Bradt Travel Guides

Eccentric London and new editions of top travel guides

bradttravel — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:20:17 +0000

Release: 22nd May 2012
Ben le Vay’s Eccentric London
Ben le Vay’s second edition of Eccentric London is the perfect quirky guide to this amazing city just in time for the 2012 Olympics. Meet a man who listens to tube trains from the road above with a large hearing-trumpet, another who rides down the river in an Edwardian bath chair, and be introduced to the secrets of this curious capital. This is an insider’s guide to the city by someone who has lived, loved, eaten, drank and worked in London for five decades, and between bizarre bookshops, weird museums and a pile of petrified hot cross buns, Ben le Vay manages to take the reader far beneath its barmy surface and into the even barmier world beneath.

The guide includes an updated calendar of wacky happenings and free events, as well as up-to-the-minute practical tips for newcomers on how to get the best deals and avoid the rip-offs.

Title:  Eccentric London
Author: Benedict le Vay
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication:  20th April 2012
Price: £14.99    ISBN:  978184162423948

Announcing new editions of Bradt guides to…

Montenegro – 4th edition
Author: Annalisa Rellie
A hidden corner of eastern Europe, Montenegro lies across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, its stark mountains rising up from the coast. Medieval architectural gems vie for attention with more recent Venetian fortresses and churches, reflecting the diversity of Montenegrin culture. Updated throughout, this edition has all the practical information the independent traveller needs, including new hotels and restaurants on the coast and in the mountains. Outdoor and cultural enthusiasts will be spoilt with the extended coverage on national parks, fishing opportunities and archaeological finds.
Published: March 2012 ISBN: 9781841623818 Price: £14.99

USA by Rail – 8th edition
Author: John Pitt
Now in its eighth edition, this book covers all the major routes across the United States and Canada. Ever-changing landscapes pass by on the other side of the glass, from the primeval-looking Joshua trees of the Mojave Desert and the saw-toothed peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the pounding surf of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Whatever the route, sit back, relax and watch a breathtaking continent unfold.
Published: January 2012 ISBN: 9781841622552 Price: £15.99

North Cyprus – 7th edition
Author: Diana Darke
Hike up to Buffavento, stroll through the cloisters of bellapais Abbey or go barefoot on the golden sands of the karpas Penninsula. Rugged North Cyprus offers charming unspoilt villages, deserted beaches and hidden monasteries – things of the past in the more developed south of the island. Revised and expanded, the seventh edition of North cyprus reveals churches, castles, classical ruins and newly accessible sites, as well as an in-depth overview of the ancient and modern histories of this complex and divided island.
Published: March 2012 ISBN: 9781841622446 Price: £13.99

Budapest – 3rd edition
Authors: Adrian Phillips, Jo Scotchmer & Monica Phillips
Budapest has it all: spectacular architecture, award-winning cultural festivals, Michelin-starred restaurants, historic thermal baths and business-friendly hotels. The authors are winners of the British Guild of Travel Writers Best Guidebook Award and share their enthusiasm for the city in an engaging and witty style. Thoroughly updated, the third edition of Budapest is packed with up-to-date information and provides travellers with all they need on where to stay, eat and drink, and what to see and do.
Published: March 2012 ISBN: 9781841621852 Price: £9.99

Wildlife and Conservation Volunteering – 2nd edition
Author: Peter Lynch
A unique guide with a dedicated focus on wildlife and environmental conservation volunteering. It is aimed at all three sectors of the age and career spectrum: gap year students and backpackers, vacation conservation volunteers, and the early retired. The extensive range of expedition opportunities include working with antelope, big cats, birds, coral reefs, dolphins, elephants, fish, hippos, monkeys, turtles, whales, zebras, injured wildlife and people – in every habitat – all over the globe.
Published: March 2012 ISBN: 9781841622750 Price: £13.99

Albania – 4th edition
Author: Gillian Gloyer
Albania’s unspoilt mountain scenery, cultural sites and beaches mean it is becoming increasingly popular with a growing number of UK travellers. This affectionate guide to Albania covers the length and breadth of the country, discovering remote villages and out-of-the-way towns such as Peshkopia and Erseka. Visitors will find detailed information on wildlife, national parks, hiking routes, and beaches, and with 2012 marking the centenary of Albania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire there will be many celebratory events across the country.
Published: March 2012 ISBN: 9781841623870 Price: £16.99

