Somerset a Dog Walker's Guide

Longlisted for the 2020 Wainwright Prize 'I can't remember the last book I read that I could say with absolute assurance would save lives. But this one will' Chris Packham 'Fabulously direct and truthful, filled with energy but devoid of self-pity . . . I was impressed and enchanted. Highly recommended' Stephen Fry 'Succeeds – triumphantly – in articulating with great honesty what it is like to suffer with a mental illness, and in providing strategies for coping' Mail on Sunday When Joe Harkness suffered a breakdown in 2013, he tried all the things his doctor recommended: medication helped, counselling was enlightening, and mindfulness grounded him. But nothing came close to nature, particularly birds. How had he never noticed such beauty before? Soon, every avian encounter took him one step closer to accepting who he is. The positive change in Joe's wellbeing was so profound that he started a blog to record his experience. Three years later he has become a spokesperson for the benefits of birdwatching, spreading the word everywhere from Radio 4 to Downing Street. In this groundbreaking book filled with practical advice, Joe explains the impact that birdwatching had on his life, and invites the reader to discover these extraordinary effects for themselves.

There¿s a lot more to Somerset than scrumpy cider, cheddar cheese and the Glastonbury Festival. It¿s a county of contrasts: moorlands and marshes, castle and caverns, cheese and strawberries, gorges and tors. With a variety of landscapes, extraordinary buildings, fascinating wildlife, and history round every corner ¿ not to mention some of the friendliest people you¿ll ever meet - Somerset is simply asking to be explored. This selection of 40 circular walks will help you make the most of the uplands and lowlands, woodlands and wetlands of Somerset ¿ `the land of the summer people¿. Size 105 x 148mm

From the genteel Georgian terraces of Bath to the wilderness expanses of Exmoor, the fully updated The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset provides an all-round account of this richly rewarding region, with comprehensive details of what to see, what to do and where to sleep, eat and drink. Useful context and background information accompany all the practicalities, interspersed with vivid, full-colour photos and some of the clearest maps to be found in any guidebook. Rough Guides' local experts cover high culture and street art, from the architectural glory of Wells Cathedral to Bristol's exuberant murals, as well as all the options for getting active, including cycling on the Somerset Levels and hiking in the Quantock Hills. Alongside information on the best local festivals, there are full reviews of the worthiest restaurants and the most characterful pubs. Beyond the borders of Somerset but within easy reach, The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset also takes in such hotspot destinations as Salisbury and Stonehenge, as well as the full-on family attraction of Longleat. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset.