A guidebook to trekking the 748km (465 mile) Pyrenean Haute Route (Haute Randonnee Pyreneenne, HRP) along the France-Spain border. Suitable for fit experienced trekkers comfortable with mountainous terrain, this challenging unwaymarked route traverses the Pyrenees from sea to sea, from Hendaye on the Atlantic Coast to Banyuls-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean, with the aim of staying as high as possible.
The PHR is divided into 44 graded stages of 8 to 28km (5-17 miles), nearly all ending at overnight accommodation. These are presented in 5 sections, which can be accessed by public transport, for the benefit of those wishing to trek only part of the route. Also included are optional ascents of 10 classic summits, including Vignemale, Le Taillon and Pico de Aneto.
1:100,000 mapping and elevation profile provided for each stage
GPX files available for download
Handy route summary and facilities tables help you plan your itinerary
Accommodation and facilities
Advice on planning and preparation, including equipment, supplies and safety considerations
A guidebook to hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), a spectacular circuit around Mont Blanc. Covering 170km (105 miles), the TMB takes around 11 days to walk from its official start at Les Houches (France), passing through Courmayeur (Italy) and Champex (Switzerland) before returning to France via the Chamonix valley. A well-serviced introduction to high-level mountain trekking for walkers with good levels of fitness, it can also be run, fastpacked or hiked in 5-9 days.
The route is described in both directions in 11 daily stages between 7 and 21km (5-13 miles) in length. Variant routes and alternative stages are also provided, giving the option of visiting cols, refuges and viewpoints not included on the official TMB route.
Contains step-by-step description of the route alongside 1:100,000 maps
Handy facilities planner, route summary tables and accommodation listings help you plan your itinerary
Includes transport info, a French-English glossary, notes on local history and sites of interest
An map booklet, containing 1:25,000 IGN mapping and route line, is available separately from Cicerone
GPX files available to download
First volume of a 2-part guide to walking in the Haute Savoie in the French Alps. This guidebook covers the area south of Lake Geneva to the Swiss border including Salève, Chablais and the Vallée Verte, with Evian and Morzine among places to stay. 30 walks include local summits and ridges, but generally straightforward terrain.
A guidebook to 30 walks in southern Haute Savoie. Exploring the dramatic scenery of the French Alps between Chamonix and Annecy, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike.
Routes range from 7 to 20km (4-12 miles) and can be enjoyed in 3-8 hours. Walks have been graded from easy to difficult allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability.
1:50,000 maps are included for each route
GPX files available to download
Detailed information on planning, accommodation and transport
Part of a 2-volume set, an accompanying Cicerone guidebook Walking in the Haute Savoie: North is also available
Un livret de toute la cartographie nécessaire pour réaliser le Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), un circuit spectaculaire autour du Mont Blanc. Couvrant 170 km (105 miles), le TMB met environ 11 jours de marche depuis son départ officiel aux Houches (France), en passant par Courmayeur (Italie) et Champex (Suisse) avant de revenir en France via la vallée de Chamonix. Une introduction bien desservie au trekking en montagne de haut niveau pour les marcheurs ayant une bonne condition physique, il peut également être couru, emballé rapidement ou fait une randonnée en 5 à 9 jours.
Le tracé complet est représenté sur les cartes IGN au 1/25 000
Le livret cartographique peut être utilisé pour parcourir le TMB dans les deux sens
Un planificateur d'installations pratique, des tableaux récapitulatifs d'itinéraire et des listes d'hébergement vous aident à planifier votre itinéraire
Comprend des cartes urbaines des Houches, Les Contamines, Courmayeur, Champex et Chamonix
Des étapes alternatives via le Col de Tricot (Étape 1A) et Fenêtre d'Arpette (Étape 8A) sont également proposées
Un guide Cicerone d'accompagnement - Trekking sur le Tour du Mont Blanc - est également disponible.
Fichiers GPX disponibles en téléchargement
An inspirational walking guide to 20 summer treks in the European Alps in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and Slovenia, by 8 Alpine trekking experts, including the classics such as the Tour of Mont Blanc and lesser-known routes like the Traverse of the Slovenian Alps. Illustrated with clear overview maps and route profiles throughout.
A guidebook to cycling the Canal du Midi route from Toulouse to Sete on the Mediterranean coast. Covering 260km (162 miles), this long-distance cycle through France's southern Languedoc can be cycled in 1 week and is suitable for both first-time and experienced long-distance cyclists.