Luxembourg – 2nd edition
Author: Tim Skelton
This is the only English-language guidebook to focus exclusively on the world’s only Grand Duchy, home to the rolling forests of the Ardennes, hill-top medieval castles and one of Europe’s smallest wine-growing regions. From first-class accommodation and Michelin-starred restaurants, to hiking and youth hostelling, this thoroughly updated edition gives tips to suit every taste and budget.
Published: March 2012 ISBN: 9781841624242 Price: £14.99

Borneo – 2nd edition
Author: Tamara Thiessen
Updated throughout, this revised guide caters for all with information on how to trek through one of the region’s national parks, catch a glimpse of an orang-utan, spend the night in a longhouse, or shop in the bustling markets. From the highlands and islands of Sabah and Sarawak, to the mosques and mysticism of the Sultanate of Brunei, Borneo is a mesmerizing mix of cultures, endangered animals, tropical rainforest and carnivorous plants.
Published: May 2012 ISBN: 9781841623900 Price: £17.99

Macedonia – 4th edition
Author: Thammy Evans
A treasure trove of adventures, Macedonia is emerging as a top new tourist destination. With unspoilt mountains, lakes and spas, traces of old communism, and friendly hospitality at rural boutique hotels, it’s not hard to see why. The wines are rich, the history steeped, and the culture varied. This remains the only standalone English-language guide to the country and the author shares her love of the country with expanded coverage of eastern Macedonia and its hot springs, rock art and megalithic observatory.
Published: May 2012 ISBN: 9781841623955 Price: £16.99

To request a review copy of any of the above titles or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com Tel +44 (0)1753 893444

Flanders – new guide to beyond the beer and lace

bradttravel — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:50 +0000

Most people think they have Flanders, like the rest of Belgium, figured out: beer, chocolate and the EU. However, dig beneath the surface and you will find a region of quirk and style. This new Bradt guide, Flanders, introduces travellers not only to the World Heritage Sites of Brussels’ Grand Place or Bruges’ romantic canals but also to snug spots, like the bewitched village of Laarne and Geraardsbergen, the real home of Manneken-Pis.

Flanders provides something for everyone: the city-break or business tourist seeking restaurants and shopping; the wildlife and outdoor enthusiast after bird-watching and rural walks; the traveller seeking out towns, villages and countryside off the beaten track; and the visitor in search of luxury and pampering. Dress up and join the merry madness of Aalst Carnival, spend the night in a traditional begijnhof, or simply people-watch over a bowl of mosselen-friet in Bruges’ medieval town square.

Bradt’s Flanders is the first guidebook to cover the entire region in depth. It takes you on a journey along romantic canals, through bewitched villages and to bohemian cafés in this beguiling corner of Europe.

Emma Thomson spent a year living near Brussels.

To request a review copy or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com Tel +44 (0)1753 893444

Title: Flanders – Northern Belgium: from Brussels and Bruges to breweries, battlefields and bike rides
Author: Emma Thomson Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Publication: 22nd May 2012
Price: £17.99 ISBN: 9781841623771

Dorset – a new guide to a county of hidden gems

bradttravel — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:59:16 +0000

Slow Dorset is Bradt’s latest guide in this series of books aimed at those who want to slow down and savour the hidden glories of the British countryside. Slow Dorset is a personal celebration of what makes Dorset special.

Dorset is quintessential rural England: rolling hills, thatched houses, narrow, winding lanes and stunning stately homes and gardens. A large part of the county is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and includes the Jurassic Coast, England’s first natural World Heritage Site.

In this new guide, Alexandra Richards takes you on a personal journey through the county introducing some of Dorset’s best kept secrets and hidden delights including little known walks, cycle rides, pubs, local craftsmen and visitor attractions. Interviews with local artisans and farmers, and contributions from local experts help you get under the skin of the county. Whether you are looking for fossils around Lyme Regis, taking to horseback for a ride across the expanse of Studland Heath, chatting to stallholders at a farmers’ market, wandering in the footsteps of Thomas Hardy or walking the South West Coast Path, the book presents the best of the area with affection and gusto.

Alexandra Richards was born in Dorset and is now a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Australia.

