Great Scottish Walks by Helen and Paul Webster, founders of Walkhighlands, is a comprehensive guide to the 26 best long-distance hiking trails in Scotland. Whether you’re keen to experience classic trails such as the West Highland Way, discover more accessible trails like the Forth & Clyde Union Canal Towpath in the Central Belt or yearn for the remote wilderness of walks like the Cape Wrath Trail and Skye Trail, this book offers inspiration for long-distance walkers of all experience levels who want to challenge themselves on Scotland’s greatest trails (and even those who wish to tackle the trails as day walks or in shorter sections). The walks are illustrated with stunning photography, showcasing the incredibly varied Scottish mainland and island landscapes that you can discover, from the remote mountains and glens, coastal sea stacks and beaches, to the lush farmland and canals of the lowlands. There are countless towns, villages and historical sites that you’ll want to stop and visit along the way, rich in Scotland’s heritage and culture. This book provides everything you need to inspire you to explore further, including an overview of what to expect from each route, logistical information about tackling the routes over a number of days, overview mapping, and practical information about access, public transport, accommodation and local amenities. With Great Scottish Walks, let Helen and Paul equip you to take on your own long-distance adventure and discover the amazing trails that Scotland has to offer.

The Outer Hebrides are a place apart, an island chain stretching almost 200km from the Butt of Lewis to Barra Head with some of Britain's most mesmerising beaches, dramatic mountain ranges, wonderful wildlife, a long and fascinating history and a rich and vibrant Gaelic culture. This book features 40 mostly moderate walks, with many ideal for families, which take in magnificent sweeps of sand, soaring sea cliffs and memorable hill ascents, as well as celebrated cultural sights such as the haunting Standing Stones at Callanish and the blackhouse village of Na Gearrannan.

The Munros are mountains in Scotland with a height of over 3000ft and take their name from the first list of such hills published in 1891 by Victorian mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet of Lindertis. Revised several times in the years since, the official list now features 282 peaks. This guide is for anyone who wants to climb these mountains and aims to provide reliable routes and tips for ascending them safely. The Munros will ensure you reach parts of Scotland you might otherwise overlook, spend memorable evenings in pubs, bothies and wild camps, and have encounters with other walkers, locals and wildlife that enhance the adventure regardless of whether you get to the top of one Munro or all of them.

Day Walks on the Isle of Skye features 20 routes between 3.4 and 14.5 miles (5.5km and 23.3km) in length, spread across the Isle of Skye with one walk on the neighbouring Isle of Raasay. Researched and written by experienced and knowledgeable authors Helen and Paul Webster, founders of the Walkhighlands website, the walks explore the rugged mountains and wildlife-rich coastline of the islands. The routes are split into four sections - Trotternish and the Braes; North-West Skye; Glen Brittle and Sligachan; and South Skye and the Isle of Raasay. 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.

Moncada is one of the first words young Cuban biologist Felipe Triana learned as he was growing up. He was taught to say the word, and he was told that it was not just for him, but for every Cuban. Felipe, like many of the other young Cubans, has known nothing but the fifty-year-old revolution which still controls their lives but offers them less and less. An unconventional diplomatic story, Moncada follows the lives of Felipe and six other ordinary Cubans in the week leading up to the major revolutionary festival of Moncada that's celebrated on July 26. As the day of the festivities draws near, Felipe examines the course of his life in this country. From the economy, to the living conditions, baseball, popular Cuban culture, and the history of the revolution, Moncada presents the essence of present-day Cuba through the eyes of those living there. It gives flavor to a country whose people are deprived of expressing themselves.

The most northerly of Britain's island groups, Shetland is so far removed from the rest of the UK that it usually appears as an inset on maps. Although relatively little known to those from outside the islands, Shetland is a magnificent terrain for walkers, especially those who love to really explore and get away from the beaten track. The coastal walking here includes some of the finest in the country, with superb cliffs, towering sea stacks, caves and natural arches seemingly around every corner. Added to this is Shetland's better known claim to fame for its spectacular seabird colonies ? huge gannetries, moorland packed with arctic and great skuas, arctic terns in the more sheltered spots, and everyone's favourite ? the puffins. The islands also enjoy a dense population of otters, many seals, and a chance to see killer whales or other giants of the deep. Beyond all this natural grandeur, Shetland's history is fascinating too. The archaeological attractions are much less known than those on Orkney, but sites such as Jarlshof have amazingly preserved remains from prehistory right up to more recent times. These include iron age villages, chambered cairns, Viking longhouses, pictish carvings, and impressive brochs ? including the most complete of all these iron-age defensive towers, on Mousa.

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.

