Lonely Planet’s “ The Big Trip” is the perfect guide to those who are preparing for gap years, career breaks or simply an adventure to take them to parts of the world they’ve never dreamed of experiencing. The book is full of ideas, such as swimming with dolphins off the coast of New Zealand; learn Spanish in Guatemala; hike your own pioneer route through Canada; get a soaking at Thailand’s Songkran water festival. Billed as the ultimate guide to gap years & overseas adventures, the book is sumptuously illustrated with full colour photographs & packed with useful information, with essential pre-trip planning for health, safety, costs & much more. There is also a look at volunteering & working abroad, from fruit-picking to teaching, yacht crewing & au pairing. With regional overviews, maps, tips & stories from experienced travellers & even a comprehensive directory of essential resources, this is an ideal gift for anyone itching to get out there & experience the world. ...

The Big Walks of London by John Merrill is a guidebook to the capitals major walking routes. London has an incredible variety of walks & trails, & this guidebook presents more than twenty long walks through the city, ranging from 7 to 150 miles, &

Includes:: the Thames Path, the London Loop & the Capital Ring. Each walk section is accompanied by a route map & provides route instructions, walk distance & estimated walk time. Information on public transport, parking facilities, available maps, pubs & cafes & places of notable interest is also provided. There are sections on city walking & suggested walking equipment, & the guide is also accompanied by maps, illustrations & photographs.

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From the Great Glen Way to the Coast to Coast Path, there is no better way to discover the spectacular diversity of northern Britain`s landscape than on foot. Whether you enjoy exploring green & gently rolling dales or tackling rugged mountain paths, there are walks here to keep you rambling all year round. An indefatigable walker, David Bathurst has unlaced his boots to produce this invaluable & definitive companion to the ten best-loved long-distance footpaths in the north of Britain, with each split into manageable sections. Combining practical, detailed descriptions with an appreciation of the beauty & history of the British countryside, this in an indispensable guide for both experienced & novice walkers alike. ...

From the South Downs Way to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, there is no better way to discover the spectacular diversity of southern Britain`s landscape than on foot. Whether you enjoy exploring green & gently rolling valleys or tackling rugged cliff-top paths, there are walks here to keep you rambling all year round. An indefatigable walker, David Bathurst has unlaced his boots to produce this invaluable & definitive companion to the ten best-loved long-distance footpaths in the south of Britain, with each split into manageable sections. Combining practical, detailed descriptions with an appreciation of the beauty & history of the British countryside, this in an indispensable guide for both experienced & novice walkers alike. ...

It all began on the night of the Big Wind. A wild & savage night in January 1839 when a storm struck Irel&, leaving such suffering & devastation in its path that a mark remained on the minds & hearts of Irishmen, & the land itself, ever after. It was the night Sterrin O` Carroll, `blossom of the storm`, was born in Kilsheelin Castle. Growing up during Ireland`s darkest hours, Sterrin forms a bond with a household servant called Young Thomas that deepens over the years into a forbidden love
- a love as fierce & relentless as the storm that ushered her into the world. But their paths are divided by devastating events that change the course of Ireland`s history. After the bitterness & the sorrow finally wane, Sterrin`s indomitable spirit never weakens because, Thomas, like her beloved l&, will return to her.
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Each year, hundreds of people set out across North America determined to set a new record in a spectacularly competitive event. Is it tennis? Golf? Racing? Poker perhaps? No, it's bird-watching, & a contest known as the Big Year
- a gr&, gruelling, expensive (and occasionally vicious) 365-day marathon to identify the most species. THE BIG YEAR is the rollicking chronicle of the 275, 000-mile odyssey of three unlikely adventurers who take their bird-watching so seriously it nearly kills them. From Texas in pursuit of the Rufus-capped Warbler to British Columbia in search of Xantus' Hummingbird, these obsessive enthusiasts brave roasting deserts, storm-tossed oceans, infested swamps & disgruntled lions (not to mention some of the lumpiest hotel mattresses known to man) as they vie to become North America's number one bird-watcher in what would prove to be the biggest Big Year of them all... In this captivating tour of human & avian nature, of courage & deceit, of passion & paranoia, prize-winning journalist Mark Obmascik reveals the extremes to which Man will go to pursue his dreams, to conquer & to categorize
- no matter how low the stakes. Wonderfully funny, acutely observed & hugely entertaining, THE BIG YEAR is a lark of a read.

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Most people dream of packing in their humdrum city life, selling up & heading off into the unknown for a life of adventure. For Ruth Miller & Alan Davies this dream became a reality, albeit with a twist; they decided to pack in their jobs, sell their house & take on the ultimate birder's challenge
- to smash the world record for the number of species seen in one calendar year. This book is the story of their great expedition, searching for birds from Ecuador to Ethiopia via Argentina, Australia & Arizona. We follow this birding odyssey as they rachet up the species & the stamps in their passports, sharing in amazing birding experiences such as monkey-hunting Harpy Eagles in the Brazilian rain forest, seedsnipes in the Peruvian highlands & lekking bustards in South Africa, all leading to the ultimate question
- will they break the magic 4, 000? Written in an accessible style, this book will be of great interest to birders, readers of travel literature, & to people who simply enjoy a good adventure.

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Most people dream of packing in their humdrum city life, selling up & heading off into the unknown for a life of adventure. For Ruth Miller & Alan Davies this dream became a reality, albeit with a twist; they decided to pack in their jobs, sell their house & take on the ultimate birder`s challenge
- to smash the world record for the number of species seen in one calendar year. This book is the story of their great expedition, searching for birds from Ecuador to Ethiopia via Argentina, Australia & Arizona. We follow this birding odyssey as they rachet up the species & the stamps in their passports, sharing in amazing birding experiences such as monkey-hunting Harpy Eagles in the Brazilian rain forest, seedsnipes in the Peruvian highlands & lekking bustards in South Africa, all leading to the ultimate question
- will they break the magic 4, 000? Written in an accessible style, this book will be of great interest to birders, readers of travel literature, & to people who simply enjoy a good adventure!

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Cyclepedia
- A Tour of Iconic Bicycle Designs, edited by Michael Embacher & published by Themes & Hudson, provides a beautifully
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Two wheels, two pedals, a seat & some handlebars the bicycle is a beautifully simple means of transport, & its simplicity has allowed it to enjoy a soaring resurgence of popularity in urban areas, as millions embrace its speed, efficiency, & yes, its aesthetic. ” The Bike-Owners Handbook” is a beautiful little guide for all the millions of bicycle-commuters who just want to know the basics of repairing & maintaining their bikes, without having to immerse themselves in a vast & complicated technical manual. With sumptuous black & white photography & clear, but warm illustrations, it provides step-by-step explanations to repairing a puncture, adjusting brakes & gears, cleaning a bike & basic maintenance. An appendix at the back of the book provides cycling inspiration & tips from some of the big names in the field. An app of the book will be released towards the end of 2012, & QR codes at the end of each chapter will allow readers to link their iPhones directly to instructional You Tube videos illustrating the repairs step by step. ...