To request a review copy or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com

Tel +44 (0)1753 893444

Title: Slow Dorset Author: Alexandra Richards

Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides Publication: 15^th May 2012

Price: £14.99 ISBN: 9781841623931

New series of adventure travel and armchair reads from Bradt

bradttravel — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:39:25 +0000

Bradt launches a new series of travel narratives, perfect for both the inveterate traveller and for those who want to indulge in the wider travel experience without leaving the comfort of their armchair. Full of life, adventure, colour and personality, the books are from both first-time writers and renowned specialists such as Brian Jackman, Jonathan Scott and Bradt founder, Hilary Bradt.

“We are thrilled to be launching this new series with an updated edition of the wildlife classic, Marsh Lions by Brian Jackman, with stunning photographas from Jonathan Scott and his wife Angie Scott” says Hilary Bradt. The Marsh LIons presents a vivid picture of life and death on the African savannah through the story of a pride of lions in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve. The pride was the most successful group to be filmed for Big Cat Diary, the BBC’s hugely popular series. This edition brings the story up to date with the pride now, alongside photos and drawings by Jonathan and Angie Scott. Brian Jackman comments, “With Kenya’s lions in sharp decline, the re-issue of this African wildlife classic could not be more timely, highlighting the dramatic changes that have overtaken the Masai Mara and its big cats since The Marsh Lions was first published 30 years ago.”
Up the Creek: An Amazon Adventure by John Harrison is a compelling tale of suspense, humour and vivid descriptions of Amazon wildlife. The author’s quest to reach the upper limit of the Jari river in Brazil and portage his canoe into French Guiana is ambitious, exciting and ultimately flawed. The trip itself, full of unexpected encounters and intense emotion, mixed with just a tinge of madness, is as inspiring as the tales of the earliest adventurers. As Derlva Murphy comments in her foreword to the book, “Harrison was born a century too late. He should have been out there with Livingstone, Speke, Selous and all that lot.”

“You can’t read The Two-Year Mountain without wondering what happened to everyone, and the additional pages Phil has added tells this story as vividly and movingly as the account of his youthful endeavours 34 years ago” comments Hilary Bradt on the new edition of The Two-Year Mountain by Phil Deutschle. This is the account of how the author sets off alone on an expedition to conquer Pharchamo, 20,580 feet high. He weaves the story of his experiences in a series of sharply etched, swiftly moving, humourous anecdotes, describing events both horrific and poignant.

The authors are available for comment, articles and more. To request a review copy or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com
Tel +44 (0)1753 893444

Title:  The TheThe Marsh Lions: The Story of an African Pride      Author: Brian Jackman, Jonathan & Angie Scott
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication:  1st March 2012
Price: £9.99    ISBN: 9781841624280

Title:  Up the Creek       Author: John Harrison
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication: 1st March 2012
Price: £9.99    ISBN: 9781841623849

Title:  The Two-Year Mountain       Author: Phil Deutschle
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication: 1st March 2012
Price: £9.99    ISBN: 9781841623856

Pioneering guidebook to Somaliland – for the truly intrepid traveller

bradttravel — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:16:41 +0000

Little known to the outside world, Somaliland has much to offer the truly intrepid traveller. This pioneering guidebook introduces one of the world’s least chartered travel destinations, setting this now peaceful and increasingly popular destination within the context of its rich historical and religious background enabling visitors to travel with awareness and sensitivity.

Author Philip Briggs covers everything from the low-key capital Hargeisa and mediaeval port of Berbera to peerless rock art sites such as Las Geel, and the scenery and wildlife of the Daallo Escarpment, towering 2,000m high above the pristine reefs of the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland’s ruined cities and historical ports date back 5,000 years and have links with ancient Egypt and Axum in northern Ethiopia, as well as the Ottoman and British Empires.

Bradt’s Somaliland offers background on, and practical information to, every accessible corner of the country with the only real maps in existence of its capital and other large towns. There is also a section on wildlife.

Philip Briggs is a travel writer and tour leader specialising in East Africa. He has written numerous Bradt guides to the African continent.

