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Lockdown Blues? Get ready to travel.

With vaccinations well under way in many parts of the world, there’s real belief that travel restrictions will gradually ease in the next few months. We make no apology for offering the information about our free digital maps once again; last time we posted this information we were pleased and surprised at how many people enjoyed them and started planning ahead to travel.

We’d like to help you get planning. Where to next? Why not start by getting your hands on our Free Digital Maps.

Read all about it HERE.

There are free maps to 19 tempting walking destinations to check out, including :

CANARY ISLANDS

La Gomera & El Hierro, Lanzarote, La Palma, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria

Las Canadas, Tenerife, Canary Islands
La Palma, Mirador del Time, Canary Islands

BALEARIC ISLANDS

Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera

Dragonera, from La Trapa, Mallorca, Balearic Islands (Spain)

GREEK ISLANDS

Zakynthos (Zante), Corfu

SPANISH MAINLAND

Costa Blanca Mountains, Costa del Sol (Axarquia), Alpujarras, Sierra de Aracena

The ancient bell-tower, Aracena Castle

– and also:

Malta & Gozo

Madeira

Azores

Levada Nova, Madeira

To see more details about the free digital maps and how to get them, LOOK HERE

Plan Your Next Walking Adventure With our FREE Digital Maps

With the real hope of vaccines within reach, we can look forward to planning walking adventures again. Once travel freedom returns, there’s going to be a lot of pent-up desire to get away, so this could be the best time to make some plans.

We’d like to help you get planning. Where to next? Why not start by getting your hands on our Free Digital Maps.

Read all about it HERE.

There are free maps to 19 tempting walking destinations to check out, including :

CANARY ISLANDS

La Gomera & El Hierro, Lanzarote, La Palma, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria

La Palma, Mirador del Time, Canary Islands

BALEARIC ISLANDS

Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera

Dragonera, from La Trapa, Mallorca, Balearic Islands (Spain)

GREEK ISLANDS

Zakynthos (Zante), Corfu

SPANISH MAINLAND

Costa Blanca Mountains, Costa del Sol (Axarquia), Alpujarras, Sierra de Aracena

The ancient bell-tower, Aracena Castle

– and also:

Malta & Gozo

Madeira

Azores

Levada Nova, Madeira

To see more details about the free digital maps and how to get them, LOOK HERE

Canary Islands – Here We Come!

At last the Canary Islands are back on the British Government’s unrestricted travel list. The Canaries offer so much variety, each island unique and unforgettable, and with a warm, welcoming climate, the perfect choice as northern hemispheres feel the first shivers of winter.

Gran Canaria (photo by Joel Rohland on Unsplash)

Gran Canaria – the miniature continent, a roughly circular island of ravines and 60 kilometres of beaches, winding forest roads and criss-crossed with walking routes. Plenty to discover, day and night.

Wooden balconies, Gran Canaria (photo by Joel Rohland on Unsplash)

For more information click here.

Want the Gran Canaria Tour & Trail Super-Durable Map? Look here.

La Gomera, just west of Tenerife and easily reached via a short ferry crossing – plunging barrancos and soaring forest-topped mountains sprinkled with hamlets and farmsteads clinging to the slopes. Walk, bike, swim, explore – enjoy.

On La Gomera – Tenerife’s Teide visible

El Hierro, small, fascinating, the most remote and westerly Canary Island promises rugged terrain, narrow winding roads and great walking. A world-class marine reserve, free island-wide wifi and electric car charge ports contrast with the traditional feel of the island. Yet, there are very few tourists – for now.

El Hierro

There’s more information on La Gomera and El Hierro here.

La Gomera and El Hierro Tour & Trail Super-Durable Maps can be bought onlime including HERE.

Lanzarote – the Fire Island; volcanic, mysterious and mesmerising terrain, lava seas and alpine meadows. Other-worldly. Once visited, never forgotten.

Montaňa Corona, Lanzarote
Lanzarote coastal adventure

Find out more about Lanzarote here.

Buys the map from online selllers including HERE.

Fuerteventura, known for beautiful beaches and great water sports, also offers a surprising variety of fascinating walking adventures. Wild coastlines contrast with traditional towns and views across pristine seas.

Established in 1405, Fuerteventura’s original capital of Betancuria is a step back in time.
Aloe Vera thriving in Fuerteventura’s desert conditions.

See more information about Fuerteventura here.

Maps can be foundfrom online sellers including here.

La Palma – La Isla Bonita; dramatic landscapes; a breathtaking mountain spine splits this volcanic island. Black beaches, Lush vegetation and 1080 kilometres of waymarked walking paths.

La Palma – walking on volcanoes

There’s more information about walking on La Palma here.

