Search results for ""Author Gillian Price""

This pocket field guide to identifying 230 common Alpine flowers is packed with all the information you need to recognise your favourites while out in the mountains. Designed for the non-specialist, this little handbook is arranged by colour and also includes a glossary of flower parts and an introduction which describes the amazing lengths that these tiny gems go to to survive at altitude. Alpine expert author Gillian Price says: 'It never ceases to amaze me that such tiny plants can spend months on end buried under metres of snow and ice - weathering temperatures as low as minus 25°C - then sprout back to life when things thaw out and warm up. In springtime you can spot the fragile purple petals of the Alpine Snowbell pushing their way through snow - they contain an anti-freeze that enables them to melt it. Masters of adaptation and survival, alpine flowers can trap insects, store precious water, expel excess minerals and fool insects.' Each flower entry includes a clear photograph and essential description along with its name in English, Latin, German, French and Italian and interesting information about the origins of some of the more curious flower names. Each one is also indexed by its English and its Latin name so you can follow up a hunch about a name or find out more about a flower.

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Guidebook to 50 day walks in the Dolomites, showcasing the best mountain routes in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in northeastern Italy. The Dolomites offer fantastic walking from June to September and can easily be reached from Verona, Treviso, Venice and Innsbruck. Including easy, moderate and strenuous hut-supported walks, the routes range from 2–13 miles (3–21km), each designed to fit into a single day. They centre around key bases such as Cortina d'Ampezzo, San Vito di Cadore, Sesto and Misurina. 1:50,000 maps included for each walk Advice on access, refreshments and public transport Highlights include Tri Cime di Lavaredo, Pelmo and Marmolada Listing of rifuges and accommodation providers GPX files available to download

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A guidebook to 46 graded walks exploring the Sicily and the adjoining Aeolian and Egadi Islands. Exploring the dramatic scenery of this world famous region, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike and are perfect for year-round walking. Walks range from 2km to 23km (1-14 miles) in length with most walks being enjoyed in 3-4 hours. They start from key areas including Catania, Messina, Taormina. Sketch maps included for each walk Information on Travelling Around Sicily, Accommodation, and Food and Drink Highlights include Mount Etna, Madonie, the Nebrodi mountains and the Aeolian trail Short Italian-English glossary Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket

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This guidebook describes two treks in the Bernina region of the Swiss-Italian Alps. The Tour of the Bernina covers 119km in nine stages circling the Piz Bernina massif. Five days are spent in Switzerland and four in Italy, however a number of inviting extensions and detours are also described which add at least two days to the total. The tour is suitable for trekkers with basic alpine walking experience. While the highest point reached is 3002m, there are no glacier crossings en route. The Alta Via Valmalenco in Italy is a shorter, 8-stage trek over 94km, but is a more challenging route suitable for trekkers with more experience. Almost every stage of both treks can be accessed from a valley floor and public transport, opening the door to multiple variants and shorter treks. Detailed stage by stage route descriptions are given in combination with plenty of background and practical information.

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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 Histórico (the Historical Way) and the Trilho dos Pescadores (the Fishermen's Trail), to create a hike starting in Santiago do Cacém and ending at Cabo de São 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 Cacém. 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.

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A guidebook to 40 day walks exploring the Italian region of Umbria. Based in the area between Rome and Florence, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike. Walks range from 3 to 19km (2–12 miles) in length and can be enjoyed in 1–5 hours. Walks have been graded from 1 to 3 allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability. Sketch maps included for each walk Detailed information on accommodation, public transport and facilities Highlights include UNESCO World Heritage towns and Lago Trasimeno