Britain's largest National Park, where mountains rise in a vast wilderness of high plateaux, deep corries and empty glens, is not just a place for the intrepid - the vast tracts of surviving Caledonian forest, sparkling lochs, heather moors and tumbling rivers also make it fantastic walking country for those who want to enjoy it at a more gentle pace. "Aviemore and the Cairngorms" features 40 shorter walks, including many perfect for families, stretching from the ancient region of Badenoch and the uppermost reaches of the Spey Valley, through the outdoor hub of Aviemore to Grantown and Tomintoul, then over Ballater and Royal Deeside to Braemar.

Wester Ross and Lochalsh are amongst the most popular areas for walks in the Scottish Highlands. The Lochalsh peninsula between the shores of Loch Duich and Loch Carron offers varied walking from villages such as Plockton as well as the region's main town at Kyle of Lochalsh. Across the dramatic Mam Ratagan pass is the remote and secluded Glenelg peninsula, a tranquil and peaceful haven far from busy routes. Further north are Applecross and Lochcarron, with mountains that yield nothing in ruggedness to their more famous counterparts in Torridon, as well as attractive fishing villages and forest walks. Finally around Gairloch is an area that has long been famous for its fine sandy beaches, many of them still very quiet. Inland is a vast area of little-visited, rocky peaks known to walkers as 'The Great Wilderness'. This latest pocket guide features 40 of the best walks in this popular area in an attractive and accessible format.

In this handbook, a group of 40 scholars and practitioners from some 30 countries takes a critical look at the contemporary practice of diplomacy. Many assume diplomacy evolves naturally, and that state- and non-state actors are powerless to make significant changes. But Diplomacy's methods, its key institutions and conventions were agreed more than six decades ago. None take account of the opportunities and vulnerabilities presented by the Internet. Diplomacy is now a neglected global issue.The COVID pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine have highlighted some of the problems of diplomatic dysfunction. Beyond identifying current problems diplomacy is facing, the book also seeks to identify some practical options for reform and innovation. How might a process of reform be agreed and implemented? What role might the United Nations, regional organizations and Big Tech play? How can new norms of diplomatic behavior and methods be established in a multipolar, digital world where diplomacy is seen as less and less effective?

Sutherland and Caithness are the most northerly parts of mainland Britain. Northwest Sutherland is a stunning landscape of perfect sandy beaches and sweeping moorland studded with glittering lochans, overlooked by some of Scotland's most remarkable mountains, individual peaks each with great character. Caithness, further east, is more fertile and populated but has some fantastic coastal scenery with dramatic castles, great sandstone cliffs and towering sea-stacks, as well as the larger towns of Wick and Thurso. Further south is Sutherland's east coast with the beautiful old town of Dornoch. This area too has some great beaches as well as interesting shorter walks. This latest pocket guide features 40 of the best walks in this popular area in an attractive and accessible format.

Off the west coast of Scotland, south of the Isle of Skye and north of Mull and Ardnamurchan, the islands' of Coll and Tiree are the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides and have a reputation as being amongst Scotland's sunniest places. Together with the Small Isles archipelago of Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna to the north, these Hebridean gems provide a remarkable range and variety of walking. The 36 routes in this book explore these six magical islands rich histories and thriving wildlife as well as the fine sandy beaches, awe-inspiring cliffs and coves, wild interiors and dramatic mountain ranges which make them so special.

Day Walks in Fort William & Glen Coe features 20 routes between 4.4 and 14.4 miles (7km and 23.2km) in length, spread across the Scottish Highlands. Researched and written by experienced and knowledgeable authors Helen and Paul Webster, founders of the Walkhighlands website, the walks range from gentle rambles to more challenging day walks, all through grand and impressive landscapes. Split into four sections - Glen Coe & Glen Etive; Kinlochleven & the Mamores; Fort William & the Great Glen; and The Road to the Isles - this guidebook explores the best that the Highlands has to offer. 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.

Day Walks in the Cairngorms features 20 circular routes between 6.3 and 18.4 miles (10.2km and 29.6km) in length, spread across the Cairngorms National Park. Researched and written by local and experienced authors Helen and Paul Webster, founders of the Walkhighlands website, the walks range from gentle rambles to more challenging day walks, all through stunning and varied terrain. Enjoy riverside walks along the Spey and Dee, discover hidden lochans at Clais Fhearnaig, explore the ancient forests of Rothiemurchus or tackle the famous Munros of Braeriach, Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm. Examine geological features such as The Vat, see the results of rewilding projects at Glen Feshie and find tranquility at the breathtaking Uath Lochans. 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.

Loch Ness, with its legendary monster, is the most famous of all lochs. It holds more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined and the countryside around it features an equally great variety of walks, with more waymarked trails and easy routes suitable for families than many other parts of the Highlands. Further north lies the magnificent Glen Affric - Scotland's most beautiful glen. This is a wonderful area of the Highlands for walkers, having the highest mountains north of the Great Glen but also some splendid lower-level and forest walks. To the east is the fertile Black Isle, packed with charming villages and some fine beaches, whilst further north still is Dingwall, a gateway to the spectacular Northern Highlands.

