Places and peoples: general and pictorial works Books

Book SynopsisWhen you think of Paris do you picture the Eiffel Tower? The medieval city of Notre Dame? The elegant boulevards of Baron Haussmann? The Montmartre of Toulouse- Lautrec? The grandeur of the Louvre? The Art Nouveau of the Paris Metro? The Grand Projets of François Mitterrand? Or...? Yes, there is just so much beauty to Paris. In 150 striking images, Paris celebrates the French capital, from its world-famous landmarks to evocative alleyways and corners that might surprise you. You may have heard, for instance, about the Paris catacombs and sewers that you can visit, but did you know about La Petite Ceinture, a disused 19th century railway line that circumnavigates the inner city? From the medieval marvels of Sainte-Chapelle to the 1970s Pompidou Centre to the latest pop-up beaches beside the Seine, the book explores a great many sides to the city. In collecting these images of the city today, we come to understand something of its history – from the executions that took place at the Place de la Concorde during the Revolution to the Arc de Triomphe honouring those who served in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars to the skyscrapers of La Défense. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Paris is a stunning collection of images celebrating the world’s most romantic city.Table of ContentsIntroduction Medieval City Notre Dame Sainte-Chapelle Île de la Cité Pont Neuf La Sorbonne La Conciergerie 16th Century to the 19th Century Louvre Les Invalides Place de la Concorde Arc de Triomphe Boulevard Haussmann Luxembourg Gardens Place de Furstenberg Eglise Saint-Sulpice Pere Lachaise Cemetery Sacre Coeur and Montmartre Eiffel Tower The Modern City Art Nouveau and Art Deco Paris Louvre Pyramid Pompidou Centre La Defense Musée d’Orsay, housed in the Beaux-Arts railway station Gare d’Orsay Underground City Paris Metro stations The Catacombs The Paris Sewers La Petite Ceinture Railway

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Book SynopsisWhen you think of London, what do you see? The Houses of Parliament? The bustle around Piccadilly Circus? Elegant Victorian streets and squares? The Tate Modern? Or even Camden Market? With London, there are so many different aspects to the city. In more than 200 striking images, London celebrates the British capital, from its famous landmarks to atmospheric alleyways, from the top of the Shard to London Underground’s lost ghost stations, from the parks to the canals to the Thames. Exploring both the history and modernity of the city, the book reveals the city’s legacy as a capital and a trading hub, but also looks at how the contemporary city lives and breathes as a multi-ethnic metropolis. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, London is a stunning collection of images celebrating the world’s most interesting city.Table of ContentsContent include Introduction Parklife Views from Greenwich Park Views from Hampstead Heath Battersea Park St James’s Park Green Park Hyde Park and the Albert Memorial Kensington Gardens Holland Park Richmond Park Regent’s Park Primrose Hill Kew Gardens Highgate Cemetery The Arts & Museums The Royal Opera House The Natural History Museum The British Museum The Albert Hall The London Palladium The Victoria & Albert Museum Tate Modern Globe Theatre Palaces & Churches Westminster Abbey St Paul’s Cathedral Buckingham Palace Hampton Court Palace and its maze St James’s Palace Kensington Palace Ismaeli Centre, South Kensington St Martin’s in the Fields The Skyline Battersea Power Station The Shard The Lloyds Building The Cheesegrater The Walkie Talkie The Gherkin The Tower of London Houses of Parliament Nelson’s Column Transport The Underground platforms and stations from the oldest at Baker Street to modern stations at Canary Wharf and Southwark London taxis, London double-decker buses Ghost stations on London Underground Mainline stations: St Pancras, King’s Cross, Waterloo Streetlife & Public Spaces Piccadilly & Piccadilly Circus Trafalgar Square & Whitehall Shaftesbury Avenue Regent’s Street Burlington Arcade Camden Market Pubs London’s food markets – Smithfield, Billingsgate, New Covent Garden, Residential: Georgian squares – Fitzroy Square, Georgian terraces – Smith Square, Victorian terraces and squares, brutalist architecture Rivers and Canals Bridges: the lights of Albert Bridge and Battersea Bridge, commuters crossing Waterloo Bridge, Tower Bridge Georgian houses on the river at Chiswick Rowers on the Thames The Thames Barrier Warehouse apartments Canary Wharf Richmond Regent’s Canal

