Walking Lake Como and Maggiore


Book Description

This guidebook describes 28 day walks and the Sentiero del Viandante trek around Lakes Como and Maggiore in Northern Italy. The day routes range from 3 to 20km in length are graded 1 to 3. The mini trek up the eastern shore of Lago di Como from Lecco to Colicocan can also be cut into one-day stages if desired. There is something for everyone, from easy leisurely strolls for first-time walkers to strenuous climbs up panoramic peaks. The clear maps, inspirational photographs and information about accommodation and public transport options help to make this guidebook an ideal companion to exploring the exceptional scenery, views and culture of the Italian Lakes. A basic English-Italian glossary is also included. Picturesque Lago Maggiore has been working its magic on writers and visitors for centuries. Blessed with a mild climate and delightful position close to the Alps, it attracts flocks of admirers to its shores and islands adorned with sumptuous villas and gorgeous ornamental gardens, a legacy of the late Renaissance. Ever magnificent, the splendours of Lago di Como were broadcast by the likes of Pliny and Strabone back in ancient Roman times. Overseas visitors are attracted by the breathtaking scenery and romantic atmosphere, augmented by the host of villas and superb gardens, where pretty camellias and rhododendrons spill over terraces.




Walking Lake Como and Maggiore


Book Description

This guidebook describes 28 day hikes and a five-day trek around Lakes Como and Maggiore in Northern Italy. The day routes range from 3 to 20km in length are graded 1 to 3. The mini trek up the eastern shore of Lago di Como from Lecco to Colicocan can also be cut into one-day stages if desired. There is something for everyone, from easy leisurely strolls for first-time walkers to strenuous climbs up panoramic peaks. The clear maps, inspirational photographs and information about accommodation and public transport options help to make this guidebook an ideal companion to exploring the exceptional scenery, views and culture of the Italian Lakes. A basic English-Italian glossary is also included.




Walking the Italian Lakes


Book Description

This title covers walking in the popular North Italian Lakes region - Maggiore, Como, Garda and Iseo - from easy lakeside strolls to mountain terrain




Lake Como, Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda - The Italian Lakes


Book Description

This is based on our larger book, Milan & the Italian Lakes. Here we zero in on the lakes themselves, with abundant extra illustrations showing all the sights, hotels and attractions. We travel to grow a€" our Adventure Guides show you how. Experience the places you visit more directly, freshly, intensely than you would otherwise a€" sometimes best done on foot, in a canoe, or through cultural adventures like art courses, cooking classes, learning the language, meeting the people, joining in the festivals and celebrations. This can make your trip life-changing, unforgettable. All of the detailed information you need is here about the hotels, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. But we also lead you to new discoveries, turning corners you haven't turned before, helping you to interact with the world in new ways. That's what makes our Adventure Guides unique. The guide provides everything you'll ever need to know for planning a trip to this stunning holiday destination, from places to stay and eat, and practical travel advice, to what to pack and when to go. It also features up-to-date information on all the exciting activities and adventures just waiting to be enjoyed - from visiting the stunning Lakes Como and Garda with their fabulous Roman villas and beautiful vistas, to discovering the hidden treasures of the region's unforgettable palaces, churches and museums. "I bought this after reading the author's piece on Lake Como on the GoNomad site. I wasn't disappointed - there's masses of extra information here that many other guidebooks just don't have, and all of the lakes are covered, plus day trips to nearby towns, etc. Good variety of hotel and restaurants - not just for those with big budgets. I particularly like the listing and addresses for the ''adventures'' - which include anything from diving schools, bike and boat hire to art courses. The book doesn't seem quite as glossy as some other titles but the content is great - and clearly written by somebody who knows the region well. Maps are good too - including Milan metro map!" -- Amazon reviewer




Walking the Ribble Way


Book Description

Guidebook to walking the Ribble Way, a 72 mile route following the Ribble valley, from the estuary mouth near Preston to the river's source on Cam Fell in the Yorkshire Dales. The book contains OS map extracts and full route description split into 7 convenient stages, with suggestions for day walkers.




Walking the Tour of the Lake District


Book Description

The Lake District National Park is England's most popular mountain region and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Suitable for most reasonably fit hillwalkers, the 145km (90 mile) Tour of the Lake District takes in the best of this beautiful region in a circular tour. The route is presented in nine stages, plus an optional 'prologue' stage from Windermere station to the start-point in Ambleside, and can be compressed into one week or extended over two weeks, giving time to visit many attractions on the way. In addition to the main (non-waymarked) route, which links the main towns and valleys of the national park, five interchangeable high-level stages are also offered, enabling you to visit some of the region's most celebrated high peaks - including Coniston Old Man, Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Helvellyn - should you so wish. Each stage includes summary statistics and clear route description illustrated with OS mapping and an elevation profile. There are notes on local points of interest and a wealth of information to help you plan your tour, covering public transport, accommodation and kit, plus accommodation listings and a facilities table. The Tour showcases the magnificent landscapes of the region, from mountain vistas to idyllic lakeshore scenery. There are lakes, rivers and waterfalls, characterful towns and villages, remote valleys, high fells and fascinating historical features including a Neolithic stone circle, packhorse bridges and properties that once belonged to Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth. There are a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and opportunities to sample delicious local produce. The Tour of the Lake District is an ideal way to discover all the region has to offer and is sure to generate lots of memorable experiences.