To request a review copy or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com

Tel +44 (0)1753 893444

Title: Somaliland Author: Philip Briggs

Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides Publication: 15^th March 2012

Price: £15.99 ISBN: 9781841623719

New guide for eclipse watchers and new editions from Bradt

bradttravel — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:32:57 +0000

Release: 13th February 2012

New guide for eclipse watchers and new editions of top travel guides

Bradt has just published a guide to the 2012 and 2013 solar eclipses, likely to become the bible for all eclipse chasers worldwide.
In 2012, a total eclipse starts in Australia’s Northern Territory and crosses Queensland before disappearing over the Pacific, while June sees the extremely rare transit of Venus, where the planet can be seen moving across the face of the Sun from several regions of the world. During the hybrid eclipse of November 2013 the Sun will be totally eclipsed by the Moon, if you travel to locations including the central and eastern Atlantic Ocean, Gabon, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. The booklet is packed with maps, information on weather conditions, photography tips and health and safety advice.

Title:  2012 & 2013 Solar Eclipses with the transit of Venus
Author: Sheridan Williams FRAS
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication:  14th February 2012
Price: £6.99    ISBN: 978184162423665

Announcing new editions of Bradt guides to…

Colombia – 2nd edition
Author: Sarah Woods
Jagged, volcanic peaks, sands of gold, black and silver, palm-trimmed coastlines, fields of coffee, dense jungles, snow-capped mountains and idyllic islands with numerous indigenous cultures and exciting buzzing cities - Colombia is ‘ten countries in one’. Now in its second edition Bradt’s Colombia enchants flora and fauna fanatics and provides plenty of first-hand insight into striking colonial cities, rainforests, beaches, historic villages and secret gems.
Published: January 2012 ISBN: 9781841623641 Price: £17.99

Argentina – 2nd edition
Author: Erin Mccloskey
From eating beefsteak in Buenos Aires to drinking Malbec in Mendoza, from the tango rhythms of town to remote landscapes and hidden gems, this second edition of the most in-depth guide on the market takes visitors beyond the tourist haunts. From horseback trekking to watching penguins, it details many small-scale, offbeat and sustainable projects for those interested in culturally-sensitive, eco-friendly travel.
Published: September 2011 ISBN: 9781841623511 Price: £16.99

Zambia – 5th edition
Author: Chris McIntyre
One of the best destinations in Africa for walking and river safaris, hot springs and waterfalls. This fifth, fully updated edition leads visitors through all the prime attractions from the newly declared Ngonye Falls National Park, through the Sioma Ngwezi National Park to the famous Luangwa Park, host to several unique species and an ideal place for leopard-spotting. It includes advice on how to bush camp in comfort and survival techniques for canoe encounters with hippos.
Published: December 2011 ISBN: 9781841623733 Price: £18.99

Burkina Faso – 2nd edition
Author: Katrina Manson and James Knight
From balafon players to masters of horsemanship– plus internationally recognised film, jazz, hip hop and craft festivals – Burkina Faso, in the heart of west Africa, has something to offer everyone. This new edition of the only English-language guidebook leads visitors from desert markets to dramatic waterfalls and sandstone rock formations, the extraordinary architecture of 16th-century Mossi, Lobi stone ruins and Koro’s hillside caves. Sports fans can witness the cycling race, Tour du Faso. Published: October 2011 ISBN: 9781841623528 Price: £17.99

The Arctic – 3rd edition
Author: Tony Soper
Visitors can cruise the arctic coast in the company of blue whales and belugas, observe polar bears pursuing barnacle geese and seals and experience a host of shorebirds and wildfowl gorging on the abundant food. Tony Soper’s expert knowledge is supplemented with full-colour illustrations by award-winning wildlife artist Dan Powell. This edition includes a new section on the distinct flora and fauna of the Bering Sea, an area about to see an increase in visitor numbers as a result of changes in the ice cover.
Published: January 2012 ISBN: 9781841623801 Price: £16.99

Iceland – 2nd edition
Author: Andrew Evans
Bradt’s new edition of this award-winning guide to Iceland caters to the outdoor enthusiast as well as those who share Andrew Evans’ passion for the country’s rich Viking traditions and history. Learn when to use each one of the eight Icelandic words for sheep, how to avoid injury from dive-bombing Arctic terns, or the connections between present-day sites and Iceland’s rich literary tradition of sagas. Biking, trekking, deep-sea and river fishing, horse-riding, glacier exploration, Reykjavík’s wild nightlife – it’s all covered.
Published: September 2011 ISBN: 9781841623610 Price: £15.99

