Madeira is a wonderful destination for walkers, offering a breathtaking diversity of landscapes; lushly verdant slopes, towering volcanic peaks, dramatic gorges and soaring cliffs surprise and amaze the newcomer. Add the levada network, primeval forests, subtropical flora and the superb landscaped gardens - little wonder that the island is fondly called "The floating garden of the Atlantic". Shirley Whitehead, Madeira's resident walking expert, has brought together over 40 'Leisure Walks' adventures suitable for a wide range of abilities and age groups. Madeira Walks volume 1 offers a wealth of choice for every walker and explores the best areas the island has to offer. With Madeira Walks in your pocket, your visit to Madeira becomes an unforgettable adventure.Each 'Leisure Walk' description includes:- Route Summary giving overall view of the route and access information; Ratings for Effort, Time, Distance, Ascents/Descents, Refreshments, and Vertigo risk (where applicable), in an easy to see pictorial 'Summary' box; fully detailed walk description, including frequent timings to aid navigation and check your progress; gps waypoints at every key point on every route (subject to reception); full colour 1:40,000 scale mapping for each route taken from the latest edition of Madeira Tour & Trail Map.
Shirley is an expert on Madeira's flora, describing the varied and exotic plant life we encounter on each Leisure Walk. For gps users Discovery Walking Guides provides free gpx waypoint files for Madeira Walks as a zip file download from its website.