens. In doing so, the highly reclusive Wainwright became the most unlikely of celebrities and his films with Eric Robson were amongst the most popular programmes on the small screen. Wainwright Revealed is not simply the inside story of those films - films that, Richard argues, did more than anything else to spawn today’s Wainwright industry. It also explores how, for the first and only time in his life, Wainwright agreed to work collaboratively with another person. Richard meticulously documents the 10 years they spent together and provides a new insight into AW’s achievement, his place in the tradition of guidebook writing and into a life that was essentially solitary. Richly illustrated with over 70 photographs (many seen here for the first time), Richard explores the forces that motivated Wainwright - forces which AW almost certainly did not fully understand. This book discovers a more complex individual than previously thought and is indispensable for both fans of Wainwright’s work and all those who enjoy exploring our fells, dales, moors, mountains and glens.
For your best adventures, use the best map. Madeira's favourite map just got a whole lot better. Now in its 10th edition including the new Palheiro golf development, goodbye to the abandoned Ponta Pargo golf course, final sections of the VE3 road, loads of minor road updating especially in the south west. For hikers we have added several new highlighted walking routes. Madeira Tour & Trail Map is a large 960mm by 700mm double sided map sheet. Super-Durable edition comes with a 2 year adventurous use guarantee. Specialist concertina map folding means the 960mm by 700mm double sided map folds quickly to its 235mm by 120mm pocket size. This most detailed map of Madeira includes our 'Tour & Trail' level of detail ranging from major roads to secondary roads to minor roads to streets and camino rural narrow country roads, plus dirt roads and walking trails. Altitude background colouring is designed to clearly show the altitude range when travelling across the island by car or on foot. 100 metre and 50 metre contours are clearly shown on the map along with a large number of individual height points and all of the official 'Trig' points. Tour & Trail attention to detail is legendary as is our useful symbol range including miradors, picnic areas, petrol stations, bar/restaurants and parking areas where you can pull off the road safely. You will easily identify springs, caves, sports grounds, cemetries, churchs, chapels, lighthouses, towers and forts, camping areas, wind turbines, hotels etc. For adventurers on foot Tour & Trail Maps are researched and designed by hikers for use by hikers. Our comprehensive gps ground surveys produce the best mapping available but the value of this on the ground research becomes even more important when you leave the tarmac. All of our DWG walking routes are accurately gps surveyed giving you confidence in the accuracy of our Tour & Trail Maps. Madeira Tour & Trail Map includes all the walking routes from 'Madeira Walks' volumes 1 & 2 by Shirley Whitehead highlighted in Red while other published walking routes (printed guide books and reliable web publications) are highlighted in Green. It all adds up to the most useful map of Madeira that you can buy anywhere. In use maps have a very tough life so you will appreciate our specialist concertina map fold that allows you to quickly open the map, and more importantly fold it back up to its pocket size after use. Paper maps will always suffer from the repeated unfolding, folding to the section you want to use, and then refolding. We recommend everybody to obtain our Super-Durable editions printed with 100% oxygenation inks on Polyart by the UK's leading map printer, which produces a map that feels like silk but will stand up to the roughest treatment of outdoor adventuring and yet fold up like new at the end of your adventure. Tour & Trail Super-Durable Maps are more expensive than paper maps, but represent better value as they produce a lightweight map that feels like silk while being both water-proof and incredibly tough so that after even the toughest of adventures your Tour & Trail Super-Durable Map will fold up like new. Digital editions of Madeira Tour & Trail Map for phone apps and Garmin users are available on the dwgwalking website.
__________ If you live on planet Earth, you're probably scared about the future. Terrorism, complicated international relations, global warming, killer viruses and a raft of other issues make it hard not to be. Watching the news you have to wonder: is it safe to go out there or not? In The Day It Finally Happens, Mike Pearl games out many of the 'could it really happen?' scenarios we've all speculated about, assigning a probability rating, and taking us through how it would unfold. He explores what would likely occur in dozens of possible scenarios - the final failure of antibiotics, the loss of the world's marine life, the abolition of the British monarchy, and even the arrival of aliens - and reports back from the future, providing a clear picture on how the world would look, feel, and even smell in each of these instances. Hilarious, enlightening, and terrifying, this book makes science accessible and is a unique form of existential therapy, offering practical answers to some of our most worrisome questions. Thankfully, the odds of humanity pulling through look pretty good. __________ For fans of such bestsellers as What If?,The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook and The Uninhabitable Earth, as well as Steven Pinker and Malcolm Gladwell, this is a book about future events that we don't really understand and getting to know them in close detail. Entertaining speculation featuring both authoritative research and a bit of mischief: a look at how humanity is likely to weather such happenings as the day nuclear war occurs, the day the global internet goes down, the day we run out of effective antibiotics, and the day immortality is achieved.