Lapland – 2nd edition
Author: James Proctor
Take in the indigenous Sámi culture, experience a husky safari or snorkel alongside killer whales. James Proctor leads visitors across magical frozen scenery, from the world-famous ICEHOTEL and the stunning Laponia World Heritage area to the Arctic’s midnight sun. Now in its second edition, it’s the only guidebook to this wintry wonderland.
Published: October 2011 ISBN: 9781841623658 Price: £15.99

Tibet – 3rd edition
Author: Michael Buckley
With the ‘land of snows’ having some of the wildest and roughest road routes in high Asia, motoring, mountain-biking and trekking options are all given due attention in this new edition. High quality, numerous maps set this guide apart from other guides on Tibet and the trekking section has been expanded to include more on the main treks, including Everest Base Camp, Genden to Samye, Namtso trek and Kailiash region treks.
Published: January 2012 ISBN: 9781841623825 Price: £17.99

Kazakhstan – 2nd edition
Author: Paul Brummell
Landlocked between Russia and China, and surrounded by the shimmering Caspian Sea shores and the Altai and Tian Shan mountains, a trip to the exotic wilds of Kazakhstan will erase any association Westerners may have with the film Borat. Now updated with more detail, Kazakhstan provides in-depth explanation of the rich and unique Kazakh traditions and nomadic heritage. The most comprehensive guide available.
Published: November 2011 ISBN: 9781841623696 Price: £16.99

Kyrgyzstan – 2nd edition
Author: Laurence Mitchell
Kyrgyzstan is a must-stop destination for anyone travelling through Central Asia or along the Silk Road. With more maps and practical information than any other guide, Bradt’s Kyrgyzstan details towns and villages not covered by the competition.It includes an update on the country’s political situation.
Published: November 2011 ISBN: 9781841623498 Price: £16.99

Israel – 2nd edition
Author: Samantha Wilson
This second edition gives practical tips on the top hotels and restaurants plus all the information to get the best from Israel’s range of attractions. From archaeological remains of Crusader castles and Roman cities, scuba diving off Eilat’s coast, marvelling at the mountainous Golan Heights to floating in the Dead Sea, Bradt’s Israel is the perfect travelling companion, enlightening and enhancing every trip.
Published: September 2011 ISBN:9781841623627 Price: £15.99

Published: September 2011 ISBN:9781841623627 Price: £15.99

To request a review copy of any of the above titles or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com Tel +44 (0)1753 893444

New guide book to a now peaceful Lebanon

bradttravel — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:57:40 +0000

Bradt’s Lebanon sets this now peaceful and increasingly popular destination within the context of its rich historical and religious background enabling visitors to travel with awareness and sensitivity.

Lebanon offers extraordinary diversity. Here, some of the oldest human settlements in the world at the Phoenician ports of Tyre, Sidon and Byblos sit alongside modern Beirut, popular for its cuisine, eclectic nightlife and mosaic of peoples. In Lebanon’s second city, Tripoli, busy medieval souks are watched over by a vast Crusader castle. Outside the city, snow-capped mountains and the lush Qadisha Valley with its snaking river and waterfalls provide entertainment for skiers and hikers, while the Mediterranean Sea draws sun and watersports enthusiasts.

The guide describes skiing opportunities and ski resorts in detail with coverage of trekking and hiking in the Qadisha Valley and Chouf Mountains, including the 275-mile Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT).

A specialist in Lebanon and the Middle East, Paul Doyle has travelled extensively in the region as both writer and photographer.

To request a review copy or for more details contact Debbie Hunter press@bradtguides.com

Tel +44 (0)1753 893444

Title: Lebanon Author: Paul Doyle

Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides Publication: 6^th December 2011

Price:

£15.99 ISBN: 9781841623702

New guidebooks to South Africa and the Amazon pinpoint the must-see sights

bradttravel — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:35:13 +0000

Amazon Highlights and South Africa Highlights are the latest offerings in this new, full-colour guidebook series from
Bradt written for those on organised tours. Its approach is unique, bringing together the country expertise of leading guidebook writers and the accommodation expertise of the top tour operators. The series helps readers with pre-departure planning – in deciding what they want from their tour– and provides an informative companion to take on the trip itself.

