Books published by Cicerone Press

Fully-updated third edition of this comprehensive guide to walking and scrambling in the High Tatras mountains between Poland and Slovakia, and the White and Western Tatras ranges. The sight of the craggy peaks of the High Tatras mountains straddling the Poland-Slovakia border is unforgettable, beautiful and dramatic. This was the first English-language guidebook to cover this spectacular area in depth. The two sides of the range, in Slovakia and Poland, offer totally contrasting experiences. In Slovakia, you can walk from several villages strung out along the foot of the range and linked by a tramway. In Poland, there is just one main resort, Zakopane, a delightful small town that retained its traditional atmosphere through the ravages of the Communist era. The authors provide a detailed insight into the possibilities for walking at all levels from easy through moderate to strenuous. The book also includes sections on history, vegetation and wildlife, weather, languages, preparations for your trip, accommodation and local attractions. For anyone wishing to visit the High Tatras, this book is a must.

This guidebook describes the challenging 80-mile (128km) Skye Trail, a week-long trek across the magical Isle of Skye, the largest island in Scotland's Inner Hebrides. As yet unwaymarked, the route demands navigational skill, fitness and self-reliance and is therefore suitable for experienced backpackers and mountain walkers. The trail is presented in 7 stages of between 7 (11.5km) and 18 miles (28.5km), plus an alternative stage to include an ascent of Bla Bheinn. Alongside detailed route description, 1:50,000 OS mapping and stunning photography, the guide provides a wealth of information about Skye's rich history, culture, literature, geology, wildlife and plants, as well as practical advice such as when to go, what to take and where to stay. Blending information with inspiration, the result is an ideal companion to trekking this magnificent route. From the headland of Rubha Hunish, through Portree to Broadford, the Skye Trail provides the walker with a tour of Skye's most iconic landforms - including the Quiraing, the Old Man of Storr and the Cuillin - as well as of its turbulent history, from Iron Age forts to the ruins of Clearance villages. Whether making use of island hospitality or opting for the freedom of a tent, completing the continuous route represents a real challenge and a fitting match for the epic landscapes found on Skye.

Guidebook to the Elbe Cycle Route through Czechia and Germany. This 1232km route along one of Europe's great rivers follows the Elbe from its source to the North Sea coast, visiting Prague, Dresden, Magdeburg and Hamburg. 29 stages of easy, flat cycling mainly on quiet country roads and dedicated cycle tracks.

Guidebook to cycling the River Rhine from source to sea, through Switzerland, Germany, France and the Netherlands. The 1368km route from the summit of Oberalppass to the Hook of Holland is split into 27 stages, mostly following well-surfaced cycle tracks. Includes information on facilities, useful contacts and a language glossary.

A guide to bivvybag skills and expeditions, The Book of The Bivvy is a half-and-half mix of how to do it and why to do it (or how not to do it, and why not to do it). Accounts of expeditions, both nice and nasty, alternate with practical chapters about the technicalities of the breathable membrane, how little kit you really can get away with and the secrets of lightweight long distance. The book closes with a selection of bivvybag expeditions to initiate the unwary into the secrets. Ronald's informed, humorous, instructive, wry look at the world of the bivouac is certainly the first, and perhaps the last, word on this unexplored territory. Along the way Ronald shows that 1900 to 1969 was the dark age of the bivouac, how Diogenes (the Cynic) bivvied under timber, and that the Eiger was climbed only through improved bivvying technique.

This guide describes the eleven-day 163km Tour of the Vanoise and the five-day 72km Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise, two fantastic hut-to-hut treks through the pristine Alpine landscapes of France's Vanoise National Park. Three other short treks - the Tour of the Eastern Vanoise, the Tour of the Western Vanoise and a Traverse of the Vanoise via the GR5 and GR55 - are also summarised. The routes tackle several passes in excess of 2500m but there are no glacier crossings, no significant scrambling and no lengthy paths exposed to either stonefall or vertigo-inspiring exposure (though optional variants may involve some slightly more challenging sections), and waymarking is usually clear - making this an ideal route for those new to Alpine trekking. The guide contains everything you need to plan and walk the routes, with advice on travel to the region, accommodation and recommended kit. Clear route description, mapping and overview statistics are provided for each day stage, there are notes on the region's plants and wildlife and other points of interest, and accommodation listings and a handy glossary can be found in the appendices. Completing the package, the beautiful colour photos will call to your wanderlust. The Vanoise is less well known than its neighbours Mont Blanc and the Ecrins massif but is equally beautiful. The scenery is quintessentially Alpine, with 3000m peaks decorated with gleaming glaciers and snowfields, valleys glistening with lakes and streams, towering moraine walls, impossibly steep rock slabs and, in the early summer, meadows extravagant with a riot of alpine flowers. A well-appointed network of refuges promises a warm welcome at the end of each day's walking. It's a perfect place to experience the pleasures of Alpine trekking and these routes offer the ideal opportunity to explore this magnificent region.