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Book Synopsis'You'll feel utterly transformed' - Sunday Times'Helps adds a spiritual depth to our wanderings' - The Simple ThingsWellness travellers are seeking transformative experiences - wellness is, by nature, a journey and a quest. The concept of transformative travel is about finding experiences through trips that shift perspective and allow digital detoxing, connection with oneself, nature, communities and a sense of the bigger picture in life.Sacred Places is a stunning new coffee table exploration for seekers of unusual and enlightening destinations, for both armchair travelling and as inspiration for future journeys. The book will be particularly focused on experiences, in addition to a full description of the place. For example, plant medicine ceremonies in South America, walking the Camino Way, Stonehenge on the winter solstice, wild swimming in Iceland's sacred hot springs and silent retreats. Entries also introduce the history and geography of the place, significant stories, dates to visit, myths, legends and ceremonies.

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Book Synopsis‘Magic that takes you out, far out, of this time and this world.' George Bernard Shaw, after a visit to Skellig This is the story of two of the world's most stunning and unspoilt islands, Skellig Michael and Small Skellig, which lie off the coast of Kerry. Lavelle explores the extraordinary, isolated Early Christian monastic settlement with its stone ‘beehive' huts. He describes the abundant bird life, including the huge colony of gannets, and tells of the history, legend, geology, plant life, the lighthouse, the seals and the underwater world. There has been a huge growth in interest in these spectacular islands, driven by Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way and the filming of Star Wars. A comprehensive, accessible and beautiful book on a unique and fascinating place.Trade Reviewhis intimate knowledge of and love for this special place seeps through his words so that the reader of this accessible overview of the various aspects of the islands cannot help but be sucked in. His detailed description of a boat trip from Valentia to Skellig … will strike a chord with anyone who has undertaken similar journeys or provide a pleasant alternative for those who, for whatever reason, cannot … All of this is written in the conversational and at times poetic style of an experienced storyteller and tour guide. A really lovely little book * Archaeology Ireland *This new work takes the reader on an intimate tour of the early Christian monastic settlement and its stone beehive huts, while the islands’ bird-life and underwater riches are also explored with a wealth of colour photos -- RTE.ie Culturethis book … has pushed a visit to Skellig Michael a few places up the bucket list -- Tuam Herald

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Book SynopsisA fully illustrated guidebook to the many beautiful towns and places of interest to visit along the Wild Atlantic Way.

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Book SynopsisFor all who yearn to travel to the home of the sagas, a beautifully illustrated companion to the terrain of Iceland-from puffins to ponies, glaciers and volcanoes to legendary trolls. Described by William Morris as "most unimaginably strange," the landscape of Iceland has fascinated and inspired travelers, scientists, artists, and writers throughout history. This book provides a contemporary understanding of the landscape as a whole, not only its iconic glaciers and volcanoes, but also its deserts, canyons, plants, and animals. The book examines historic and modern scientific studies of the landscape and animals, as well as accounts of early visitors to the land. These were captivating people, some eccentric but most drawn to Iceland by an enthrallment with all things northern, a desire to experience the land of the sagas, or plain scientific and touristic curiosity. Featuring many spectacular illustrations, this is a fine exploration of a most singular landscape.Trade Review"A most impressive work. Travelers to Iceland in the nineteenth century did not see the land as it was, but more as they expected it to be: an exotic landscape. Caseldine takes a different approach, traveling through the history and topography of Iceland with great understanding and knowledge of his subject. It is highly recommended to anyone who loves to explore the unknown." -- Sigurdur Gylfi Magnusson, Professor of Cultural History, University of Iceland

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Book SynopsisLand of spectacular landscapes, rich history and fabulous legends.With its jaw-dropping beauty, magnificent architecture, superb art and culture, and friendly, hospitable people, Scotland is consistently ranked as one of the world's best-loved destinations.Packed full of fabulous facts, as well as wise and witty quotes from famous Scots, The Little Book of Scotland captures the nation at its glorious best. Covering everything from sparkling lochs and brooding castles to spellbinding legends and famous sons and daughters – not to mention tartan, haggis and whisky – it's a wonderful celebration of this vibrant, extraordinary land.'This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.' - Alexander McCall Smith, on Edinburgh'There are two seasons in Scotland: June and winter.' - Billy ConnollyThe Edinburgh International Festival is one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world. It attracts over 300,000 people annually.Scotland has more than 790 islands, 94 of which are inhabited. One of its most famous and spectacular is the enchanting Isle of Skye. It is the second-biggest island, though it has more sheep than people.Scotland's national dish is the much-loved haggis. It is made with the heart, liver and lungs of a sheep, which are boiled in the animal's stomach.Table of ContentsScotland the Brave • Famous Sons and Daughters • Magnificent Sights and Scenes • Fabulous Art and Culture • Tartan, Haggis and Whisky • Secret Scotland.

