Travel & Holiday Guides

“There is no city like New York and no better tour guide to it than Keith Taillon! I’m a lifelong New Yorker but he has taught me things about each neighborhood and every block I never knew before. Keith brings the ‘city that never sleeps’ alive in a way no one else can.” – Anderson Cooper Join Keith Taillon on twelve of his most popular walking tour routes, examining in depth the various neighbourhoods of Manhattan, their history, and the intricacies of their formation. In Walking New York, Keith traces the evolution of the Big Apple back to some of its early seeds, focusing on the 19th and 20th centuries—a window in which New York City transformed from a small provincial port town into a global metropolis. He covers everything from the completion of the Erie Canal and Croton Aqueduct to some of the notorious characters behind the city’s Gilded Age. Each chapter features a suggested walking route, with a detailed map and notes on the route's length and time. Throughout each walk, readers are encouraged to pause and really take in the streetscape. Filled with interesting facts and timelines, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of why the city looks and feels the way it does. Perfect for tourists, New Yorkers and armchair travellers alike, you will see New York in a new way, learning to look up, look around, and appreciate this truly special place anew.

Monsters, in all their terrifying glory, have preoccupied humans since we began telling stories. But where did these stories come from?In Monsterland, award-winning author Nicholas Jubber goes on a journey to discover more about the monsters we've invented, lurking in the dark and the wild places of the earth - giants, dragons, ogres, zombies, ghosts, demons - all with one thing in common: their ability to terrify. His far-ranging adventure takes him across the world. He sits on the thrones of giants in Cornwall, visits the shrine of a beheaded ogre near Kyoto, travels to an eighteenth-century Balkan vampire's forest dwelling, and paddles among the shapeshifters of the Louisiana bayous. On his travels, he discovers that the stories of the people and places that birthed them are just as fascinating as the creatures themselves. Artfully written, Monsterland is a spellbinding interrogation into why we need these monsters and what they can tell us about ourselves - how they bind communities together as much as they cruelly cast away outsiders.

Discover the power of our relationship with Y Môr (the sea) along the Wales Coast Path. Matthew Yeomans takes us on journeys along the official walking trail, which in its entirety covers 870 miles (1400 km) of the Welsh coastline. He uncovers how the sea has shaped our lives through history; how Wales's rich mythology, literature and culture has been influenced by this fluid force, and the growing role that the sea plays in our lives.  Along the way, Seascape challenges us to face the realities of climate change and how we will need to adapt where and how we live. Only by recovering a healthy relationship with the sea can we meet our future challenges and unlock opportunities for better ways of living.

An essential guide to one of the world's most remarkable, and often misunderstood, cities by the author of Why the Dutch Are Different.When Ben Coates injures his leg and needs to rebuild his strength by walking, he finds himself presented with an exciting opportunity: to rediscover the city he has been working in for over a decade, at a slower pace. He devises ten walks, each demonstrating a different chapter of Amsterdam's history, from its humble beginnings as a small fishing community through two Golden Ages, fuelled by the growth of the Dutch colonial empire, two world wars, and countless reinventions.Join Coates as he meanders past beautiful townhouses and glittering canals, dances at Pride celebrations, witnesses the King's apology at Keti Koti, attends a WW2 memorial, gets high at a coffee shop, walks through the red-light district, and gazes in awe at Rembrandt paintings, all the while illuminating modern Amsterdam by explaining its past.Blending travelogue and quirky history, The Invention of Amsterdam is an entertaining and sharply observed portrait of a fascinating and complicated city.