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This guidebook describes the Grande Escursione Appenninica (GEA), a nearly 400km long, three week trek crossing the Apennines in 23 stages, from Bocca Trabaria to Passo Due Santi on the edge of Liguria. The route dips in and out of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, never dropping below 400 metres. Best walked between spring and autumn, it is suitable for any reasonably fit walker, and this guidebook provides step-by-step route descriptions, accompanied by detailed mapping. There are transport options for joining and leaving the walk at a number of points, making it perfect for undertaking in small sections or single-day walks. There are suggestions for accommodation en route in comfortable guest houses and alpine-style huts, making it essential reading for anyone undertaking the GEA. The Apennines are Italy's best-kept secret. Forming the rugged spine of the Italian peninsula, this range provides thousands of kilometres of marked trails over rocky crests and ridges and explores extensive forests and meadows, following routes established long ago by traders, pilgrims and shepherds and little affected by mass tourism.

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A guidebook to 43 day walks in the Italian region of Tuscany. Exploring the dramatic scenery of this world-famous region, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike. Walks range from 3 to 18km (2–11 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–7 hours. Walks have been graded from 1 to 3 allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability. 1:50,000 maps are included for each walk Detailed information on planning, accommodation and public transport Highlights include Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano and the Isle of Elba

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A guidebook to 16 walks in Italy’s Cinque Terre. Following age-old paths linking the UNESCO-listed settlements of this beautiful coastline, the routes involve moderate to steep ascents and therefore call for a reasonable level of fitness. Walks range from 2 to 14km (1–8 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–5 hours. There are routes starting from all five of the main villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – and all are accessible by public transport. 1:50,000 or 1:25,000 mapping included for each walk GPX files available for download Refreshment and public transport information provided Walks can be combined to create a 3–4 day trek across the Cinque Terre With notes on local history, plants and wildlife and cuisine

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A guidebook to 32 day walks on Italy’s Amalfi coast. Exploring the dramatic scenery of this UNESCO World Heritage site, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike and cover the Amalfi coast as well as the Islands of Ischia and Capri. Walks range from 3 to 11km (2–7 miles) in length and can be enjoyed in 1–5 hours. The walks have been designed to allow you to combine routes to create longer days out and are easily accessible from Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi. Local points of interest are featured including the Gulf of Naples Sketch maps included for each walk Detailed information on accommodation, facilities and public transport

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A guidebook to 22 day walks on the Greek island of Corfu, plus the Corfu Trail. Exploring both the island’s stunning coast and unspoilt interior, the routes are graded from easy to strenuous with options to suit most abilities and ambitions. The day walks range from 4 to 18km (2–11 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–5 hours. The 150km (93 mile) Corfu Trail traverses the island from south to north and is presented in 10 stages. Clear route description and sketch maps included for each walk Detailed information on refreshments and access Suggestions for walking bases Accommodation listings for the Corfu Trail Local points of interest, plants and wildlife and Greek cuisine

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A detailed guidebook to walking in Italy's Sibillini National Park. 21 day walks and one 8-day trek of the Monti Sibillini (that belongs to the Appenine Chain) route descriptions are provided in the guidebook, with maps and profiles given for each walk. The day walks range from 3 to 21km in length. The 8-day trek around Italy's Great Sibylline Ring is 120km long, with mountain huts available to stay in along the way. No special equipment or training is required for this route, but a lightweight rucksack, hiking boots and walking poles are recommended. The area has a lengthy walking season from early spring to late autumn, and refuges are open from mid-April to mid-October. Easily accessible the area can be reached from budget airline destinations on the Adriatic Coast, as well as from Rome. The Monti Sibillini straddles the Marche and Umbria, close to the towns of Norcia, Ascoli Piceno, L'Aquila and Perugia. Details of accommodation, refreshments and public transport along all the routes are also included with full-colour sketch maps and profiles.