Walking guide to the islands of La Gomera and El Hierro. The 45 waymarked routes in this guidebook include easy strolls and hands-on scrambles, day walks and long-distance routes including the GR132 and parts of the GR131 which runs the whole length of the Canary Islands. Walks are spread in the guide roughly clockwise and where walks are located beside each other, links between them are often possible, giving you the opportunity to make your own alterations. The routes are described over both islands, with 27 walks on La Gomera and 18 on El Hierro, illustrated with clear contour mapping and inspirational photography. The two smallest of the Canary Islands are no less rugged than their volcanic neighbours, offering a wide variety of little-known walking terrain from steep-sided barrancos and dramatic cliffs to the gentler slopes inland cloaked in laurasilva and pine forests.

Guidebook to 33 day walks in the Algarve, Portugal's southernmost region. The selected routes offer both coastal and inland options, including the Serra de Monchique and Costa Vicentina, the south and west coasts, the central region and East Algarve. The Algarve benefits from a mild climate, fine scenery and easy transport access.

Guidebook to 70 walks on the Azores, a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. Most of the walks are easy or moderate, with a few graded difficult. The selection is spread across all nine islands, offering much variety, from easy village-to-village walks to remote and mountainous walks, including Portugal's highest mountain, Pico.

Guidebook describing day walks, multi-stage treks and 5 cycle routes covering the north, central and southern regions of Germany's Black Forest. From easy routes for families to multi-day journeys, the walks and rides explore the many forests, villages, castles and hills near Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, Freiburg and Basle.

Guidebook to 43 graded, mostly easy walks in Tuscany. Taking in the Renaissance splendour of Florence and Siena, the World Heritage scenery of Val d'Orcia and San Gimignano and the stunning island of Elba, the routes use historical pathways used by traders, pilgrims and armies, and include some brief, trouble-free climbs/descents.

Guidebook describing challenging treks in the mountains of Greece, traversing the Pindhos Range, near Athens, and the Peloponnese, plus a handful of shorter routes including Mount Olympus. The treks demand a high level of commitment and fitness due to their remoteness and difficult terrain, and boast stunning unspoilt scenery.

Guidebook to walking the Hebridean Way, a 155 mile (247km) walking route along the length of the Outer Hebrides. From the island of Vatersay to Stornoway on Lewis, the waymarked route can be walked in 8 to 13 days and crosses a variety of terrain including shell beaches, rugged hills and wild moor. Also includes an extension to the Butt of Lewis.

Guidebook to walking the North Downs Way National Trail, a 130 mile (208km) trail between Farnham and Dover, with an optional visit to Canterbury. Following the ancient Pilgrim's Way for much of the way, through pleasant countryside, this is one of the easier National Trails and the walk is described over 11 stages. With 1:25K OS map booklet.

Guidebook to walking the Snowdonia Way in Wales, a long-distance route through Snowdonia National Park from Machynlleth to Conwy. Low-level route of 97 miles (6 to 8 stages) includes Pass of Aberglaslyn, Ogwen Valley and Aber Falls. The mountain route is 122 miles in 9 stages, including Cadair Idris, Snowdon and Glyders. With planning information.

A comprehensive guidebook detailing walking routes in Austria. The 101 walks reflect the diversity of this popular region and cover Austria's magnificent Alps - including the Ratikon, Silvretta, Stubai and Zillertal - as well as the Dachsteingebirge, Hohe Tauern and the Karawanken. Graded according to difficulty and ranging from short walks of a few kilometres to day hikes and multi-day hut-to-hut tours, from the classic to the lesser-known, there is something to suit every level of ability and ambition. A full description of each route is accompanied by clear sketch maps. This book has all the information you need to make the most of an active walking holiday in Austria, including information on public transport, accommodation, gear required and safety issues, full details of over 100 mountain huts and a German-English glossary.Austria is one of Europe's most walker-friendly countries. Its 40,000km of well-maintained and waymarked trails pass more than a thousand Austrian mountain huts and countless attractive villages, hospitable hotels, inns and restaurants. It also boasts an extensive, integrated public transport system that is particularly useful for walkers. The Austrian landscape is enchanting in its beauty, featuring rugged limestone spires, towering snowy peaks, majestic lakes and tranquil valleys.

