Gran Canaria is often referred to as a 'continent in minature'. If you travel across the island by car or on foot you'll see why for yourself! From the hub of the cumbre, the island's great saddle, ravines are born and fan out seaward like spokes on a wheel, gouging enormous valleys in their wake. Between them there are magnificent barrancos (ravines). Each has its own little secret to share. In the Barranco de los Cernicalos there are knee-deep grasses and a chuckling stream; the Barranco de la Aldea hides an emerald-green reservoir; the Barranco de Guigui opens out to an incomparable beach. These are but a few of the island's breathtaking ravines...and this is only the start of what you will find when out walking in Gran Canaria. For many years Gran Canaria was the most underrated of the Canary Islands among countryside enthusiasts, but more recently, with the restoration of the old trails (the so-called 'Kings Highways'), the island has been 'discovered' by walkers. This pocket-sized guide describes car tours, picnic places and walks throughout Gran Canaria. There is a fold-out touring map for motorists, which also highlights the various walking areas.For those without a car, there are timetables for local transport. 4 car tours (and accompanying touring map), 50 long and short walks (each illustrated with 1:50,000 topo map), 30 picnic suggestions. Plans of Las Palmas and Maspalomas/Playa del Ingles. Free online update service with specific route change information on the publisher's website, maintained daily. The 'Landscapes' series, with 50 destinations, has been dubbed 'the blue Bibles' by the Sunday Times and led to Sunflower being one of only four publishers (from a field of 18) chosen as a Which? Recommended Provider of Guidebooks. A great little guide book to get you off into the interior of this beautiful island. Each walk is concisely and accurately described. --(Mike, Amazon) Dear Noel, Thank you for your wonderful book on Gran Canaria. I'm in my third year of teaching in Las Palmas, and over the last 18 months have found your book a godsend, as it's enabled me on numerous occasions to traipse around the cumbre. PS: This is the obvious one: I've never felt moved to write to a writer before! --(SL, Las Palmas) Still the best [hiking guide for Gran Canaria].I 've gradually assembled the alternatives (Rambling Roger, Rother and local publications), but keep returning to the Sunflower guide. --(TC, Amazon)
