Nature sports in general and hiking in particular have become, in our urban and post-industrial societies, a growing phenomenon practiced by millions of citizens. The motivations and interests of this large group are varied, but they have a common element: to disconnect from stressful modern life and reconnect with nature. National parks and other protected areas are the preferred destinations, but they present an challenging contrast for land management: conservation versus tourist use. While once considered a romantic practice of escape and discovery, hiking is now a consumer product and a tourist experience. It promises experiences of disconnection, quiet and health; yet, natural spaces are increasingly scarce and more often than not they are crowded by other recreationalists. This book presents a multidisciplinary perspective on the latest trends and developments in hiking. In particular, the authors work from a European perspective with various outdoor recreation models represented and different conservation initiatives explored in the contexts of Spain, Norway, Poland, Germany and Lebanon. Collectively, the authors attend to hiking as a social phenomenon and economic opportunity, which has the potential to sustainably revitalize rural destinations, if managed properly.

Wanderlust Europe explores the continent's most astounding natural landscapes along its most scenic and enchanting trails.

Lace up your hiking boots for the next in Lonely Planet's highly successful Epic series, this time exploring 50 of Europe's most rewarding and beautiful hikes. Featuring the very newest trails and classics, each introduced with a first-person account and featuring a map, inspiring photos and practical details to follow in the writer's footsteps.

Nature sports in general and hiking in particular have become, in our urban and post-industrial societies, a growing phenomenon practiced by millions of citizens. The motivations and interests of this large group are varied, but they have a common element: to disconnect from stressful modern life and reconnect with nature. National parks and other protected areas are the preferred destinations, but they present an challenging contrast for land management: conservation versus tourist use. While once considered a romantic practice of escape and discovery, hiking is now a consumer product and a tourist experience. It promises experiences of disconnection, quiet and health; yet, natural spaces are increasingly scarce and more often than not they are crowded by other recreationalists. This book presents a multidisciplinary perspective on the latest trends and developments in hiking. In particular, the authors work from a European perspective with various outdoor recreation models represented and different conservation initiatives explored in the contexts of Spain, Norway, Poland, Germany and Lebanon. Collectively, the authors attend to hiking as a social phenomenon and economic opportunity, which has the potential to sustainably revitalize rural destinations, if managed properly.

Move over traditional sightseeing, throngs of visitors, and tourist traps! Explore Europe on Foot gives travelers an alternative way to discover Europe. A hiking vacation offers countless rewards: the time to admire the tidiness of a village farm, soak in the rugged alpine view from a rocky perch, and absorb a country through the smells of its landscape and encounters with locals. Explore Europe on Foot is a complete guide to conceptualizing, planning, and executing the slow-travel hike (or hikes!) of a lifetime. Author Cassandra Overby tells you how you can spend all, or even just part, of your vacation enjoying scenery, small towns, and cultural experiences most travelers miss—all without carrying a big backpack. This guide offers all the nuts and bolts you need: how to choose a route that is right for you, how to plan, what to pack, what to expect, how to find accommodations and food, how to deal with challenges along the way, and so much more. These aren’t wilderness backpacking trips, but rather a wide range of town-to-town walks that offer the opportunity to have an authentic, affordable, restorative vacation. Travelers will also appreciate overviews of fifteen long-distance trails in Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey, with itineraries that range from one to fifteen days. For those unwilling to go all-in, Cassandra also offers tips on incorporating day-hike outings into a more traditional vacation. The focus is on how to craft that more immersive vacation so users of the guide will be able to apply what they learn to their own dream destinations. 15 Handpicked Walks include: Rota Vicentina, Portugal English Way, Spain Mont Saint-Michel, FranceTour du Mont Blanc, France and Italy Cinque Terre 2.0, Italy Lycian Way, Turkey Alpine Pass Route, Switzerland King Ludwig’s Way, Germany The Moselle, Germany The Ardennes, Luxembourg and Belgium The Lake District, England, UK West Highland Way, Scotland, UK Laugavegur Trek, Iceland The Sahara Desert, Morocco

The Wicklow Way is Ireland's first and most popular waymarked long-distance walk, running the 82 miles between Dublin and Clonegal, with varied and scenic walking on the flanks of the Wicklow mountains. The guide provides route maps, detailed directions and background information.

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 Türnitzer Alps of eastern Austria, and from the ice-bound giants of the Bernese Oberland to the green rolling Kitzbüheler 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.

"Like the United States' national parks, those of Europe--from the British Isles to Europe's border with Asia--help to preserve the human heritage while providing vital green spaces for the animals that make them home"--

Wanderlust Alps charts the mountain range's best routes and hidden trails away from the crowds.

For many Westerners, Eastern Europe is about as appealing as a deodorant-free French armpit. That didn't scare Francis Tapon because not only did he learn how to rough it by walking across America four times, but he is also half French, so he kind of smells too. Francis spent nearly 3 years travelling and backpacking in 25 Eastern European countries. It started with a 5-month trip in 2004. He returned in 2008 to spend 3 years exploring all the countries again. The Hidden Europe is Book Two of the WanderLearn Series.