How do I register my guidebook?
If you bought a guidebook through our website, it will automatically appear in your library when you log in. If you purchased Cicerone guidebooks elsewhere, you can still register your guidebook in your library to receive free update info and GPX files, if we have them.
You can also create an account without buying directly from us. This lets you add all your Cicerone guides (as long as they're in print) to get automatic updates and downloadable GPX files — without any obligation to receive additional emails from us, if that's your preference.
To add a guidebook, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Cicerone account or click "My Library."
- Click on "Add a book from retailer."
- Enter the details to add your book to your library.
What are the updates and how do I get them?
We know that a guidebook can be out of date as soon as it is printed, so we do our best to keep readers informed by sharing any updates we receive. Updates are available for free and can be found on the book's page.
How can I share updates?
We're always grateful to readers who let us know about any discrepancies between the guidebook and the facts on the ground, so if you've noticed an error or a route change in a guidebook, please send us an update. We'll pass your information to the author for future editions. Once verified, we'll add it to the relevant book page as an update so all our customers can benefit.
What's the difference between a reprint and a new edition?
We organise a reprint whenever our stock of a current guide runs low. Reprints include minor corrections and updates but aren't full revisions. Many updates may already be available on our website's Updates tab. Authors are contacted shortly before reprinting to confirm any needed changes, and they're responsible for tracking any major updates while the guide is in print. An edition can remain in print with multiple reprints (updated as necessary) over several years.
A new edition is created when a guide becomes significantly out of date – whether due to content, design, or major changes in the area covered. New editions involve a complete refresh, with route checks, updated information, and sometimes new photos or maps.
On each guidebook's page, you can find the last published date under the cover image, showing the date of its last print run (this can be the first print run of a particular edition or a reprint). Any interim updates appear under the Updates tab.
How can I get a guidebook that is out of print?
You can find second-hand copies of our guidebooks on sites like Amazon, AbeBooks, or eBay. Second-hand bookshops are also great places to look, though it might take a bit of searching! If a book has recently gone out of print, feel free to contact us – we may still have a few copies available. And if we get lots of requests for a particular guidebook, we'll take note and consider making it available again.
Can I ask an author a question?
We'll do our best to answer your question ourselves, as the author may be away and unable to respond quickly. If your query is about a specific book, make sure to check the book page thoroughly – if you don't find the answer there, let us know and we'll add it. If you're after advice or guidance please have a look through our articles – there may be an article covering your issue.
However, sometimes you need to reach to the author directly and we're happy to help in the following ways:
- If the author has a website or social media profiles, these details are available on their author page. We don't provide authors' email addresses on the site, as per their request.
- Alternatively, you can email us via the Contact Us page with the subject "I have a question for the author," and we'll pass your question along.
How do you decide which guidebooks to publish?
Since we specialise in outdoor activities and are walkers and trekkers ourselves, we like to think we have our ear to the ground. Ideas for new guidebooks come from various sources, including enthusiasts, retailers, media, specialist groups, and our own authors, both existing and prospective. We collaborate closely with our authors to develop ideas, combining their insights with our own plans and vision.
From this mix – and a bit of structured planning – we create a roadmap that guides our work for the coming years. We typically schedule about three years in advance but have a rough plan that keeps us thinking up to five years in the future.
You are welcome to Suggest a Guidebook if you have a great idea that we may not have thought of. If you're an author and want to make a proposal, please read our Prospective Authors information.
Does the paper you use come from environmentally friendly sources?
All Cicerone guidebooks are printed on environmentally friendly FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper. FSC certification reassures the public that timber products originating from a forest are managed responsibly and sustainably.
What other areas and countries are you planning guidebooks to in the future?
We're always working to improve our range of guidebooks, even in the areas we already cover in depth. We will continue to publish guidebooks for the world's best walking, trekking, mountaineering or cycling areas, as well as doing our best to respond to emerging trends. If we've missed anywhere that you think is important, let us know!
You can see the guidebooks that we will publish in the next three months here.
Why are some of your very old guidebooks still for sale?
As a specialist publisher, some of our guides will never be bestsellers. These niche books, particularly those covering unique areas, are important to walkers, trekkers, and mountaineers, even if they have a smaller audience and take longer to sell. We regularly review them to ensure they're still useful. If they're no longer relevant, we'll remove them from sale.