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Book SynopsisA profile of Italy which examines many of the less well-known aspects of the country. In a humorous way it uncovers the country's blatant sources of bewilderment, as well as its very charming, amusing and, at times, exceedingly infuriating facets.

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Book SynopsisThink of Rome and you quickly picture so many treasures from the ancient world: the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, the Forum. At its height in the 2nd century CE, the Roman Empire, reaching out from its heart in the city of Rome itself, was the most extensive political and social structure in western civilization. Still today, almost 2000 years later, we marvel at how sophisticated and grand Roman society was – and how much of ancient Rome has survived for us to see in the modern Italian metropolis. From public baths to catacombs, from the Appian Way to small frescoes and sculptures, from temples to private houses to aqueducts, Visual Explorer Guide: Ancient Rome shows the reader both the world famous and lesser known sites in the city. What emerges is both a picture of the grandeur of Antiquity, but also the last days of pagan worships, as by Rome’s final days temples were being converted into churches. Small enough to pack in your pocket, Ancient Rome is a fascinating exploration that gives the reader more than a glimpse of the grandeur of ancient Roman life.Table of ContentsContents include:Introduction1: The Forum Overview of the Roman Forum area Tarpeian Rock Temple of Saturn Temple of Vespasian and Titus Arch of Septimius Severus The Column of Phocas Curia Julia Rostra Five Columns Monument (Decennalia) Basilica Aemilia Forum Main Square Basilica Iulia Temple of Caesar Regia Temple of Castor and Pollux Temple of Vesta House of the Vestal Virgins Umbilicus Urbis Tabularium Milliarium Aureum Cippus from the Lapis Niger Basilica of Maxentius Rampa di Domiziano – Domitian’s Imperial ramp into the Forum2: The Palatine Hill Houses of Livia and Augustus Palace of Septimius Severus The Palace of Domitian (including Domus Augustana and Domus Flavia) Domus Severiana Septizodium Temple of Cybele Temple of Apollo Palatinus House of Tiberius Domus Transitoria and Domus Aurea relics3: Leisure The Colosseum Ludus Magnus Amphitheatrum Castrense Circus Maximus Circus of Maxentius Stadium of Domitian Baths of Diocletian Baths of Caracalla Baths of Trajan Theatre of Marcellus Porticus Octaviae Gardens of Sallust Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli Villa of Livia Villa of the Quintilii Capo di Bove4: Monuments and Statues Trajan’s Column Castel Sant’Angelo (Mausoleum of Hadrian) Mausoleum of Augustus Mausoleum of Helena Mausoleum of Maxentius Pyramid of Cestius Column of Antoninus Pius Column of Marcus Aurelius Arch of Janus Arch of Titus Arch of Constantine Arch of Drusus Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker (Marcus Virgilius Eurysaces) Colossus of Constantine Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius Tomb of Caecilia Metella Flaminio Obelisk and/or Lateran Obelisk Capitoline Wolf Boy with Thorn Commodus as Hercules Emperor Pupienus Maximus Marforio5: Religion The Pantheon Temple of Romulus Temple of Hercules Victor Temple of Antoninus and Faustina Temple of Hadrian Temple of Venus and Roma Esquiline Venus Temple of Portunus and the Bocca della Verita Temple of Apollo Sosianus Largo di Torre Argentina Ara Pacis (Altar of Augustan Peace) Basilica Hilariana Santa Costanza Santa Pudenziana Catacombs of Rome Casal Rotondo Vatican Necropolis Esquiline Necropolis Sarcophagus of Calydonian Boar Hunt Eros Thanatos Hera Flora Ludovisi Ares6: Commerce and Infrastructure Porticus Aemilia Portico Dii Consentes Forum of Augustus Forum of Caesar Forum Boarium Gilded bronze statue of Hercules found in the Forum Boarium Trajan’s Market Aqua Alexandrina Porta Maggiore Aqua Anio Vetus aqueduct Ponte Sant’Angelo Ponte Rotto Pons Fabricius (Ponte Fabricio) Clivus Scauri Castra Praetoria Carcere Mamertino Porta Maggiore Aurelian Walls Porta Appia Via Appia (Appian Way) Via Sacra Ostia Antica