This up-to-date guidebook is just the ticket for campers, hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and folks who just like to enjoy the outdoors. It offers all the details to every state and national park, recreation area, national forest, and historical park in Texas. Where appropriate, maps are provided to identify specific campsites within the larger parks, and "at a glance" charts provide a quick and easy way to determine the extent of such amenities as showers, flush toilets, electricity, etc. The unique features of each park or campground are described, as well as the recreation available, be it boating or bird watching. Whether it's for a Saturday getaway or a two-week vacation, this handy book is a great guide to outdoor fun in Texas.
Mountains have long inspired the wit and daring of the world's most fascinating explorers. In this definitive collection of mountain lore, Alan Weber exhibits forty-three essays by artists and adventurers to whom climbing was more a mission than a sport. Beginning with the fabled tale of Hannibal's Roman invasion-men, horses, and elephants in tow-through the hitherto impassable Alps, the accounts progress to recent descriptions of high-peaks mountain climbing in Mount Everest and the formidable K-2. Included among the earlier pieces are Petrarcha's introspective journey to the Windy Mount; William Windham's exploration of Montenvers and the "Sea of Ice" in 1741; and English artist-critic John Ruskin's essay on mountain climate and culture. Literary masters portray the idyllic and imperfect aspects of mountain life: the restoration poet Andrew Marvell offers a hymn to the Barrow hills, while poems from Shelley, Lord Byron, and Matthew Arnold praise the natural beauty and fresh air of the mountain crags. Because It's There pays homage to the spiritual introspection and respect for nature engendered by the looming mountain ranges that have demarcated territories, protecting villages and cities from invasion. The explorations these mountains have inspired have tested human endurance and mental strength. Alan Weber is a research fellow of the Institute for European Studies at Cornell University and a CEMERS Associate Fellow at the State University of New York at Binghamton. He is the editor and author of Nineteenth Century Science: A Selection of Original Texts, and Women Almanac Writers (Forthcoming). A long-time member of the Penn State Outing and Cornell Outing Clubs, he has rock and ice-climbed in the Adirondacks, Green and Shawangunk Mountains, and Mount Rainier.
This guide describes a 624km section of French long-distance route the GR34, following the north coast of Brittany from ever-popular Mont-Saint-Michel to the port of Roscoff. (The full GR34 - also known as 'Sentier des Douaniers', the Customs Officers Path - totals some 2000km and follows in the footsteps of customs officers of old who patrolled the coast in attempt to curb smuggling.) The trail is waymarked and well maintained, offering mainly easy walking, though there are a few more strenuous sections and some short steep ascents and descents. It takes around a month to complete but the guide also includes suggestions for four five-day 'highlight' sections. The route is described from east to west and presented in 28 stages. For each stage, you will find clear route description and mapping, summary statistics and notes on facilities, accommodation, public transport connections and local points of interest. The introduction offers plenty of practical advice for planning and undertaking your trip, as well as overviews of Brittany's fascinating history and culture. Selected accommodation listings, useful contacts and a glossary can be found in the appendices. The GR34 leads you through interesting and varied scenery: high above the rocky shores of the Emerald Coast, where waves crash, then elsewhere closer to the water, passing innumerable inviting beaches. There are sea-cliffs and sandy coves, pink granite boulder-fields and unique river estuaries, woodland and heath. Although camping is a possibility, accommodation is readily available in a mixture of bustling seaside resorts and quieter fishing villages. As you hike the trail, you will discover Brittany, a region rich in history and culture and with a distinctive identity that sets it apart from the rest of France, and you will uncover the beauty of this beguiling coastline.
This title provides all climbers and boulderers living or visiting the South East, a guidebook to the nine top popular areas that have suitable easy public access. It is the first in a new generation of "Jingo Wobbly Photo" guidebooks that uses exceptionally high quality professional photography for crag illustration, and is supported by superb action photography with around 100 action shots. The guidebook is completely definitive to the 9 outcrops, and has been put together by team Jingo Wobbly that consists of some 50 climbers and boulderers. They are all local climbers who have lived and climbed in the area for years and know the rocks inside out, and are responsible for many of the first ascents. The book has been designed for ease of use, and should perfectly suit anyone visiting for the first time. It is a very easy to use, modern photo topo climbing guidebook with exceptional clarity in printing. Each page has the routes listed in order of difficulty, making it very friendly to newcomers. All of the routes are marked on the photos, show their climbing grades, and also have descriptions. Excellent maps to all of the climbing locations are included, along with all SAT NAV details. 100 climbing action shots will entice anyone to get out climbing. It has plenty of humour in the text with 'local chat' sections, but also full details on environmental care.