The new Loch Lomond National Park has ensured protection for what is not only Britain's largest freshwater lake, but one of its most beautiful, celebrated in ballad and song. West of Loch Lomond are the steep Arrochar Alps towering above Loch Long together with scores of much less visited lower hills stretching down to the seaboard. To the east is the Trossachs - a delightful landscape of forests, lochs and hills that has long been known as Scotland in miniature. This latest pocket guide features 40 of the best walks in this popular area in an attractive and accessible format.

In the first quarter of the thirteenth century, an anonymous Flemish writer set in writing, in Old French, a chronicle of Normandy, England, Flanders and northern France. It ranged from the arrival of the Vikings in Normandy to the early years of the reign of King Henry III of England, ending with an account of the translation of the relics of St Thomas Becket to their magnificent new shrine in Canterbury Cathedral in 1220. Along the way, it adopted and formed part of a tradition of writing of the history of the dukes of Normandy and kings of England, a tradition which had developed in Latin in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and then continued in Old French. The work is famous for vibrant and informed description of the reign of King John, in particular the period of baronial reaction, Magna Carta, ensuing civil war and the nearly-successful invasion of England by Louis, heir to the kingdom of France. Flanders supplied troops to both sides, and this Flemish author sees these events in close detail, and from the Flemish, not the French or English, point of view. He may himself have been an eyewitness, directly involved, but if not he would have known many who had fought and died in this conflict. Janet Shirley's translation of this chronicle, the first into English, brings the work of the Anonymous of Bethune to a new audience in this volume, accompanied by an introduction and historical notes by Paul Webster.

In the first quarter of the thirteenth century, an anonymous Flemish writer set in writing, in Old French, a chronicle of Normandy, England, Flanders and northern France. It ranged from the arrival of the Vikings in Normandy to the early years of the reign of King Henry III of England, ending with an account of the translation of the relics of St Thomas Becket to their magnificent new shrine in Canterbury Cathedral in 1220. Along the way, it adopted and formed part of a tradition of writing of the history of the dukes of Normandy and kings of England, a tradition which had developed in Latin in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and then continued in Old French. The work is famous for vibrant and informed description of the reign of King John, in particular the period of baronial reaction, Magna Carta, ensuing civil war and the nearly-successful invasion of England by Louis, heir to the kingdom of France. Flanders supplied troops to both sides, and this Flemish author sees these events in close detail, and from the Flemish, not the French or English, point of view. He may himself have been an eyewitness, directly involved, but if not he would have known many who had fought and died in this conflict. Janet Shirley’s translation of this chronicle, the first into English, brings the work of the Anonymous of Béthune to a new audience in this volume, accompanied by an introduction and historical notes by Paul Webster.

Scottish Island Bagging by Helen and Paul Webster, founders of Walkhighlands, is a guide to the magical islands of Scotland. Focusing on the ninety-nine islands that have regular trips or means of access for visitors, plus fifty-five other islands which have no regular transport but are still of significant size or interest, the authors have described the best ways to experience each one. Of the islands featured, many are household names - Skye, Lewis, Bute - while some, such as the isolated St Kilda archipelago and the remote Sula Sgeir, will be unknown to all but a hardcore few. When it comes to things to see and do, the islands of Scotland have it all. Wildlife enthusiasts can watch out for otters, orcas and basking sharks, while birdwatchers in particular are spoilt: look out for the rare corncrake on Islay, sea eagles on Mull, or sight puffins, gannets, storm petrels and many other seabirds on any number of islands - although beware the divebombing bonxies. Foodies can sample Arran or Westray cheese, the many islands' world-renowned seafood or learn about the whisky making process and sample a wee dram on a distillery tour. While the human history may not stretch back in time as far as the geology of these ancient lands, it is rich and varied: visit the 5,000-year-old Neolithic village of Skara Brae on Orkney, or Mackinnon's Cave on Mull, following in the footsteps of Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. You can even stay in the house on Jura where George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four. Hillwalkers can bag a Munro, walk the wild clifftops or take in the sights, or you could just escape from it all on one of the dozens of beautiful and deserted beaches - before joining the locals for a ceilidh into the wee hours. Well served by ferries and other transport links, getting around is easy. You could even take the world's shortest scheduled flight. In Scottish Island Bagging, let Helen and Paul Webster be your guides to these enchanting isles.