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The Alta Via 1 is one of Italy's most famous and most popular long-distance routes and is the easiest of six Alta Via routes that traverse the magnificent Dolomites. The hut-to-hut trail extends 115km from Lago di Braies to La Pissa, boasting spectacular alpine vistas. Although it demands a moderate level of fitness, it is well waymarked and follows clear well-trodden paths, making for an ideal introduction to trekking in the Dolomites. Welcoming refuges offer meals and accommodation along the way, though camping is also possible on the middle stages (restrictions apply elsewhere). The route is presented in 11 stages, each with overview statistics, a brief summary of the day's walking and detailed route description illustrated with clear mapping. There are also comprehensive notes on the huts the route passes, with contact details and tips on facilities available. The intro includes advice on transport, accommodation and equipment, plus suggestions for creating shorter itineraries should time be limited, and there are facts about local points of interest and background information on the region's geology, plants and wildlife. A handy map booklet is also included, showing the full route of AV1 on 1:25,000 Kompass mapping, so you don't have to carry paper maps. Famed for their striking jagged peaks and sheer rock faces, the Dolomites also bear stark reminders of the turbulent World War I years in the shape of trenches and barracks. The AV1 is a wonderful way to experience the celebrated scenery: (weather permitting) an estimated 80% of the Dolomites can be seen from the trail, with highlights including fantastic views of the Tofane, Pelmo and Civetta and the iconic Marmolada with its glacier. If this is your first visit to the region, you'll soon see why so many fall under its spell!

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With spectacular mountain landscapes, beautiful rugged coast, forests, maquis and striking river gorges, Corsica is a walker's paradise. This guidebook details five of the islands's most popular shorter treks: the 2-day coastal Sentier du Douanier (Customs Officer's Path) around Cap Corse; two coast-to-coast routes through the central mountains, the 11-day Mare a Mare Nord and the 5-day Mare a Mare Sud; and two 'coast and mountains' routes, the 10-day Mare e Monti and the 5-day Mare e Monti Sud. (Corsica's famous 190km GR20 trail is described in a separate Cicerone guide.) The routes can be linked to create longer excursions and accommodation is provided by a mixture of walkers' hostels, B&Bs and hotels; camping is also an option. The guide presents each of the waymarked trails in daily stages averaging around 12-13km per day, with route description, mapping and notes on accommodation options. There is advice on how to get to Corsica, when to go and what to take, plus accommodation listings, useful contacts and a French/Corsican-English glossary. The guide also offers a wealth of information about the island's rich plant and wildlife. Considerably easier than the challenging GR20, these trails offer a more accessible option for trekkers wishing to experience the 'real' Corsica, away from the bustling coastal resorts. You'll find enchanting scenery - towering forests, gushing cascades, turquoise coves, aromatic maquis, rugged mountains and quiet villages nestling on hillsides of chestnut woods - not to mention a favourable climate and delicious local cuisine. Don't be surprised if you fall under the island's spell!

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A guidebook to 25 day walks on the island of Corsica. Exploring the diverse scenery of this French Mediterranean island, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike. Walks range from 4 to 19km (2–12 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–7 hours. Walks have been graded from 1 to 3 allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability. 1:50,000 maps are included for each walk GPX files available to download Detailed information about facilities, public transport and accommodation Highlights include Cap Corse coastline and Bonifacio white cliffs

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This guidebook describes the 12-day Alta Via 2 trek in the Gran Paradiso National Park, which covers over 140km of rugged mountains and valleys between Chardonney and Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley. While not high on the difficulty scale, Alta Via 2 is strenuous, and best suited to trekkers with some alpine experience.