This guidebook is all you need to discover The Westweg, a 285km walk along the length Germany's Black Forest from Pforzheim to Basel. This classic long-distance trail takes around two weeks to walk, in stages of 15-28km. The route is well way-marked and suitable for experienced hikers and those new to long distance walking, though some sections are steep. The Westweg incorporates many of the region's highlights, such the Schwarzwald National Park, the source of the Danube and Lake Titisee. At Titisee there is a choice to make: the western route taking in the Black Forest's highest peak Feldberg and the vineyards of the Markgraflerland, or the quieter eastern route via the Herzogenhorn peak and on to Basel, with all its cultural attractions and old-world charm. With well-maintained and waymarked trails, an efficient public transport system and conveniently placed huts and farmhouse inns, the Black Forest is one of Germany's best-loved walking destinations. Soft-contoured, forest-clad hills, interspersed with pastures and picturesque villages combine on with far-ranging vistas right across the Alpine chain. Detailed descriptions and 1:100,000 maps accompany each stage of the route and the book describes options for shortening stages using public transport. There is also information on when to go, where to stay and a German-English glossary - all of which will earn this useful guide a place in your rucksack.

A guidebook describing 40 trail running routes in the Chamonix Valley and around the Mont Blanc massif, visiting France, Switzerland and Italy. The routes, which range from 3.8km (21/2 miles) to 168km (104 miles), are graded from 1 to 5 and categorised as trail running, fell running or skyrunning. Starting from Chamonix, Les Houches, Servoz, Champex, Courmayeur, Orsieres and Vallorcine among others, and covering classic ultra trail routes as well as shorter day runs, there is something for every runner. Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping and route profiles, with notes on safety and useful tips for runners. Also included is a comprehensive equipment checklist plus information on running at altitude, adapting to the Alps, navigation, maps and mountain safety. GPX files for all routes are available for download after you have purchased the book by logging in to your Cicerone account. Renowned as a mecca for trail runners, the Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc region is home to some of the greatest trail running races in the world, including the Tour des Gants and Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. The landscape, with its dramatic mountain scenery and ethereal vistas, offers diverse trail options and true adventure - the perfect playground for this exhilarating sport.

A guidebook to 80 walking routes on Scotland's Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Routes are described on the islands of Orkney (Orkney Mainland, Hoy, South Ronaldsay, Burray, Rousay, Eday, Westray, Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay) and the islands of Shetland (Shetland Mainland, West Burra, East Burra, Foula, Fair Isle, Isle of Noss, Bressay, Whalsay, Papa Stour, Muckle Roe, Out Skerries, Esha Ness, Yell, Fetlar and Unst). Routes vary in length from 1 mile to 16 miles, with something to suit all abilities. Offering a variety of landscapes together with a wealth of remarkable archaeological sites such as Skara Brae and Jarlshof, Orkney and Shetland are a walker's dream. Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by clear OS mapping and a time estimate for completing each route. The book includes plenty of information on the region's wildlife, archaeology and history, as well as practical tips such as when to go, what to take and getting to and around Orkney and Shetland. Quiet, remote and abounding in rare plants and wildlife, together with some of the world's most fascinating archaeological sites, Orkney and Shetland offer a treasure trove of natural and historic wonders, and makes an ideal walking holiday destination.

The essential guidebook to walking the 84-mile Hadrian's Wall Path. One of the UK's most visited National Trails, it runs the length of the Roman Wall from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend, Newcastle. The trail is presented here in 10 stages, with suggestions for five and eight-day itineraries. It is suitable for beginners, although a reasonable level of fitness is required if doing it as a multi-day walk. The route is described both west to east and east to west, and the guidebook also features extensions to Maryport on the far west coast of Cumbria and to South Shields on the east coast. This full-colour guidebook contains a wealth of information on the history of the Wall, and a range of practical information for walkers, from accommodation and itinerary planning, to details on public transport and refreshments. A separate map booklet of 1:25,000 scale OS maps shows the full route. Clear step-by-step route descriptions in the guide are illustrated by 1:100,000 OS map extracts. The route description links together with the map booklet at each stage along the way, and the compact format is conveniently sized for slipping into a jacket pocket or the top of a rucksack.

This guidebook describes 21 walks on Lanzarote, 2 on Isla La Graciosa (off Lanzarote's northern coast) and 22 on Fuerteventura, including 14 walks on the GR131 long distance trail, which traverses all seven of the Canary Islands (including Isla de Lobos at the tip of Fuerteventura). The routes span a wide range of arid, agricultural and natural areas. Walks feature hill and mountain trails, Lanzarote's Timanfaya volcanic national park, coastal walks along Fuerteventura's golden beaches and ancient island villages. Routes are illustrated with the author's own clear, custom-drawn colour maps and inspirational photography. Full contact information is included for public transport and accommodation providers and tourist information offices as well as an extensive topographical glossary and route summary table to help you choose the best walk, or combine a couple of routes, according your requirements. Walking on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura is part of a five-volume series to the whole of the Canary Islands.