'A paean to the beauty and majesty of nature, especially the nature we overlook in our back gardens and local parks... And like all the best books, it makes the world around you a lot more interesting' - Spectator 'Beautifully written... I promise you will feel more in tune with the world around after reading only one chapter of Wild Signs and Star Paths, let alone the book in its entirety' - Royal Institute of Navigation 'A beautifully written almanac of tricks and tips that we've lost along the way' - Observer Tristan Gooley, author of the internationally bestselling How To Read Water and The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues & Signs, shows how it is possible to achieve a level of outdoors awareness that will enable you to sense direction from stars and plants, forecast weather from woodland sounds and predict the next action of an animal from its body language - instantly. Although once common, this now rare awareness would be labelled by many as a 'sixth sense'. We have become so distanced from this way of experiencing our environment that it may initially seem hard to believe that it is possible, but Tristan Gooley uses a collection of 'keys' to show how everyone can develop this ability and enjoy the outdoors in an exciting way - one that is both new and ancient.
South Africa has a unique set of characteristics that make walking safaris in big game areas one of the safest and most rewarding outdoor experiences: a huge expanse of protected habitat richly populated with wildlife; excellent tourism facilities; a favourable climate; and expertly trained trail guides. Seasoned hikers, Hlengiwe Magagula and Denis Costello cover more than 50 guided walks across 21 parks and reserves in South Africa (including two in eSwatini and one in Botswana). They unpack the options available in each park, from short dawn and dusk walks and multi-day wilderness trails to backpacking trails that span several days. Facilities range from ultra-luxurious to ‘wild camping’, either in tents or under the stars. Also included is a series of first-hand accounts that vividly illustrate the magical experience of exploring the bush on foot. An advisory section gives a rundown of when to go, what to pack, what to wear, and the dos and don’ts of walking in areas with big game.
The south-eastern Grampians of the former county of Perthshire may be grassier and less rugged than other Scottish mountains, but they are just as big. The routes in this guide take you to the summits of these 'jolly green giants' - covering all of the region's Munros, often by unconventional routes, as well as several Corbetts and smaller hills - and also over the Atholl passes, along rivers and through the woods of Perthshire's 'Big Tree Country'. The 80 walks comprise a mixture of low-level, mid-level and mountain routes and are graded by both length and difficulty. Many are demanding, crossing remote, uneven, steep and/or pathless terrain, but also included are gentler walks on clear paths taking in local features of interest. The route description is illustrated with clear mapping (a mixture of OS 1:50,000 and smaller-scale maps for the longer routes) and the route summary table and grading information make it easy to choose an appropriate route. There is a wealth of information about the landscape and the region's fascinating history. Finally, appendices cover local facilities and access to the hills during the deer-stalking season. With highlights including the mighty Ben Lawers, Beinn Dorain, Ben Alder and Beinn a' Ghlo; Schiehallion; the great rivers Tay and Garry; the Birks of Aberfeldy; and old drovers' routes over the passes of Minigaig and Gaick, Perthshire has plenty to offer. And with historic towns, such as Perth and Pitlochry, and attractive villages, this is an ideal base for a walking holiday.
What is better than cooking with cast iron? Cooking with cast iron on an open fire, camp stove or grill is better! There's no such thing as spending too much time outdoors. The cravings you work up exerting all that energy in nature will be satisfied when you cook with The Campfire Cast Iron Cookbook, making for a healthy and delicious adventure. This guide to outdoor cooking over a campfire guarantees that the more time you spend outside, whether in the backyard or the backcountry, the better your meals will taste. Inside you'll find: - Over 100 recipes for all meals and all tastes - Chapters dedicated to breakfast, sides and starches, meat, seafood, vegetables, and desserts - An in-depth description and explanation of different types of cast iron cookware - A guide on how to set up your fire and cookware for the perfect outdoor cooking experience - Tips and tricks for cooking and clean-up, including how to properly care for your cooking fire and firepit From roughing it to van life and glamping, The Campfire Cast Iron Cookbook has your outdoor meal needs covered.