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Book SynopsisIreland holds a special place in people’s hearts – even for many who haven’t been there. To some the appeal is its natural beauty, to others it’s the history; to some it’s Ireland’s lasting folk tradition, to others it even seems to be a mystical place. Ireland: The Emerald Isle presents 150 outstanding photographs celebrating the island’s most evocative and beautiful places, whether in nature or man-made, from the miles of near empty beaches to the Mourne Mountains in County Down, from the pretty fishing towns of County Cork to Dublin’s elegant Georgian streets. Featuring images from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the book ranges widely across landscapes and history, from rugged cliffs and rolling hills to mysterious stone circles, magnificent cathedrals and ruined abbeys; and from medieval forts and castles to grand Victorian follies and villages abandoned during the Potato Famine. While some images such as the striking basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway may be familiar, others you may know only from Game of Thrones and the Star Wars films but never realized that they, too, were in Ireland. Presented with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Ireland: The Emerald Isle is a stunning collection of images celebrating the island’s natural beauty, culture and history.Table of ContentsIntroduction Hills & Mountains The Mourne Mountains, County Down Galtee Mountains, County Tipperary Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary Wicklow Hills, County Wicklow Gweedore, County Donegal Dark Hedges, Bregagh Road, County Antrim Slieve Bloom Mountains, County Laois Cooley Mountains, County Louth Skellig Michael, rock off County Kerry Glengarriff, County Cork Religious Places Monastery Graveyard, Skellig Michael, County Kerry Neolithic passage tombs, Brú na Bóinne, County Meath Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary Askeaton Franciscan Friary, County Limerick Kylemore Abbey, Connemara Mountains, County Galway Bective Abbey, County Meath Ennis’ Friary Ruins, County Clare Forts & Castles Caherconnell Stone Fort, County Clare Ardfinnan Castle, County Tipperary King John’s Castle, Limerick, County Limerick Dunluce Castle, County Antrim Blarney Castle, County Cork Beaches & Coastlines Dog’s Bay Beach, Galway Inchydoney beach, Co Cork Keembay Beach, Achill Coumeenoole Beach, Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry Cliffs of Moher, County Clare Aran Islands, County Galway Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim Valentia, County Kerry Towns & City Life Kinsale, County Cork Cobh, County Cork Doolin, County Clare Ennis, County Clare Galway, County Galway Bettystown, County Armagh Laytown, County Armagh Trinity College, Dublin Kilkenny, County Kilkenny Killarney, County Kerry Lismore, County Waterford Rosscarbery, County Cork Beal an Mhuirthead, County Mayo

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Book SynopsisIn 1889 Frederick Rea arrived from the Midlands to teach in South Uist, at that time one of the poorest places in the Outer Hebrides. Roads were often no more than rough tracks across the mountain moorland or over the storm-swept machair, and his Gaelic-speaking pupils were often frozen and starving. In this extraordinary book, he recounts the years he spent in this remote corner of Scotland, where he was welcomed with uncommon kindness and generosity by the islanders, who found him to be a sincere, conscientious man and an excellent teacher. The book also reveals Rea's keen powers of observation as he describes the lonely, ruggedly beautiful landscape and the customs and lifestyle of the people. Frederick Rea treasured his memories of South Uist for the rest of his life, and his love and respect for the islands and islanders is wonderfully conveyed in this vivid testament.

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Book SynopsisThis work is a celebration of the dialect spoken in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and South Staffordshire. The amazing text and cartoon-like illustrations capture the warmth and humour of the East Midlands.

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Book SynopsisSacred wells have played an important part in the culture and landscape of Cornwall for several millennia, and continue to do so. This book is a collection of beautiful colour photographs of 60 of the most important and pre-eminent wells in the county, accompanied by an informative text about the history and legends associated with them.

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Book SynopsisPocket-sized, full-colour guide to Corsica, ideal for an active short break, if you want an easy stroll or a longer walk and is also suitable if you just want recommendations for things to do or places to eat in Corsica.

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Book SynopsisStrap on your boots and discover Pyrenees on foot with the Sunflower Pyrenees travel guide which includes 65 long and short walks. On the days when your feet may have had enough, enjoy some spectacular scenery on one of our 12 recommended car tours.

