HIGH TATRAS SLOVAKIA AND POLAND (CICERONE)

The sight of the craggy peaks of the High Tatras mountains straddling the Poland-Slovakia border is unforgettable, beautiful and dramatic. As well as the High Tatras, this guidebook also covers the neighbouring but contrasting White Tatras and Western Tatras ranges.

The Tatras are blessed with a dense network of well-maintained and waymarked walking routes – some 600km altogether. Some short stretches of routes, described in this book as ‘airy’ or ‘exposed’ are protected with fixed chains, or sometimes wires of about 2cm. Apart from the chains and wires, some routes involve short, steep stretches of scrambling which are clearly marked in this book.

The two sides of the range, in Slovakia and Poland, offer totally contrasting experiences. In Slovakia, you can walk from several villages strung out along the foot of the range and linked by a tramway. In Poland, there is just one main resort, Zakopane, a delightful small town that retained its traditional atmosphere through the ravages of the Communist era.

Colin Saunders and Renáta Nárožná, who was born and bred in the area, together provide a detailed insight into the possibilities for walking at all levels from easy through moderate to strenuous.

The book also includes sections on history, vegetation and wildlife, weather, languages, preparations for your trip, accommodation and local attractions. For anyone wishing to visit the High Tatras, this book is a must.