Discover the magic of West Wales with this unique new guidebook. Blending invigorating wild swimming adventures with scenic walks through spectacular natural landscapes, it will inspire you to explore emerald waters, reach remote waterfalls and immerse yourself in the rich history and diverse wildlife of this captivating region. Going beyond traditional trail descriptions, this new guide offers detailed insights into the natural wonders that make each location special. Learn about the unique flora and fauna of the Celtic rain forests while hiking the Doethie valley, witness the UK's largest residential bottlenose dolphin population at Mwnt, uncover geological marvels at Ceibwr Bay, where ancient rock folds reveal millions of years of history, or venture to the remote Teifi Pools, a Dark Sky Discovery Site where you can swim beneath a blanket of stars.Rich with detailed location and safety information, contextual guidance, vivid historical background and recommendations for cozy local pubs and cafés, whether you're a hiker, swimmer, history lover or weekend adventurer you'll find everything you need in this book to explore one of Wales' wildest corners with confidence.

The ultimate adventure guide to exploring Ireland's rugged west coast, this new guide reveals the region's 1,000 wildest and most enchanting places. From remote beaches and dramatic cliffs to secret waterfalls and magical woodlands, readers are taken off the beaten path to discover the untamed beauty of Western Ireland - Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Kerry, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim and Limerick. Perfect for adventurers, nature lovers and families, the guide uncovers hidden gems that most tourists never see and charts the best slow food and wild places to stay. From kayaking among hundreds of tiny islands in Mayo to sandwiching secluded coves and rolling mountains with superb food in Connemara, exploring the Burren's otherworldly rock formations and secret lakes in County Clare, and wandering the wild beaches, remote sea cliffs and waterfalls of Kerry, this new guide brims with Atlantic Ocean adventures, journeys around forgotten castles, forts and tombs, and expeditions into lush valleys where rivers carve their way through mesmerising wild landscapes. Head to County Donegal to explore Glenveagh National Park, with its dense woodlands, rivers and dramatic mountain views, or visit the Aran Islands to uncover some of the most spectacular coastal cliffs and ancient ruins in Ireland. In various counties, inland greenways link abandoned ruins, wildlife-rich bogs, ancient woodlands and rushy riverbanks. Each chapter is packed with practical advice on how to reach these hidden treasures, including detailed maps, GPS coordinates, and tips on where to camp, wild swim and picnic. With recommendations for the best local pubs, innovative restaurants and unique farm shops, this guide will also help you connect with Ireland's culture and communities.

This guidebook is your passport to the exhilarating world of wild saunas in the UK, revealing over 170 locations across the country. More than just a directory, this book explores the ancient roots of sweat bathing in Britain, from the burnt mounds of Shetland and the teach allais of Ireland to the modern-day resurgence of saunas, ice baths and wild swimming. It's about reconnecting with nature, rediscovering ancient traditions, and embracing the physical and mental benefits of heat and contrast therapy. Discover Sawna Bach, on the wild coast of Anglesey, where you can add on beach yoga or feast on homegrown food after your session. Journey to the Isle of Arran with Drumadoon's vintage sauna truck, and soak up salt-flecked coastal views and a taste of Celtic history. Experience the magic of Fallen Willow Sauna, tucked away in a secluded woodland near Stockbridge, a testament to thoughtful design and community spirit. And venture north to Shetland, where Haar sauna, overlooking the wild beauty of St Ninian's Isle, offers a sanctuary for locals and travelers alike.

Explore singular destinations with The Leading Hotels of the World in this celebration of exceptional hospitality, extraordinary cultural heritage, and unforgettable travel locales

"Georgann Eubanks offers readers a tour of the seasonal joys of ecosystems in the Southeast. The ordinary destinations and events she explores are scattered across seven states and include such wonders as a half-million purple martins roosting on an island in a South Carolina lake, the bloom of thirty acres of dimpled trout lilies in a remote Georgia forest, gnat larvae that glow like stars on the rock walls of an obscure Alabama canyon, and the overnight accumulation of elaborately patterned moths on the side of a North Carolina mountain cabin. These phenomena and others reveal how plants, mammals, amphibians, and insects are managing to persevere despite pressures from human invasion, habitat destruction, and climate change. Their stories also shine a light on the efforts of dedicated scientists, volunteers, and aspiring young naturalists who are working to reverse losses and preserve the fabulous ordinary that's still alive in the fields, forests, rivers, and coastal estuaries of this essential and biodiverse region"--