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A guidebook to 20 day walks around Lakes Garda and Iseo. Exploring the dramatic scenery of the Italian lakes, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike. Walks range from 5 to 13km (3–8 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–5 hours. Walks have been graded from 1 to 3 allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability. Sketch maps are included for each walk Detailed information on accommodation, public transport and wildlife Highlights include Monte Baldo and Monteisola

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A guidebook to 25 multi-day treks in the Dolomites of north-east Italy. The routes range from moderate to challenging in difficulty, with varying degrees of mountain traverses, scrambles and exposure so a good head for heights is needed. The treks range from 11 to 41km (7–25 miles) with daily distances of between 5 and 15km (3–9 miles). Each trek is designed to be hut-to-hut and last 2–4 days. The routes explore the major mountain groups of the UNESCO World Heritage site including Sella and Marmolada. 1:100,000 maps are included for each walk Treks feature notes on access, difficulty and recommended maps for navigation on the ground Public transport and accommodation options are detailed

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A guidebook to 38 day walks in Italy’s Stelvio National Park. Exploring the beautiful scenery of the Italian Rhaetian Alps, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike. Routes range from 5-18km (3-11 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2-7 hours. They are and are perfect for walking late June through October. Sketch maps included for each walk Highlights include the Stelvio Pass, Forno glacier and Ortler Detailed information on planning, accommodation and public transport Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket

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Guidebook to walking and trekking in the Maritime Alps on the border of Italy and France, just north of Nice. It includes 18 graded day walks, on both the French and the Italian sides, ranging from 6km to 20km in length and suitable for a range of abilities. There are also 6 longer treks, including a 5-day traverse of the Parc National du Mercantour and a 7-day traverse of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime. Detailed route descriptions sit alongside colour maps, and there is full information about accommodation options down in the valleys and up in the mountains. Useful French-English and Italian-English glossaries of walking terminology are included, too. Rising to over 3000m above the sun-drenched French Riviera, the Maritime Alps form the western edge of the mighty Alpine chain. Wildflower lovers will also appreciate the remarkable range of flowers, including many unique to the area. Worlds away from the hustle and bustle and crowds of the coast this is a marvellous area for novice walkers and seasoned long-distance trekkers alike.

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A guidebook to 28 day walks and a 5-day trek around Lakes Como and Maggiore. Exploring the dramatic scenery of the Italian lakes, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike. Walks range from 3km to 20km (2–12 miles) and can be enjoyed in 1–5 hours. The Sentiero del Viandante trek, or Wayfarer’s Path, along the eastern shore of Lake Como between Lecco and Colico is described in 5 stages covering 54km (34 miles). Sketch maps are included for each walk Detailed information on accommodation, public transport and wildlife Highlights include Mottarone and Monte San Primo

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Guidebook describing Alta Via 2, a challenging hut-to-hut trek through the Italian Dolomites. Stretching 174km from Bressanone (Brixen) to Feltre, the route involves some aided and exposed sections (although several can be bypassed) calling for a sure foot and a good head for heights. It can be walked in under a fortnight - although it is also possible to walk shorter chunks should you only have limited time, and the guide highlights potential exit routes and transport options. Also included are summaries of Alte Vie 3-6, which are more demanding and include remote terrain and stretches of via ferrata for which climbing experience is essential. On Alte Vie 3-6 some nights will be spent in unmanned bivouac huts, meaning trekkers must carry their own kit, although it is possible to walk shorter hut-to-hut sections. The easiest of the Alta Via routes, Alta Via 1, is covered in a separate Cicerone guide. An overview diagram is provided for each trek, showing times between huts. Alta Via 2 is presented in 13 stages, each with clear route description illustrated with 1:75,000 mapping. There are overview statistics for each stage and contact details and notes about mountain huts encountered en route. The guide also includes a wealth of information about the region's geology, plants and wildlife to enhance your appreciation of the landscapes traversed. Useful contacts and an Italian-English glossary can be found in the appendices. A handy pocket-sized map booklet showing the full route of Alta Via 2 on 1:25,000 Kompass maps is included with the guide. Alta Via 2 visits the Plose massif, the jagged Puez-Odle, fortress-like Sella, the majestic Marmolada, spectacular Pale di San Martino and the rugged Alpi Feltrine group as it journeys from the baroque town of Bressanone to Renaissance-style Feltre. On all of the Alta Via routes you can expect breathtaking mountain vistas and a truly memorable trekking experience.

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