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Book SynopsisPocket-sized, full-colour guide to Nice, ideal for an active short break. Nice Walk and Eat Sunflower Guide includes Walks, Restaurants and Recipes.

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Book SynopsisThe Alhambra, the 'red fort' on its rocky hill above Granada, with its fountained courts and gardens, and intricate decoration, has long been a byword for exotic and melancholy beauty. In a stimulating new book in the 'Wonders of the World' series Robert Irwin, Arabist and novelist, examines its engrossing and often mysterious history. Built by a bloody and threatened dynasty of Muslim Spain, it was preserved as a monument to the triumph of Christianity. Much of what we see is the invention of later generations. Its highly sophisticated decoration is not just random but full of hidden meaning. Even its purpose - palace or theological college - is not always clear. Its influence on art, and on literature, orientalist painting and Granada cinemas, Washington Irving and Borges, has been significant. Robert Irwin enables us to understand that history fully. The Wonders of the World is a series of books that focuses on some of the world's most famous sites or monuments. Their names will be familiar to almost everyone: they have achieved iconic stature and are loaded with a fair amount of mythological baggage. These monuments have been the subject of many books over the centuries, but our aim, through the skill and stature of the writers, is to get something much more enlightening, stimulating, even controversial, than straightforward histories or guides.Trade ReviewThis highly readable study provides both a welcome demystification and a fascinating reinterpretation * The Scotsman *For those who know his work, it will confirm his genius and to others it will act as an excellent introduction * Observer *Fascinating -- Malise Ruthven * Sunday Times *A lively, yet clear-headed introduction encouraging a more thoughtful and critical approach to the monument * Literary Review *Irwin's book is both a perfect introduction to the place and a first-rate account of its history * Guardian *He brings the majestic ruins to life' * Newsweek *This book captures and conveys the mysterious attractions of the Alhambra * Doris Lessing *It is ... greatly to Robert Irwin's credit that he has written a book on the subject that is sensible, scholarly, astringent and witty. It is a fine addition to what promises to be an outstanding series on the world's great monuments. * Sunday Telegraph *Entrancing ... an excellent guide, full of fascinating characters and juicy anecdotes ... Having been to the Alhambra many times, after reading this wonderful book I wished to go back - and see it for the first time. -- Susha Guppy * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThis is the work of a man who has known and loved the Scottish Cairngorms for more than 30 years. Jim Crumley marries a poet's instincts to an uncompromising passion for the Cairngorm's arctic character, and for those wildlife tribes which thrive there. He marks nature's rhythms with thoughtful observations of bird and beast, flower and landscape. In the process he strives for a purer empathy with the wilds, seeks out the nourishing bond of man and landscape. Ultimately, the book asserts that the Cairngorms are nature's place. Crumley proposes a radical solution to safeguard the mountains from a threatening array of forces ranged against them. In his conclusion he invokes what Seton Gordon called "the spirit of the high and lonely places".

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Book SynopsisThe Irish landscape is alive with pagan powers, gods and spirits. Inside every hill are feasting halls of otherworldly beings who sometimes emerge into our realm, or entice the unwary into theirs. Lakes and rivers have their own divinities, sacred pagan springs cure everything from toothache to insanity, and gods and goddesses live on in ancient stones. In this fascinating and beautiful book Hector McDonnell describes how Ireland's pre-Christian beliefs still shape its rich customs and beliefs today. WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.

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Book SynopsisPresents a period much closer to home, with a departure towards various images taken of Britain in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. This title also presents a domestic revolution, from a photographer whose international fame covering a country on the other side of the world is put in the context of his equally incisive work at home.

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Book SynopsisThe Scottish highlands played a pivotal role in the secret development of special service training during the Second World War. The remote and rough terrain came into its own as a training and testing ground for new types of fighting. "Commando Country" looks at the variety of special training establishments set up (mostly highland shooting lodges), and at how use was made of the landscape and coastline and of specialist civilian skills such as stalking and mountaineering. It stresses how these new methods of warfare, tested in Scotland, spread internationally into the present day elite status of 'special forces' world-wide.The story involves many famous names from a variety of backgrounds such as actors David Niven and Alec Guinness, mountaineer John Hunt, and polar explorer Martin Lindsay, as well as famous military figures such as David Stirling, founder of the SAS and Special Operations Executive agent Violet Szabo. Conveying the atmosphere of remote highland locations, the book makes strong use of photographs and personal testimony collected from those involved, bringing a unique Scottish perspective to a popular subject.Trade Review'Given its perspective and provenance, Commando Country could have been merely one more parochial and romanticized Highland tale. Stuart Allan has avoided this pitfall, however, and his work not only is a very useful, details, and readable overview of a largely neglected aspect of the history of British Special Operations Forces during the Second World War, but also provides a useful starting point for further research via the thorough and extensive footnote.' War in History ' ... a history that's rich in technical detail, yet, thankfully, remains subservient to the story of the people.' The Herald'... This well-researched book is worthy of its exciting subject. Recommended.'Colonel Oliver Lindsay, The Guards MagazineTable of ContentsMen Bred in the Rough Bounds The Big House Reign of Terror Setting Europe Ablaze Special Forces 'This Country was their Training Ground'