Buy La Palma maps online including here.

Tenerife – a Walker’s Island There’s so much to Tenerife. 2034 square kilometres offer coastal adventures, mountain hikes, pine and laurel forest trails, strolls and strenuous challenges including Spain’s highest peak (Mount Teide).The choice is almost endless.

Tajinastes – wonderful endemic flora in Tenerife.
Tenerife – unspoilt rugged coastline in the island’s north-east (Walk 41)

See all the information here.

You can buy the walking guide, walking maps and bus map online.

Travel Gets The Green Light

The British Government has published the list of countries you can travel from, into England, with no quarantine needed. At last, the brakes are off and all of us who want to get away have a tempting array of countries to choose from.

Plenty of fresh air and views, Las Canadas, Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain)

Of course, keeping safe is important, so what better than getting out and about on airy mountain walks or breezy coastal trails, well away from the crowds.

Palaiokastritsa Bay, Corfu (Greece)

Greece and its lovely islands is on the ‘good to go’ list, along with all of Spain including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.

Dragonera, from La Trapa, Mallorca, Balearic Islands (Spain)

How about the quiet beauty of Brittany (France), or fascinating Malta and Gozo?

Pointe de Landunvez, Brittany (France)
Malta

There’s plenty of information to help you choose your getaway destination here.

Have a look at our free digital maps, fully detailed and just what you need for adventuring away from the crowds. Take a look at our printed maps and walking guidebooks too.

We can offer maps (many also available as free digital downloads) and guidebooks for most of the following destinations which are all on the UK Governments ‘free to travel‘ list:

Our maps and/or guides:

FRANCE
Brittany

SPAIN
Canary Islands: Gran Canaria
La Palma
Tenerife
Lanzarote
La Gomera & El Hierro
Fuerteventura

Mainland Spain: Costa Blanca Mountains
Sierra de Aracena
Costa del Sol
Alpujarras

Balearic Islands: Mallorca
Ibiza
Formentera
Menorca

GREECE

Zakynthos (Zante)
Corfu

Malta & Gozo

Lanzarote’s north, Canary Islands (Spain)
Costa Blanca Mountains – Puig Campana (Spain)

A Little Good News – Free Digital Maps For Everyone

We may not be able to go adventuring for a while yet. However, we can plan ahead for when we can travel again. Have a look at our digital maps, clear and fully detailed for adventure planning of all kinds, including walking, climbing, biking or maybe daydreaming about your next big trip.

Mirador Del Time, La Palma, Canary Islands
Here’s the map section of the area shown in the photo (above).

There’s a whole hatful of exciting free maps to be had. Take a look at this list of adventure destinations.

Balearic Islands

Mallorca

Menorca

Ibiza

Formentera

Menorca’s rugged north-east coast

Madeira

Madeira – approaching Ribeira Funda

Azores

Greek Islands

Corfu

Zante (aka Zakynthos)

Malta, Gozo & Comino

Spanish Mainland

Axarquia / Costa del Sol

Costa Blanca

Alpujarras

Sierra de Aracena

Axarquia

Canary Islands

Gran Canaria

La Palma

Tenerife

La Gomera & El Hierro

Lanzarote

Fuerteventura

La Gomera, Canary Islands

We hope that we’ve inspired you to think about your next big adventure. To get your free digital maps, please look here https://www.dwgwalking.co.uk

The Amazing Island of La Palma

La Palma is the most north-westerly and the steepest of the Canary Islands; arguably it’s the steepest island in the world.

Walk la Palma Walk 10 The Southern Volcanoes ascending Teneguia

La Palma – walking on volcanoes

If you’re looking for a walking destination that’s wild, beautiful and unforgettable, La Palma will not disappoint.

07 [03] Views from Pico Birigoyo (Wp.9) EDITED

Views from Pico Birigoyo

The steepest island in the world, the deepest crater, the clearest skies: volcanoes you can climb without being shot into orbit; a subtropical forest ; black beaches, blue seas, high mountains, vegetation that is literally flamboyant, everything linked by 1080 kilometres of waymarked paths; and all virtually untouched by tourism.

31 La Cumbrecita landscape mode EDITED

La Cumbrecita

Discover this remarkable place on foot or by bike. Take a look at more information including Walk! La Palma guidebook and the newly-published 7th edition of La Palma Tour & Trail Super-Durable Map.

 

 

Tour and Trail Maps Go To Sea

We know that most people use our Tour & Trail maps for hiking and biking, for driving and occasionally while horse riding. Their strength, toughness, foldability and waterproof qualities make our maps ideal for all these pursuits.

Look at those magical blues! Paddle Boarding off Northern Menorca

But here’s a first! We received an interesting email from Oliver, a kayak, open canoe and paddle board guide. He uses our maps to navigate around coastlines and sent us a couple of photos showing how he does it.

