Category Archives: Travel Guides
The Man with His Head in the Clouds: James Sadler: the First Englishman to Fly
This is the story of how an uneducated Oxford pastry cook became the first Englishman to fly, in a self-built balloon powered by primitive, and potentially lethal, hydrogen. Despite taking off in force 8 gales, crashing into hills and plopping into the Irish Sea, James Sadler became a rare pioneering aeronaut to survive such perilous
Walking the Retreat: The March to the Marne: 1914 Revisited
The opening month of the Great War ending in the Battle of the Marne (6-9 September 1914) was a turning point in modern history. The French and British armies were forced into a long retreat from Belgium but subsequently regrouped to mount a successful counter-attack. However, the miracle of the Marne, as it was later
That Mighty Heart: Visions of London
In 1802 William Wordsworth, the great Romantic poet, gazed over London and claimed “Earth has not anything to show more fair”. Two centuries after his famous sonnet “Upon Westminster Bridge”, That Mighty Heart offers a visual and poetic tribute to a city that today has even stronger claims to be one of the greatest in
Brittany: A Cultural History
Brittany`s richly layered landscape has contributed depth and character to the region`s traditional oral culture, from stories of the sea and shore to tales of misty moors, sacred hill-tops and secretive forests. Evangelizing Dark Age saints from Britain laid the foundations of Breton language and society, imposing Christianity on the landscape and in the minds
Frontline Madrid: Battlefield Tours of the Spanish Civil War
In July 1936 insurgent Spanish troops organized a military coup to oust the elected Republican government in Madrid. The rebel generals expected to force a quick, clean regime change but they failed. The botched uprising turned into a bloody civil war. Hundreds of thousands died in a bitter conflict which tore the country apart and
Bali: A Cultural History
Bali is unlike anywhere else. Despite the advent of international tourism, this Indonesian island remains an untarnished cultural gem set in an idyllic landscape. Spirit-haunted as is the rest of Southeast Asia, Bali boasts a unique amalgam of beliefs because Hinduism overlays a much older relationship with the physical world. Nothing is considered to be
The Cotswolds: A Cultural History
The Cotswolds have featured on a thousand country calendars, but what is the real story behind the picture-perfect rural scene? Jane Bingham reveals a history of privilege and poverty, idyll and conflict, through the eyes of travellers, writers and artists. Lying in the heart of Southern England, the Cotswolds occupy a significant place in the
Out West: An Englishman`s Travels Through the American West
Many books about the American West leave out the more intriguing details…For example, when, in 1803, the young USA doubled its size with the purchase from France of an unexplored vastness called La Louisiane, it was a British bank which lent the Americans most of the $15 million that they didn`t have. So, many of
Dark Horses at the Patagonian Frontier: Riding the Pioneer Trail
Patagonia is one of the `final frontiers` on our planet: remote, untamed and much of it inaccessible except on horseback. Though travelled before and sporadically settled, it remains remarkably resistant to human trampling. Divided unequally between Argentina and Chile, Patagonia remains a land of mystery today. The history of those who settled in the nineteenth
River Effra: South London`s Secret Spine
London was once a city awash with watercourses. Most of these streams and small rivers have long since disappeared underground and their void has been filled by myth, legend and an enduring yet uncertain fascination. The River Effra was one of these vanishings. In its earlier existence above ground it could only ever have been
After Dark: A Nocturnal Exploration of Madrid
In 1762 the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau observed that we are blind half our lives because of what we miss during the night. Yet we fear the dark, and are led to believe that bad things happen during the small hours, especially in cities. This is when insomniacs, psychopaths and photophobics–those who are afraid of the
Long Rider to Rome: 1,400 Miles by Pilgrim Horse from Canterbury
Still hooked on adventure after their long pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, a few years later Mefo Phillips and her spotted horse Leo set off again from Canterbury, this time heading for Rome, with Mefo`s husband Peter once more trying to keep track of them in Bessie the Bedford horsebox. Turning her back on the
Illustrated Seamanship
Today, yachts are often equipped with electrical windlasses, autopilot, bow thrusters, etc. This equipment has also become much more reliable, making it possible to make long offshore passages without much knowledge of seamanship. However, as the coastguards in many countries can confirm, more and more yachts require assistance, even when they should be able to
That Untravell`d World: Seven Journeys Through Turkey
Shortlisted for the 2020 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award`s Lonely Planet Debut Travel Writer of the YearNicholas Dylan Ray grew up next to an American national park, whose mountains and forests he explored to escape his troubled home. As a young man, he left the United States, and aged twenty-two set out on a six-month
Team Racing Companion
Team racing is great for fast, fun and different sailboat racing. It helps develop some key skills for future racing success, including starting, boat control in close manoeuvres, boat handling and boat-on-boat tactics. This handy companion tells you all you need to know about team racing. Whether it be 2-, 3- or 4-boat; in Optimists;
An Average War – Eighth Army to Red Army
Describing any war as average is a strange expression, and there is certainly nothing average about this fascinating memoir from author and cartoonist Mike Peyton. Like thousasnds of others he gave an incorrect age to get into the army, worried that the war would be over before he could join in. Once in, he fought
Simple Boat Maintenance
Simple Boat Maintenance concentrates on the 67 most common boat maintenance jobs. Each is rated for difficulty on a scale of 1-5 and is explained in simple steps with lots of photos and diagrams. No special tools are required and no skill is assumed. Take this book in one hand, a spanner in the other
Amazing Fishing Stories – Incredible Tales from Stream to Open Sea
A wonderful collection of tales of adventure with rod and line. This eclectic collection includes thrilling battles with monsters of the deep, epic acts of endurance and more poetic pieces on secret spots where legendary fish are said to lurk. There is something for everyone and no expert knowledge is needed to delight in these
New Crew`s Companion: The Essential Guide for New Yacht Crews
Sailing is far more fun if you understand what is going on aboard and can give a hand. And if the weather turns nasty, or things go wrong (which is very rare), then an extra hand can be invaluable. This compact companion contains all the essential information that a new crew needs before stepping aboard:
Cockpit Companion
This is a compact and handy summary of things a skipper and crew may need to know.It covers lights, shapes and sound signals, knots, ropes, engine troubleshooting and much more. With diagrams and illustrations throughout, this quick reference guide will help to keep you safe when out at sea. It is also splash-proof, making it