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Book SynopsisServes as a souvenir book, that includes over 60 colour photographs, showing the idyllic southern areas of the Cotswolds.

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Book SynopsisA stunning glimpse of some of Britain's finest coastline, from the granite columns of the Giant's Causeway on the Northern Irish coast and the rocky cliffs of Wales and South West England to the great open horizons of the East Anglian shore. A stunning glimpse of some of Britain's finest coastline, from the granite columns of the Giant's Causeway on the Northern Irish coast and the rocky cliffs of Wales and South West England to the great open horizons of the East Anglian shore. However, this is not just a celebration of Britain's beauty, but an investigation into the preservation and maintenance of the UK's coastline. The Trust owns a remarkable amount of coastline, looking after it not only as a landlord and at times a harbourmaster, but caring for natural habitats, archaeological sites and historic buildings. Here is a chance to view some of the most unforgettable images of, and discover less-known truths about, our extraordinary coastline.

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Book SynopsisPhotographs of the network of canals, waterways, ridges, hills and valleys, patchworks of crops, quarries, monuments, towns and villages, capture the surprises and the beauty of Shropshire from the air.

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Book SynopsisThis full colour 8.5 x 11 book covers the people, landscape, wildlife and cities of this amazing country and was shot by international photographer Keith Hern on his visit in autumn 2010. Areas visited include Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and the Matopo Hills.

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Book SynopsisYorkshire Sketchbook is a unique guide to some of the most popular places in the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the City of York - three of the UK's best-loved tourist destinations. There's suggested road trips taking in all the featured places and quirky facts about flat caps, Yorkshire pudding, 'On Ilkley Moor Baht'at' and more! It's easy to scoff when you hear that 'Yorkshire has everything', especially when said by a Tyke (Yorkshire person) but the more I explore this vibrant and diverse county the more I'm convinced that it's true. The county is largest in the UK, which helps if you have to fit everything in, but there's still space to spare for the wild areas where you can walk all day and never meet anybody else. Yorkshire abounds in stunning vistas across rolling fields, hills and beaches. There's breathtaking rivers, cliffs, dales and moorland to explore. It boasts five national museums, three national parks, three UNESCO sites, a stunning coastline and seven vibrant cities. With Worldclass attractions, historic houses and castles, picturesque villages, fine restaurants, vibrant culture, abundant shopping, cricket, fish and chips and real ale there's truly something for everyone. The Yorkshire folk I met travelling round were unfailingly friendly, helpful and funny. I never had any problem getting them to talk. Shutting them up was another matter. A book of this size couldn't possible cover all of the county so it concentrates on the two national parks - the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Plus the city of York. Nobody should ever tour North Yorkshire without going to York. The places I've chosen to illustrate are my own favourites, some were new to me but the majority I've been to before. None of them were a disappointment and I'll go back to all of them again at the drop of a flat cap. Most are popular tourist destinations so you'll probably find some of your own favourites amongst them. This book will tell you how you can drive to each place, where you can park, some relevant history and what to look out for. I also hope that it not only informs, but also entertains and, if you're a visitor, gives you something to enjoy when you're back home. What it can't do is provide the unexpected surprise that will stay with you forever. You have to experience those for yourself. I've enjoyed many of them on my travels throughout this remarkable county. I do hope you will too.