This guidebook describes 87 of the best walks and scrambles on the Isle of Skye. Not only limited to the popular routes on the Black Cuillin or Skye's 12 Munros, the guide offers a comprehensive selection of routes in all areas of the island; in Sleat and South-East Skye, Strath, Minginish, Duirinish, Waternish and Trotternish. The routes range in length from 2 to 23km, so while there are opportunities for novice walkers, routes can also be combined for longer trails and difficult scrambles. Skye can delight walkers and scramblers at every turn, from sea stacks to fell tops; corries to rugged cliffs and plenty in between. Walkers on Skye should be prepared for strenuous trails and wilderness, as well as changeable weather, navigation, and - depending on the route - scrambling skills. However, the routes in this guide range in length from 2 to 23km, so while there are opportunities for novice walkers, routes can also be combined for longer trails and difficult scrambles. Alongside detailed descriptions and OS maps for every route, the guidebook also includes practical information essential to making the most out of a visit to Skye. From travel to and around the island, to advice on accommodation, where to stock up on supplies and who to call in emergencies. The result is an excellent companion to exploring the best of Skye.

This guidebook includes 46 walks throughout Sicily and the adjoining Aeolian and Egadi Islands. Particular highlights include walks on Mount Etna, and through the Madonie and Nebrodi mountains. Walks range from 2 to 23km long, and are graded according to difficulty and terrain, so the right walk can be easily found, whether for a short family stroll around Medieval Erice, or the challenging trail that traverses the lava and ash-covered Mount Etna. This guidebook combines detailed route description and mapping with fascinating insight into the history and geology of Sicily and the many points of interest along the way. Whether the active volcanic rumblings of Stromboli, or elaborate coastal forts, to prehistoric cave paintings; Sicily is home to some of Europe's greatest natural and historical wonders. The guidebook also includes practical information on travel to and around Sicily, the best time to go, as well as accommodation advice, information on facilities along the way, and a useful Italian-English glossary. The result is an ideal companion to explore all that Sicily has to offer the walker.

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.

The second edition of this classic guidebook by Kev Reynolds on walking and trekking in the Alps. This book is a definitive guide to the many thousands of possible routes, with a geographical span that ranges from the Maritime Alps of southern France to the Julians of Slovenia, from Italy's Gran Paradiso to the little-known Turnitzer Alps of eastern Austria, and from the ice-bound giants of the Bernese Oberland to the green rolling Kitzbuheler Alps and the bizarre towers of the Dolomites of South Tirol, showing the amazing diversity of this wonderful mountain chain. There are walks to suit every taste: gentle and undemanding, long and tough, and everything in between. Written by Britain's most respected authority on the Alps, this is a fully updated edition of this important book.

Guidebook to the best winter climbing routes around Scotland's Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. All the buttresses, ridges and gullies on the NE face of Ben Nevis, Carn Dearg, Aonachs Mor and Beag, the Mamores, Glencoe, Aonach Dubh, Bidean nam Bian, Coire Gabhail, Buchaille Etive Mor, Glen Etive and Stob a'Ghlais Choire. 960 routes, 89 photo topos. The peaks of Glen Coe and the surrounding mountains give some of the best snow and ice climbing anywhere in Europe, when the conditions are right with climbers coming from as far afield as Poland, Australia, France, Italy and the US. It's justifiably a good 'tick' on any discerning world traveller's itinerary and access to the crags has greatly improved in recent years. Many of the routes are longer than experienced anywhere else in British hills and of alpine-like seriousness. Essential for all winter climbers.

Guide to 50 walks and easy scrambles in north-western Scotland, covering Southern Torridon, Northern Torridon, Letterewe and Fisherfield, and the Fannichs. Ascents of 27 Munros, 20 Corbetts and 14 Grahams are included, with highlights including Liathach, Beinn Eighe, Beinn Alligin, An Teallach and Slioch. The walks are suitable for those with good navigation skills who are competent in a mountain environment. All the walks in the guide are graded, with summary statistics provided, and each includes clear route description and mapping. There's also a route summary table to help with choosing appropriate walks. Background information on local geology, wildlife and history, and planning details on when to go, where to stay and what to take are included to make the most out of any trip to Torridon. The region boasts spectacular and distinctive landscapes and breathtaking views. Steep-sided rocky mountains rise above long winding lochs, both freshwater and sea. From the hills there are vast panoramas out across the sea to the Hebrides and of mountains stretching out to the north, south and east. This is a land for those who love open spaces, vast horizons, and the domination of nature.