Walking the Severn Way


Book Description

This guidebook offers all the information walkers need to enjoy the 344km (215 miles) of the Severn Way. Beginning at the River Severn's source in Powys, mid-Wales, the route follows the entire Severn Valley, meandering through many superb landscapes and interesting towns and villages before finishing near Bristol, in south-west England. The step-by-step route description is divided into four county sections, accompanied by OS map extracts and packed with historical and geographical information about the places along the way. Also includes a route to the source of the river via Plynlimon and a link route from Severn Beach back to Bristol at the end. The River Severn pulls together threads of history, trade, commerce, civil war and the lives of ordinary folk to produce a tapestry that is finely woven and rich in colour. That walkers should want to trace its course, its many twists and turns, is hardly surprising, not least because of its capacity to offer countless challenges and plentiful delights. Walking the Severn Way is a chance to get away from it all and relax without having to resort to distant mountain regions.




Walking and Trekking in Zagori


Book Description

Zagori in Greece's Northern Pindos National Park is among the last relatively undiscovered and unspoilt hiking destinations in Europe. This guide presents a selection of thirty walks and three short treks within the region's captivating scenery, from dramatic gorges to mystical forests, crystal-clear turquoise rivers, rugged alpine peaks and characterful mountain villages. Routes vary from easy walks on clear paths to strenuous ascents and mountain traverses, meaning that there is something to suit most ambitions and abilities. Clear mapping accompanies the route description, and the introduction to the guide covers all the practicalities, including getting to Zagori, accommodation, equipment, maps and safety. There is also a wealth of information about the region's rich history, architecture, geology, plants and wildlife, as well as fascinating notes on points of interest encountered on route. The routes are presented in five chapters, covering Central Zagori, Vikos Gorge and vicinity, Mt Timfi, Konitsa and Mt Smolikas, and Valia Calda National Park and Metsovo, with highlights including Mt Timfi and Mt Smolikas (Greece's second highest mountain), the breathtaking Vikos Gorge, traditional stone arch bridges and the alpine tarns of Drakolimni (Dragonlakes). With so much stunning scenery, this is a region that cries out to be explored.




Gardens of the Italian Lakes


Book Description

The gardens of the Italian Lakes are a favourite destination for garden lovers and groups. The gardens around Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, in the far north of Italy, are admired throughout the world for their beauty and variety in a magnificent natural location. This book sets out to become the standard work on these gardens as there is nothing of this kind on the market at the moment. It will appeal both to the specialist and enthusiast preparing for a visit. The common factor for all these gardens is their setting in this landscape of exceptional scenery. Lake Como is a deep lake hemmed in like a fjord by towering mountains. Lake Maggiore has more the character of an inland sea, with ferries crossing to the famous island gardens for an afternoon in another world. Both lakes are lined with the towers, villas and grand hotels that speak of a complex history including key events in Italy's struggle to achieve nationhood, inspiration for a string of illustrious writers and composers, and a long line of distinguished visitors. The gardens include: Villa Melzi, Bellagio: an early 19th-century romantic park on the lake shore Villa Carlotta, Cadenabbia: a terraced 17th-century property with woodland Villa del Balbianello, Lenno: a famously picturesque loggia Villa D'Este, Cernobbio: a 16th-century cascade garden with royal connections Villa Cicogna Mozzoni, Bisuschio: an intact 16th-century villa garden Villa Della Porta Bozzolo, Casalzuigno: a rural baroque garden Isola Bella, Stresa: a well-known island garden Isola Madre, Stresa: an island retreat of flowers and birds Villa San Remigio, Pallanza: an Edwardian garden made by two lovers Villa Taranto, Pallanza: one of the world's great woodland gardens




The Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo


Book Description

This guidebook describes the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The 820km Camino del Norte follows the coast from Irún, on the French border, through Bilbao and takes about 5 weeks to complete. The 355km Camino Primitivo splits off from the Camino del Norte near Villaviciosa and passes through Oviedo and Lugo en route to Compostela. It takes roughly 2 weeks to walk. This book also includes an overview of a continuation route from Santiago to Finisterre on the coast. Physically demanding, but not difficult, the caminos are best walked from late spring to autumn. The guidebook is broken into stages of between 15 and 35km, most of which end in a town or village with a pilgrim albergue. There is indispensable information on facilities, food and lodging, 1:100,000 scale maps of the route and town maps for key locations. With notes on preparation and planning, travel and equipment, a list of useful sources of information, and a glossary, the book provides all you need to know to walk the camino. Santiago de Compostela, whose cathedral houses the relics of St James, was one of three major centres of Catholic pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. In modern times the Caminos de Santiago have seen a resurgence in popularity, drawing walkers for all sorts of reasons. Passing through the Spanish regions of the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia, the northern caminos are popular enough to offer sufficient facilities, clear routes, and a community of pilgrims, without suffering the overcrowding of the Camino Frances.