The Shelf2Life Mountaineering Collection provides a unique glimpse into the history and evolution of mountaineering through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From historical maps, first-hand accounts of early summits, descriptions of peaks and wilderness areas to detailed mountaineering proofs, enthusiasts can now experience the thrill of the greatest peaks as they were in the early part of the century. Further, in-depth discussions of traditional equipment, technique and routes are a fascinating study in the evolution of the sport. Given the recent explosion of interest in mountaineering, these books are an excellent opportunity to revisit the roots and origins of the sport: they offer a valuable historical perspective as well as important information about the landscape and geography of the past.
Fontainebleau Fun Bloc is a new photo topo style guidebook to the very best areas of the forest. This is a unique style that includes over 1600 photo topos, which makes recognising the problems very easy, and includes every single problem in an area 1a-8c. This book will appeal to every level of climber, and particularly groups of boulderers that are of mixed ability who all want to climb in the same general area. It has also been designed to work with little use of language, since all of the problems are colour coded and are very easily identifiable. With over 7000 problems, this will give anyone a huge amount of fun. There is a large overview map on the inside front cover. Each area has its own approach map that is very easy to use, and shows best routes for buggies or those carrying giant crash pads. They also link together so you can easily go from one outcrop to another. Outcrop maps are highly detailed showing the outline of every boulder precisely. Every single boulder has been perfectly mapped for this book, and this level of detail is totally unique. The design of Fun Bloc is simple. Every area has a very detailed layout map with all boulders perfectly drawn, and every single problem marked with a coloured dot. All boulders highlighted in green feature as full photo topos with lines marked, grades, and names of problems. The photography for this book has taken several years to capture all of the boulders in the best possible illustrative light. The graphics show all of the variations and even illustrate which holds are in or out. The book has also been edited by local climbers who regularly climb up to 8c. This book is the full beta of the forest by climbers who know it inside out. 26 principal areas are covered in 100% detail, featuring every possible climbing problem from 1a up to 8c. 17 individual children's circuits are fully illustrated bloc to bloc. 48 outcrop maps illustrate the exact location of over 7000 boulder problems - all colour coded and graded. Over 100 Fontainebleau circuits are fully covered in the book. Details for all local campsites and supermarkets are included. There are over 80 superb action photos which feature throughout the book to give it a very enticing feel. This book is dual language - in both French and English.
This learning book has been written and designed for anyone who wants to begin climbing at an indoor climbing wall. It starts you from the very first basics of indoor climbing, by introducing readers to the 'give-it-a-go' sessions that many climbing walls offer.
This guidebook explores six of Andalucia's most beautiful Natural Parks - the Sierra Nevada regions of Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales and Gaucin, La Axarquia, the Alpujarras and Cazorla - along the great belt of the Cordillera Betica mountains. The 36 half- and full-day walks are mostly circular, ranging in length from 4 to 21km: some involve steep ascents and descents but all are within the capabilities of a reasonably fit walker. The routes are based around the villages of Aracena, Grazalema, Jimena de la Frontera, Cazorla, Bubion and Competa, all of which lie within protected nature reserves. Year-round walking is possible, but the area is best enjoyed March-June and September-October. Includes detailed route descriptions, clear mapping, plenty of background information about travel, food and drink, language and communications and the author's recommendations for the best places to stay in or around southern Spain's most beautiful mountain villages, many of which date back to the Moorish period. Rising to almost 3500m, the Cordillera Betica offers some of the finest year-round walking in Europe, and wrapped within this mighty range are some of Spain's most beautiful villages and trails.
There are few destinations in Europe where you can enjoy typical 'summer' outdoor pursuits in the middle of winter. However, Spain's Costa Blanca is one such place and the range and quality of activities on offer is outstanding. This multi-activity guide presents a handpicked selection of 60 ridge routes, via ferratas, canyons, sport-climbing crags, trad-climbing crags, hikes, trail runs and road-cycling routes to inspire keen adventurers to explore the region's striking ridges, peaks, crags and barrancos (canyons). A broad spectrum of activities is covered - although since many of the routes involve climbing skills and rope-work, the guide is particularly well suited to climbers interested in a multi-activity holiday - and there are plenty of mid-grade options. Although quieter in winter, Costa Blanca is well served for accommodation and facilities, with easy access from Alicante. The guide includes plenty of useful information to help you plan your holiday and directions to help you locate the start-point for each activity. All of the activities are clearly graded and include route description and mapping and - for the climbing routes and via ferratas - photo topos illustrating the line of the route. Handy tables summarise the key information, making it easy to choose an activity to suit. With inspiring colour photography to whet your appetite, Costa Blanca Mountain Adventures is the perfect companion to discovering the adventures that await in this bounteous region. |
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