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Book SynopsisAn African safari is arguably one of the most alluring and easily understood dreams of our time. Just the thought of an African safari evokes thoughts of adventure, a journey through nature's greatest spectacle, a glimpse of the earth before man. African Safari is an exploration of all that the word safari encompasses, from journeys on horseback and dugout canoes, the quiet drifting of a balloon and the tension of waiting on foot to the smell of dung, soil and the rain. African Safari is an intimate odyssey through the great wilderness of Africa and an eye on its wild denizens, spiced with the echoes of a romantic history. African Safari is divided into eight chapters: South Africa (Kruger & the Kgalagadi)Namibia (Etosha, Damaraland and Kaokaland)Botswana (Okavango, Chobe, and Linyanti)Zimbabwe (Mana Pools and the Zambezi) Zambia (North and South Luangwa)Tanzania (Ngorongoro and the Serengeti)Kenya (Masai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo) Rwanda & Uganda (Parc des Volcans and Mgahinga).

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Book SynopsisThis is a landscape format, paperback book, showing the charm of the Cotswold Villages. It contains 160 pages consisting mainly of colour photographs with 'single line' text descriptions. It also includes text and colour photographs of Bath in the South and Stratford upon Avon in the North.

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Book SynopsisWhether you want to learn about the teenager's skeleton from 1550 BC found at Stonehenge, explore the history of Britain's favourite beverages, tea and coffee, or discover how taxation on windows coined the expression `daylight robbery', there is something for every enthusiast to dip into.Table of ContentsThe Making of Britain An Island Nation? - Britain's continental connection Going to Extremes - A land of contrasts Meet the Ancestors - Britain's first immigrants United by Geography, Divided by History? - England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland The Tongue That Straddles the Globe - The pre-eminence of the English language Hundreds of Years of Hurt - Britain's beautiful game: football Extraordinary Places A Hitler Among the Scousers - Liverpool attracts all sorts Want to Relocate Your Old Capital City?- Just call Boadicea My Horse for Your Daughter? - Fair trading at Appleby's horse fair The Second City of the Empire - Glasgow's green spaces and curry houses Ancient Essex Man a Devout Breed - The oldest churches in Britain Fractious French Exchange Programme Prompts Foundation of Britain's Oldest University - Oxford's dreaming spires The Scottish Missionary Position - Cross-roads of early British Christianity Linenopolis to Metropolis - Belfast's Titanic shipbuilding feats `The Very Ramparts of Heaven' - Ancient Lincoln in need of repair Wales's Hidden Treasure-Trove - Local boys done good, too Water Way To Have A Good Time - Boating at altitude Pulling Out The Stops - Alfred the Great's old organ Dodgy Handshakes and Umpteen Takes - Rosslyn hits the limelight Shells of the Non-Collectible Variety - Scarborough takes a pounding from the sea Sixty Warriors to the Square Inch - Scones for afters? Morning Campers! - The bracing charms of Skeggy Cambria Ne'er Can Yield! - Sieges of Harlech One-Way Ticket to The Eternal Underground - Woking: gateway to the Gods Oldest and Oldest - Berrow's Worcester Journal The Venice of the West (Midlands) - The birthplace of British industry Tearing Down the Walls - Derry's identity crisis - all in the name of religion The Heart of the British Film Industry - Ealing in black-and-white The Underground Church - Resting place for a poet and a heroine Kings, Queens and Princes Murderer Assassinated by Shakespeare - The Princes in the Tower Chariots of Ire - The revolting Boadicea Medieval Myth or Real Romano-British Resistance Fighter? - King Arthur's Round Table Wessex Warrior - The life and times of Alfred the Great The Importance of Being `Unraed' - Aethelred and Canute in need of better advisers Prince of Wales Bowled Out - Wayward Hanoverian son checks out in style The Bard Comes Down Hard on the Thane of Glamis - Shakespeare's shortest tragedy: the Scottish Play Robert the Bruce Bides his Time - Destiny of Scotland not set in stone The Guardian of Scotland - William Wallace - `Braveheart' The Tragic Catholic Cousin of the Virgin Queen - Mary, Queen of Scots Placid Cymru? - Welsh princes: a quarrelsome lot William Conquers his Coronation Day Nerves - Beating the Christmas rush at Westminster Abbey From Playboy Prince to Contemptible King - George IV: double-chinned son of a lunatic Eminent Surgeons Save the Day with Acid, Scalpels and Cigars - World's first appendectomy a success for new king Two Divorces, One Abdication and a Trip to See Hitler - The Scandals of Edward and Mrs