The route is described west to east in 5 stages, each between 40 and 63km (25-39 miles) in length. Optional side trips exploring the countryside and historical towns and villages are also detailed.
1:200,000 maps and profiles included for each stage?
Refreshment and accommodation information given
Handy stage planning tables help you plan your itinerary
Information on cycle shops with repair facilities along the route
Abounding in history and dotted with cols coloured by stories about the world's greatest cyclists, the Route des Grandes Alpes (RdGA) is a must for competent, hill-hungry cycle tourers. Covering some 720km from Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) to mediterranean Nice, the route is described across 14 stages and can be completed in anywhere from 7 to 14 days - depending on how you'd like to spread out the 17,000m of climbing. Six variants are also described, ensuring no holiday is compromised or cut short if a col on route is closed.
Clear and concise route descriptions are provided for each stage (and variant), together with 1:150K mapping and extremely helpful gradient profiles. Also included is invaluable practical advise - everything from bicycle selection (including eBikes) and nutrition in the saddle, to logistical planning and accommodation options.
Showcasing some of the world's best Alpine cycling, the RdGA takes in 17 major climbs, including the famous Col de l'Iseran (the highest paved pass in the Alps), the Col du Galibier (favourite climb of Tour de France founder, Henri Desgrange) and the Col d'Izoard (synonymous with cycling legends Fausto Coppi and Louison Bobet). It also passes through some of the most spectacular national parks in France, including the Vanoise, the Écrins and the Mercantour.
This guidebook describes in full the 735km Via Podiensis (GR65), a historic pilgrimage route through southern France from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where the trail meets the famous Camino Francés to Santiago de Compostela (Spain). Also detailed are 2 major variants: the Célé Valley (GR651) and Rocamadour (GR6 and GR46). Split into 28 stages, the full route takes 4 to 6 weeks to complete but can be divided into shorter sections - Figeac and Condom are well positioned to break the walk into three 2-week chunks. It can be adapted to suit all abilities, with regularly spaced accommodation and baggage transport available, and is best walked in spring and autumn, with May and September the most popular months. Abundant accommodation options offer a warm welcome to walkers and pilgrims and a chance to enjoy delicious home-cooked meals made with local ingredients.
Walking directions are accompanied by 1;100,000 maps showing the route line and the facilities available at different locations. Accommodation listings provide invaluable information on where to stay. There are useful town maps for Cahors, Condom, Figeac, Le Puy, Moissac and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and a stage planning table listing intermediate distances between accommodation means the schedule can be easily customised to individual requirements.
The Via Podiensis leads pilgrims and walkers through the best of French village life, offering a unique combination of pleasant trails, quaint historic communities and cultural delights. It passes through charming Estaing, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Lauzerte, and visits pilgrim shrines including Conques and Rocamadour. Pilgrims carrying on to Santiago can either proceed directly from Saint-Jean on the Camino Francés or transition (via the GR10) over to the Camino del Norte - a skeletal outline of the routes linking Saint-Jean and Irún, Spain, is included in the guidebook.
This guidebook describes 35 walking routes in France's beautiful Dordogne region, based around Sarlat and Souillac regions (Perigord Noir) and Bergerac (Perigord Poupre). The walks range from short walks to mountain circuits, and explore the spectacular gorges, chateaux and medieval villages of the region.
Guidebook to cycling the Loire, France's longest river, from its source in the Massif Central to the Atlantic. The 1061km route incorporates the popular, waymarked Loire à Vélo and takes in extinct volcanos, vineyards and châteaux. Predominantly downhill or flat, the route utilises mostly cycle paths and minor roads.
Les Alpes suisses, traversant le Lac Léman et passant par la France pour atteindre la Méditerranée, décrit en 20 étapes, comprenant environ 45km par étape.
Parcours denviron 10 jours pour un bon cycliste. Et une quinzaine jour pour la plupart des cyclistes qui prendront le temps de visiter.
Le guide fournit des descriptions détaillées des itinéraires, une cartographie 1: 150 000 ème pour chaque étape, et beaucoup de conseils pratiques tels que la préparation pour le voyage, le transport aller-retour, ce qu'il ne faut pas oublier. Un glossaire suisse / français est également inclus.
Points forts :
Empreinte deux pistes cyclables nationales adopté par la Fédération européenne des cyclistes en tant qu'EuroVelo EV17 les hébergements et restaurants le long du parcours.