Paddle Boarding off Menorca’s North Coast

“Just wanted to say how impressed I am with the quality of your maps, I use them to navigate our way around coastlines, most recently around some of the awesome north coast of Menorca on Stand Up Paddle Boards, (I guide in both sea kayak and Open canoe too).

Your maps definitely make life easy while afloat …

Oliver”

(Received 24 August 2018)

And here’s how to use your Tour & Trail map while paddle boarding.

Thanks Oliver!

You can see that map and many others from Discovery Walking Guides here.

Any more unusual uses for our maps out there? Let us know.

Guess The Island

 

“The steepest island in the world, the deepest crater, the clearest skies: volcanoes you can climb without being shot into orbit; a subtropical forest minus the slimy things slinking up your trouser leg; black beaches, blue seas, high mountains, vegetation that is literally flamboyant, everything linked by 1080 kilometres of waymarked paths, and all virtually untouched by tourism.” (Author/researcher Charles Davis)

 

 

More clues? Okay then – it takes under 5 hours to fly there from the UK. It’s a whole lot warmer and sunnier than most of northern Europe, definitely so for more than half the year. Sometimes it is referred to as, ‘La Isla Bonita’.

 

So, have you guessed the location of this alluring destination? Check if you are correct, or give in and find out by looking HERE.

Cyber-Travel

Okay, enough of the cold, wet, windy miserable weather in the UK. Sunshine, blue skies and warm temperatures seem to be a distant dream. What’s to be done? If you’ve enough spare cash and no commitments, you could simply find a sunny break on the internet and be off and away in a matter of hours.

But for most of us, that’s not realistic. But, consider this; many people find more pleasure in the planning of a holiday than they do when they’re actually there. According to a 2010 study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, just planning or anticipating your trip can make you happier than actually taking it.

So, in this most un-summery of British summers, why not lose yourself in the pleasure of cyber-travelling as you seek out your next holiday destination? Thank goodness for the internet, which allows us to zoom across the planet and home in for a closer look at potential places to explore.  There’s also the many reviews to look at of other traveller’s experiences which can help you home in on a few choices. Give yourself an hour or two’s virtual adventuring. Mountains? Beaches? Citybreaks? Cruising? Activity Holidays? Backpacking? The world’s yours to choose from (well, a good amount of it). You could start making shortlists of where and when  you’d like to go, making notes on the best times of year to visit. Look for trips that fit your budget, or maybe dream of that lottery win. TripAdvisor is one good source of ‘what-to-dos’ for your chosen shortlist.

Even if your plans don’t become reality this time, losing yourself in the fun and fantasy of your perfect holiday gives you a pleasant few escapist hours. And when you’ve got the time, money and opportunity, you’ll already be armed with great ideas.

PS

If you do happen to be in the position of just getting up and going right now, here are one or two suggestions:

Formentera

IMG_8800

Perfect sandy beaches on Formentera

 

La Gomera

La Gomera Walk 31

La Gomera – on Walk 31 (from Walk! La Gomera by Charles Davis).

 

La Palma

Walk la Palma Walk 10 The Southern Volcanoes ascending Teneguia

La Palma – walking on volcanoes

 

Menorca

Walk Menorca on the north coast route 39

Menorca’s rugged north-east coast

 

Who got a Garmin for Christmas?

If you are one of the many who found a Garmin GPS in their Christmas stocking, this post is for you.

Get your hands on a free sample ‘real-time’ map and see your Garmin come to life. You can choose a sample map of Graciosa ( off Lanzarote, Canary Islands) or Sierra de Aracena (Andalucia, Spain).

What you’ll get is a highly detailed real-time Tour & Trail digital download map, which you can save on your hard drive, transfer to your Garmin GPS CustomMap memory or onto a micro-SD card; you can also use the maps in Garmin Basecamp and Google Earth.

If you like what you’re seeing then you can purchase more mapping to download, for a whole host of destinations including:-

CANARY ISLANDS

Sample segment, Gran Canaria.

Sample segment, Gran Canaria.

Gran Canaria
Tenerife
La Palma
La Gomera
Lanzarote
Fuerteventura

MAINLAND SPAIN
Alpujarras (Sierra Nevada, Andalucia, southern Spain)
Costa Blanca Mountains (Alicante, southern Spain)
Axarquia (Andalucia, southern Spain)
Sierra de Aracena (Helva province, southern Spain)

BALEARIC ISLANDS
Mallorca
Menorca
Formentera
Ibiza

PORTUGUESE ISLANDS
Madeira

For more information about Tour & Trail Maps take a look HERE.

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