20 Classic Sportive Rides in South East England


Book Description

This guidebook offers 20 sportive cycling routes in the best cycling areas of south east England. The training rides range between 60 and 117km (37 to 73 miles) in length, and offer a wide range of challenge, from flat routes for pacing training, to tough, hilly routes to climb. The 20 sportive routes are found in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and East Sussex, a collection from near Oxford down to the south coast by Bournemouth and Portsmouth. From the Surrey and Chiltern Hills to the New Forest and South Downs, there are miles of cycle-friendly roads suitable for sportive training. All 20 routes are graded for difficulty and include timings, ascent, food-stops and access information, as well as annotated route maps and clear route descriptions. Sportive cycling is a growing sport, and this guide provides routes for experienced riders and those new to this sport. Useful information on bike maintenance and equipment, to travelling around the areas with your bike and advice on accommodation is also included. The result is a sportive guidebook that will prepare you for the challenges ahead, and allow you to explore the best cycling the south-east has to offer.




Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales


Book Description

A guidebook to 24 graded day cycling routes and a 6-day cycle tour through the Yorkshire Dales. Exploring the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale National Landscape, the routes are suitable for all but the novice cyclist. Day routes, all easily accessible from Sedburgh, Settle, Reeth and Grassington, range between 24 and 92km (15–58 miles) in length. La Vuelta a Dales is a multi-day tour that takes 6 days and covers 305km (190 miles). A stage of the 2014 Tour de France, a 206km (128 mile) loop from Leeds to Harrogate, is also included.? 1:100,000 maps and profiles included for each stage GPX files available to download Refreshment and accommodation information given for each route All routes suitable for road bikes Detailed information on bike maintenance




Walking in Provence - East


Book Description

A guidebook to 30 circular day walks in the east of France’s Provence. Exploring the dramatic scenery of the Alpes Maritimes, Alpes de Haute-Provence and Mercantour regions of Provence, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike and are perfect for walking year-round. The routes range from 4-21km (2-13 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2-8 hours. They go from key areas including Vence, Grasse and Digne-les-Bains. Sketch maps are included for each route Local highlights include Mont Mounier, Verdon Gorge and Estérel Information on local history and wildlife GPX files available to download Part of a 2-volume Cicerone series on Walking in Provence




Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps


Book Description

A guidebook to 18 graded day walks and 6 multi-day treks across the Maritime Alps. Exploring the varied scenery of the border between France and Italy, the day walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike and treks are suitable for hikers with some alpine trekking experience. The day walks range from 6 to 20km (4–12 miles) in length and can be enjoyed in 3–7 hours. The multi-day treks vary in length from 22 to 67km (14-42 miles), can be completed in 2–7 days, and include a 5-day traverse of the Parc National du Mercantour and a 7-day traverse of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime. Sketch maps included for each walk Detailed information on accommodation and facilities Advice on preparation and planning Easy access from Nice




The Pilgrims' Way


Book Description

A guidebook to walking the Pilgrims’ Way, a 230 km (138 mile) historic pilgrimage route to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, home of the shrine of the martyred archbishop, St Thomas Becket. With relatively easy walking on ancient pathways, it can be comfortably completed in under a fortnight. The route is presented in 15 stages ranging between 7 and 22 kms (5-14 miles) and is described from both Winchester in Hampshire (138 miles) and London’s Southwark Cathedral (90 miles), with an optional link to Rochester. 1:50,000 OS mapping for each stage Detailed information on accommodation, public transport, and refreshments for each stage Information on the historical background of the pilgrimage, historical figures, and local points of interest GPX files available to download Facilities table to help you plan your itinerary




Walking on the Isle of Man


Book Description

A guidebook to 40 walking routes on the Isle of Man. The varied selection of day walks, which range from 1 to 14 miles long (2 and 22km) take in the best scenic routes right across this delightful island. Many routes can be combined to create longer more ambitious walks. The Isle of Man offers the walker a wonderfully diverse range of landscapes within a relatively compact island setting, and the routes reflect this diversity - scale the highest point Snaefell (620m), cross wide-open moorlands, drift over beaches and climb coastal clifftops. The assortment provides walkers with fantastic trails, along with detail on the wildlife, wild flowers, unique history and points of interest encountered. Alongside detailed route descriptions and OS 1:50,000 maps (blown up to 1:40,000 for greater clarity), there is plenty of practical information on getting to and around the Manx Isle and advice on making the most out of any exploration of the Isle of Man.




Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites Volume 1


Book Description

This guidebook presents 75 via ferrata routes in the stunning Italian Dolomites. Part of a 2-volume set, this book covers Val di Fassa/Canazei, Selva, Badia/La Villa, Covara, Arabba, Falzarego, Cortina, Misurina, Sesto and Auronzo in the northern, central and eastern Dolomites. Routes are graded by technical difficulty and seriousness and there are comprehensive route descriptions accompanied by access notes, maps and topos. A wide range of grades, lengths and styles, from routes for novices to difficult and technical climbs are covered. Stunning photography completes this inspirational guide to some of the most breathtaking via ferrata routes in the world. The Italian Dolomites boast some of the most magnificent mountain scenery on the planet and some of the most iconic. Soaring rocky spires and jagged ridgelines are interspersed with gentle valleys and idyllic mountain villages. The Dolomites are also home to the world's greatest concentration of via ferratas - mountain routes or climbs that are protected by a series of cables, metal rungs, pegs and ladders.




Cycling in the Peak District


Book Description

A guidebook to 20 graded day rides and a challenging 250km (155 mile) five-day cycle tour throughout the Peak District. The circular day routes are centred around Ashbourne, Matlock, Bakewell, Buxton and more whilst the tour circumnavigates the National Park. The routes within this guidebook are ideal for mountain or hybrid bikes but can easily be adapted for road bikes. They are suitable to cyclists of all abilities and experience as the day routes vary between 13 and 58 km (8-36) miles in length. 1:100,000 mapping for every route Elevation profiles included Detailed information on planning and facilities in the area GPX files available to download Notes on bike setup and cycling techniques




Cycling the Canal du Midi


Book Description

This guidebook describes a 240km cycle ride along the length of the Canal du Midi in southern France. Starting at Toulouse in the Haute Garonne and finishing at Sète on the Mediterranean Coast, the route is divided into five stages of about 50km. It is a flat, car-free and picturesque route mainly on the towpath, and is suitable for all abilities. The guide is written for those who want to explore the canal and visit attractions along the way. There are lots of optional detours to sites of interest near the canal, as well as six longer excursions including fortified Carcassone, Roman Narbonne, Vendres lagoon and the Portiragnes marshes. Detailed route descriptions are crammed with additional information about points of interest passed, and 1:200,000 scale maps clearly show the route for each stage of the way. Begun in 1666 the Canal du Midi is one of the world's most picturesque waterways and a World Heritage Site. This is 'La France Profonde', a region rich in history and culture, as seen in the grand homes and chateaux that grace the water's edge, and the fascinating Cathar strongholds of Carcassone, Lastours and Minerve.




Hiking and Cycling the California Missions Trail


Book Description

The 800-mile California Missions Trail leads walkers and cyclists through some of the most scenic and historic sites of one of America's most beautiful states. The 21 missions, founded 200-250 years ago, are key to understanding California's history and form the spiritual and cultural landmarks of this epic journey that stretches from the North San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego, near the US/Mexico border. The route never strays more than 30 miles from the sunny Pacific Coast, touching famous California beaches at Santa Cruz, Carmel, Santa Barbara, San Clemente and Carlsbad, not to mention metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. California's diverse wine regions play a starring role, as does the vast Salinas Valley, the 'Salad Bowl of America'. This guide offers everything you'll need to make your trip of 50-60 walking days or 12-20 cycling days on this epic West Coast adventure. There is a wealth of information to help you prepare for the journey, including packing lists and transport notes. In addition to clear route description, each stage of the route includes scale maps for easy orientation and comprehensive details of facilities available on or near the route. The trail is presented in sections, so it can either be undertaken in its entirety or split as desired, and an accompanying appendix displays distance intervals between towns and cities offering accommodation, in case you should wish to choose your own itinerary. The route can be walked or cycled; for cyclists, around 95% of the trail can be completed on a road bike. From Mission Sonoma to Mission San Diego, you'll follow the journey of 18th-century Spanish missionaries as they created 21 missions to convert the native inhabitants to Christianity. Included is a sensitive recount of the history of the missions, highlighting the story and monuments of the Native Americans who formed the foundation of the landscape, rather than the Spanish and Franciscan priests. From the sunlit sea to swathes of vineyards, to the bustling metropolis of San Francisco, and with historic, spiritual and scenic interest aplenty, the California Missions Trail offers an unforgettable journey through America's Golden State.