Explore the world with Cicerone

Few guidebook writers have a connection to the Lake District quite like Mark Richards. As a young man he became a regular house guest and walking companion of Alfred Wainwright, and that friendship shaped a lifetime spent mapping, drawing and writing about the fells. His new large-format guide, Best Walks in the Lake District: 50 Great Mountain Days, brings together five decades of that experience, alongside photography by Grey O'Dwyer and a foreword by Sir Chris Bonington. Here, we talk to Mark about what turns a walk into a Great Mountain Day, the quieter fells that deserve more attention, and the one route he'd send a reader out to do this year.

Martyn Howe has walked over 8,000 miles on Britain's long-distance trails, from a teenage first outing on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path to a 2,300-mile pilgrimage along the England Coast Path. In this feature he picks out five journeys that have stayed with him: the wild solitude of the Southern Upland Way, the slow rhythms of Glyndŵr's Way, a week-long sprint along the Thames Path, the England Coast Path in full, and a self-devised route north to John o'Groats. Along the way he reflects on what decades of backpacking have taught him about pace, curiosity, and the case for walking more.

Walk the South Downs on a clear day and the world opens up. Smooth green ridges stretch roughly 90 miles from the white cliffs of Beachy Head near Eastbourne to the tranquil Itchen Valley at Winchester, and in countless places along the way no buildings are visible, only hills and valleys under an immense sky. The highest point is a modest 918ft, but size is beside the point here: this is a cherished landscape, shaped across millennia, loud with skylarks, rich in wildflowers and ancient history, and every bit as beautiful in its own way as bigger hills further north. Walks in the South Downs National Park by Kev Reynolds covers 40 circular day walks throughout the national park, ranging from just under 5 miles to 11 miles, accessible in all seasons and, wherever possible, by public transport. This guide provides everything you need to know to start planning your next walking holiday. (Last updated: June 2026 · Guidebook edition: 3rd edition, May 2024)

Only about an hour from the Costa Brava and Barcelona's famous landmarks, the landscape changes entirely. Fresh mountain streams race down forested slopes, trails climb to the highest peaks of Montseny, and the jagged rock towers of Montserrat rise dramatically above ancient monasteries. Walking in Catalunya – Barcelona by Nike Werstroh and Jacint Mig covers 32 day walks ranging from 6.5 to 28km, spread across five distinct natural parks and areas all within easy reach of the city. (Last updated: June 2026 · Guidebook edition: 1st edition, November 2022)