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 9¾ and 18½ miles, with advice on splitting or shortening the stages if needed. The book also includes 20 easy circular walks, ranging from 4¼ 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.

Guidebook to 30 circular walks in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The routes, which range from 7 to 21km (4 to 13 miles), take in parts of four counties - Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. The North Wessex Downs are accessible hills rising above the towns and rural plains of southern England and rolling gently west from Reading and Basingstoke to Swindon and down past Marlborough to Andover. The walks allow you to explore parts of the Ridgeway National Trail, the Kennet and Avon Canal and stunning historic sites such as Avebury, the 3000-year-old Uffington White Horse, impressive Neolithic long barrows and Iron Age hill forts. Alongside clear route descriptions and OS maps are plenty of details about points of interest, as well as practical information on the area, from public transport links to ideal refreshment stops on each walk. The result is an ideal companion to exploring both the popular and untouched corners of the North Wessex Downs.

The Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been described as the jewels of the English landscape and the North Wessex Downs, the third largest AONB, is no exception. Its predominant feature is its underlying chalk geology and it covers one of the most continuous tracts of chalk downland in England. As well as its treasures in the form of chalk and ancient woodland, the North Wessex Downs also has a fascinating human history, stretching back some 5,000 years. The archaeology of the area is both rich and varied, with a number of impressive monuments, including the Neolithic stone circle at Avebury - which forms part of a World Heritage Site, the truly beautiful Uffington White Horse and the magical Wayland's Smithy, plus a myriad of Bronze Age barrows and Iron Age hill forts. Despite being located in southern England - a densely populated region - the North Wessex Downs is surprisingly unspoilt and sparsely populated, giving it a true sense of the idyllic England of old. Hidden amongst the folded contours of this chalk countryside are picture-postcard villages with thatched cottages, historic churches and magnificent stately houses, while out on the open downs breathtaking views stretch over rounded chalk hills, with wide open skies above.

Discover Dorset's lovely countryside with this guide to some of the best walks in the county. There are 20 circular routes here varying in length from 23/4 to 61/4 miles. At the heart of each walk is a great local pub. Explore the county's world-famous Jurassic coastline, including the chalk stack of Old Harry and the south coast's highest point at Golden Cap. Wander through rolling downland scenery with flower-rich meadows, visiting Iron Age hillforts with commanding defensive positions that offer great views. Take a walk along the former Saxon defences at Wareham or meander alongside peaceful rivers, follow paths through a patchwork of hedge-lined fields accompanied by birdsong, or explore picture-postcard villages and enjoy the tranquillity of their historic churches.