A propos de l'auteur Mike Wells est un passionné de grandes randonnées et de cyclisme depuis plus de 20 ans.
Il a parcouru tous les grands sentiers britanniques, le GR5 des Alpes suisses jusquà la Méditerranée et a exploré les Dolomites italiennes - Alta Via. Il a également marché en Pologne, en Slovaquie, en Slovénie, la Norvège et la Patagonie chilienne.
This guide describes a 624km section of French long-distance route the GR34, following the north coast of Brittany from ever-popular Mont-Saint-Michel to the port of Roscoff. (The full GR34 - also known as 'Sentier des Douaniers', the Customs Officers Path - totals some 2000km and follows in the footsteps of customs officers of old who patrolled the coast in attempt to curb smuggling.) The trail is waymarked and well maintained, offering mainly easy walking, though there are a few more strenuous sections and some short steep ascents and descents. It takes around a month to complete but the guide also includes suggestions for four five-day 'highlight' sections.
The route is described from east to west and presented in 28 stages. For each stage, you will find clear route description and mapping, summary statistics and notes on facilities, accommodation, public transport connections and local points of interest. The introduction offers plenty of practical advice for planning and undertaking your trip, as well as overviews of Brittany's fascinating history and culture. Selected accommodation listings, useful contacts and a glossary can be found in the appendices.
The GR34 leads you through interesting and varied scenery: high above the rocky shores of the Emerald Coast, where waves crash, then elsewhere closer to the water, passing innumerable inviting beaches. There are sea-cliffs and sandy coves, pink granite boulder-fields and unique river estuaries, woodland and heath. Although camping is a possibility, accommodation is readily available in a mixture of bustling seaside resorts and quieter fishing villages. As you hike the trail, you will discover Brittany, a region rich in history and culture and with a distinctive identity that sets it apart from the rest of France, and you will uncover the beauty of this beguiling coastline.
A guidebook to 20 day walks and 7 short treks in the mountains and national parks of Croatia. Ranging from easy 2km strolls to strenuous hut-to-hut mountain treks, the routes showcase the diverse unspoilt landscapes, with highlights including UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes and Croatia's highest summit, Dinara.
Covering the Zagreb region, Istria and the Opatija Riviera, Gorski Kotar, Velebit and Dalmatia, the day walks range from 2 to 21km (1-8 hours) and the treks from 16 to 75km (2-7 days).
Clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 mapping
Refreshments and transport information for all routes, plus accommodation for the treks
Advice on planning and preparation Geology, history, culture, plants and wildlife
This guidebook describes the classic GR20 trek, a north-to-south traverse of the rugged mountains of Corsica, renowned as Europe's toughest GR long-distance route. Described in 16 stages, some with high and low-level alternatives, the route is roughly 190km in length and takes approximately two weeks to complete. The GR20 climbs high into the mountains. It is a demanding trek suitable only for experienced walkers, and there are several steep 'hands-on-rock' sections calling for a sure foot and a good head for heights. It is possible to stay under a roof every night but many trekkers opt to camp.
Step-by-step descriptions of each stage are accompanied by 1:50,000 mapping, together with information on ascent/descent, terrain and the availability of food, water and accommodation/shelter. There is also invaluable practical information such as path conditions, what to take, and getting to/from and around Corsica. Overviews of the history and geology of the island and local plants and wildlife are offered to enhance the trekking experience. Finally, a separate map booklet, included with the guide, provides all the 1:25,000 IGN mapping needed to complete the GR20.
Starting in Corsica's northwest, in picturesque Calinzana, the route winds southeast through the heart of the island, finishing on the eastern side, just north of Porto Vecchio in the township of Conca. It showcases Corsica's rich diversity of landscapes and ethereal beauty. Bare rock and sheer cliffs contrast with black sand beaches, alpine pastures, maquis and pockets of forest. There are also opportunities to detour from the route to visit traditional mountain towns and villages for a taste of Corsica's vibrant history and culture and to take in neighbouring summits, including the island's highest peak, Monte Cinto. For those up to the challenge of hiking part or all of the route, the GR20 promises adventure, memorable experiences and rich rewards.
Guidebook of 40 walks around Briançon in France. Walks for all abilities ranging from 1½ to 7hrs. The book focuses on the stunning valleys of Clarée, Cerveyrette, Ayes, Durance and Guisane, and includes the magnificent Alpine landscapes around Vallouise and Montgenèvre.