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A study of the personal religion of King John, presenting a more complex picture of his actions and attitude. King John has been perceived as one of England's most notorious monarchs. Medieval writers and later historians condemn him as a tyrant, seeing his long-running dispute with the church as evidence of a king who showed little regard for his faith. This book takes issue with orthodox opinion, arguing that in matters of religion, the critique obscures the evidence for a ruler who realized that outward manifestations of faith were an important part of kingship. It demonstrates that John maintained chapels and chaplains, prayed at shrines of the saints, kept his own collection of holy relics, endowed masses, founded and supported religious houses, and fed the poor - providing for his soul and emphasising his aura of authority. In these areas, he ranks alongside many other medieval rulers. The book also presents a major reassessment of the king's dispute with the church, when England was subject to a generalinterdict, and the king was excommunicate, the severest sanctions the medieval church could impose. It reveals the lasting damage to the king's reputation, but also shows how royal religious activity continued whilst king and pope were at loggerheads. Furthermore, despite his vilification since his death, there were those prepared to honour John's memory, during the medieval period and beyond. Dr Paul Webster is a Teaching Associate at CardiffUniversity, in the Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion.

The extraordinary growth and development of the cult of St Thomas Becket is investigated here, with a particular focus on its material culture. Thomas Becket - the archbishop of Canterbury cut down in his own cathedral just after Christmas 1170 - stands amongst the most renowned royal ministers, churchmen, and saints of the Middle Ages. He inspired the work of medieval writers and artists, and remains a compelling subject for historians today. Yet many of the political, religious, and cultural repercussions of his murder and subsequent canonisation remain to be explored in detail. This book examines the development of the cult and the impact of the legacy of Saint Thomas within the Plantagenet orbit of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries - the "Empire" assembled by King Henry II, defended by his son King Richard the Lionheart, and lost by King John. Traditional textual and archival sources, such as miracle collections, charters, and royal and papal letters, are used in conjunction with the material culture inspired by the cult, toemphasise the wide-ranging impact of the murder and of the cult's emergence in the century following the martyrdom. From the archiepiscopal church at Canterbury, to writers and religious houses across the Plantagenet lands, to thecourts of Henry II, his children, and the bishops of the Angevin world, individuals and communities adapted and responded to one of the most extraordinary religious phenomena of the age. Dr Paul Webster is currently Lecturer in Medieval History and Project Manager of the Exploring the Past adult learners progression pathway at Cardiff University; Dr Marie-Pierre Gelin is a Teaching Fellow in the History Department at University College London. Contributors: Colette Bowie, Elma Brenner, Jose Manuel Cerda, Anne J. Duggan, Marie-Pierre Gelin, Alyce A. Jordan, Michael Staunton, Paul Webster.

A study of the personal religion of King John, presenting a more complex picture of his actions and attitude. King John has been perceived as one of England's most notorious monarchs. Medieval writers and later historians condemn him as a tyrant, seeing his long-running dispute with the church as evidence of a king who showed little regard for his faith. This book takes issue with orthodox opinion, arguing that in matters of religion, the critique obscures the evidence for a ruler who realized that outward manifestations of faith were an important part of kingship. It demonstrates that John maintained chapels and chaplains, prayed at shrines of the saints, kept his own collection of holy relics, endowed masses, founded and supported religious houses, and fed the poor - providing for his soul and emphasising his aura of authority. In these areas, he ranks alongside many other medieval rulers. The book also presents a major reassessment of the king's dispute with the church, when England was subject to a generalinterdict, and the king was excommunicate, the severest sanctions the medieval church could impose. It reveals the lasting damage to the king's reputation, but also shows how royal religious activity continued whilst king and pope were at loggerheads. Furthermore, despite his vilification since his death, there were those prepared to honour John's memory, during the medieval period and beyond.

The extraordinary growth and development of the cult of St Thomas Becket is investigated here, with a particular focus on its material culture. Thomas Becket - the archbishop of Canterbury cut down in his own cathedral just after Christmas 1170 - stands amongst the most renowned royal ministers, churchmen, and saints of the Middle Ages. He inspired the work of medieval writers and artists, and remains a compelling subject for historians today. Yet many of the political, religious, and cultural repercussions of his murder and subsequent canonisation remain to be explored in detail. This book examines the development of the cult and the impact of the legacy of Saint Thomas within the Plantagenet orbit of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries - the "Empire" assembled by King Henry II, defended by his son King Richard the Lionheart, and lost by King John. Traditional textual and archival sources, such as miracle collections, charters, and royal and papal letters, are used in conjunction with the material culture inspired by the cult, to emphasise the wide-ranging impact of the murder and of the cult's emergence in the century following the martyrdom. From the archiepiscopal church at Canterbury, to writers and religious houses across the Plantagenet lands, to the courts of Henry II, his children, and the bishops of the Angevin world, individuals and communities adapted and responded to one of the most extraordinary religious phenomena of the age.