Simpson `Who Will Rid Me of this Turbulent Priest?' - Henry II bashes a bishop in the name of the law Summary Execution, Cambridge University and Bloody Civil War - What did England's worst kings do for us? Oliver Who? - The Welsh `unknown' who won the Battle of Naseby A Grave End for Pocahontas - Native American princess unimpressed by Britain British Food and Drink Protein, Carbohydrate, Salt and Fat - Fish and Chips: Britain's culinary gift to the world You Are What You Eat - Dieting to death: a Stark choice You've Never Had It So Good - Medieval peasant food The Best Thing Since Sliced Flour and Water - The story of British bread Nice Cold Ice Cold Milk - Good for infants, depressed students and disease transmission `Wine Is But Single Broth; Ale Is Meat, Drink and Cloth' - The British love of good beer The Water of Life - Whisky: the Celtic tipple of choice Forget Toothpaste: Clean Your Teeth With Sugar - In defence of the sweet stuff Mashed-up Organs Boiled in Guts, Anyone? - A natural history of the haggis Prostitutes Allegedly the Most Beautiful Women in Britain - In other news, potatoes cause leprosy Gathered by Virgins - The British love affair with tea Seeking a Healthy Balanced Diet? Go to War - Lake District ordeal for Nobel prizewinner Marmite for the Masses! - The National Birthday Trust Fund Disease and Death in the Pot and Bottle - Detecting fraudulent and deleterious adulterations Champagne: Made in Britain! - But called `fizzy wine' for copyright reasons Mother Nature's Bountiful Harvest - The ripe realities of early recycling Keeping Up With The Cromwells - Mrs C: a fine cook and a better haggler Britannia Rules the Waves Thanks to Pickled Cabbage - Scurvy and the French Navy defeated by British grocers British Government: Politics, Money and the Law Tories and Whigs - Bandits and covenanters Speak Up Mr Speaker! - The historical reluctance to answer back The King's Jews - William the Conqueror's heritage and the Jewish community in Britain The Poll Tax - Ignore history at your peril Father of English Literature Swaps Quill For Shears - Chaucer's woolly stock-in-trade Morton's Fork - The crafty cardinal and the lost monasteries Stamping Out the Smugglers - British efforts to prevent trade in untaxable contraband Pitt's Pictures and Daylight Robbery - A window into revenue-generation William Pitt Strikes Again - Income tax: just a temporary arrangement, right? Swamps and Midges Spread Diseases - Scotland declared bankrupt chasing an American dream The South Sea Bubble Bursts - Prototype financial crisis caused by investments no-one understood That's Got to Hurt - Punishments of the Infamous, Pecuniary and Corporal varieties Anything But Prison - Incarceration or the army The Bloody Code - The unexpected risks to impersonating a pensioner Extraordinary Britons The Great Outlaw - The many faces of Robin Hood Will the Schoolmaster? - Shakespeare's lost years `A Certain Flush With Every Pull' - Inventing the lavatory Curiosity Killed the Cat - Francis Bacon felled by frozen chicken Brain of Britain - The genius of Isaac Newton Doctor Pox - Edward Jenner's gamble All Steamed Up - Who really invented the steam engine? Half Nelsons - Horatio the family man `Such a Damned Fool' - The Iron Duke's affairs Chip Off the Old Block - Brunel's less famous father The Reluctant Clergyman - Charles Darwin's early years Immortalized in Print - Dickens's dysfunctional family The Lady with the Calculator - Florence Nightingale's gift for maths The First Stamp - Rowland Hill's revolutionary idea Unforeseen Consequences - Alexander Graham Bell's aid for the deaf A Formidable Sisterhood - The first lady doctor No Lighthouse on Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson's family trade Scouting for Boys and Girls - Baden-Powell mobilizes the young From Cavalry Charge to the Nuclear Deterrent - Churchill's epic career Chapman of Tremadog? - aka Lawrence of Arabia On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Britain's famous spies Local Heroes - Honoured at the pub

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Book SynopsisThe Little Book of Sheffield comes at a time when local indies need all the support they can get. An in-depth guide to best independent businesses in the Steel City, this book casts a gaze over the makers, producers, retailers, cafes, bars and restaurants that make the city hum. With a foreword from iconic Sheffield institution Henderson's Relish, The Little Book of Sheffield features the likes of Exposed Magazine, True North Brewery, Locksley Gin, Moss Valley Meats, Freshmans Vintage, Birds Yard, The Mowbray, Jameson's Tearooms and The Famous Sheffield Shop... all telling their stories and celebrating what makes them and the city unique. The book is also proud to be part of Sheffield City Council's 'Make Yourself At Home' campaign.

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