Philip Briggs lives and breathes Africa, and the collected wisdom of his years of research finds new focus on well-trodden ground in South Africa Highlights. Attractions range from stately Cape Town with majestic Table Mountain, to the scenic winelands around Stellenbosch and the world-renowned Kruger National Park and adjacent private reserves. With hundreds of different national parks and reserves, Africa’s longest coastline and several of the region’s oldest and most vibrant towns, visitors are often dazzled and confused by the array of options.

Roger Harris has been travelling to the Amazon region for nearly 20 years, documenting the area’s natural history.
The Amazon is the world’s biggest rainforest, falling within the confines of nine countries and luring millions of visitors. Trying to decide where to go is a challenge for any traveller. Should you visit the Iguaçu Falls in Brazil, or Peru’s Pongo de Manseriche? Should your base be in Manaus or Iquitos? Where can you see a giant otter or swim with pink dolphins? Amazon Highlights showcases the best of the region – example itineraries and ideal starting points, a selection of ‘tried and tested’ lodges, and a review of leading tour operators and tour guides.

Title:  South Africa Highlights      Author: Philip Briggs
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication: 17^th November 2011
Price: £15.99    ISBN: 9781841623689

Title:  Amazon Highlights       Author: Roger Harris
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides     Publication: 17^th November 2011
Price: £15.99    ISBN: 9781841623740

First travel guide to focus entirely on Palestine

bradttravel — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:32:27 +0000

With Palestine, Bradt once again breaks through boundaries to go where other publishers fear to tread. It is the first time an entire guide has been devoted solely to the region.

Bradt’s guide is for independent travellers who want to see beyond the conflict-focused reporting of the area and ethnic and religious stereotypes. It offers unparalleled detail on Palestinian culture, cuisine, wildlife, environment, history and politics. It takes travellers on a pilgrimage to the sites of Christ’s birth and burial, a stroll through Nablus’ bustling souk followed with a relaxing soak and smoke in the city’s traditional hammams. It visits cosmopolitan Ramallah and its international arts centre.

The ‘Palestinian Territories’ of the West Bank and Gaza are featured along with the culturally Palestinian (Israeli Arab) enclaves found within Israel.

Sarah Irving first visited Palestine in 1996 and since 2001 has travelled between the UK and the West Bank. She has worked as a human rights observer, tour guide and independent writer.

Title:       Palestine
Author:       Sarah Irving
Publisher:   Bradt Travel Guides
Publication: 17th November 2011
Price:       £15.99
ISBN:  978184162 367 2

Eccentric Cambridge – A Practical Guide

Editor — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:56:05 +0000

Ben le Vay’s new Eccentric Cambridge commences with a caveat from the author, ‘ “Eccentric” carries no judgement or moral value, it just means not in the real centre… Bonkers, doolally, off-the-wall, barking, amusing, odd or crackers… those are judgements. Eccentricity is just a fact.’

That Cambridge is already a popular city for tourists keen to take a look at an old English university town is without doubt. Similarly, the recent Windsor, Middleton nuptials giving us the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have done no harm either. However, Bradt’s new guide unearths many of the town’s less obvious, bizarre and scandalous aspects, whilst also providing important insights on how to pole a punt without looking like a complete prat! From dotty Dons and what the colleges don’t want you to know, to hardy naked cyclists, bin-bound buskers, quirky pubs, wacky museums and weird walking tours, le Vay leads readers on merry and macabre jaunts around Cambridge’s curiosities. As well as eating, shopping and staying eccentric, along with getting there in the first place, the guidebook offers a calendar of oddities to be explored throughout the year. Though confessing only to A-levels at Cambridge Tech College, ‘I was far too thick/rebellious etc…’, Ben le Vay’s writing almost buzzes his new guide off the table with eccentric vibrations.

Benedict le Vay is a features editor on a leading British newspaper. He spends his spare time researching zany facts about the British and their way of life. He is also the author of Bradt’s Eccentric London and Eccentric Britain

Title:       Eccentric Cambridge
Author:       Benedict le Vay
Publisher:   Bradt Travel Guides
Publication: 10th November 2011
Price:       £9.99
ISBN:         978 1 84162 427 3