by Loraine Wilson
Cicerone, 2008, ISBN 1852845252 - ISBN-13 9781852845254, £14.00

This latest guidebook from Cicerone, to walking the high mountains of Crete, is based on the tried and tested popular format that we have come to expect of this type of book; a useful companion to trekkers of all interests.  Crete has a bit of everything for the trekker, from dramatic gorges to high mountain plains, numerous peaks that rise to over 2000m, forested crags, colossal cliffs and secluded beaches. The combination of the climate and Crete’s ancient historical sites make this Greek island a magnificent destination for any holidaymaker, but for the walker, the added attraction is the mountainous scenery of which the Samaria Gorge is well known. In addition to many walks and trekking routes in the White Mountains, this new, more comprehensive edition covers Mount Ida of Central Crete and Mount Dikti and the Lassithi Mountains in the east.

The guide’s contents include the following:

• Western Crete 53 walks in the White Mountains and on the south coast together with 10 multi-day trekking routes
• Central Crete 17 walks and treks on Mount Ida and in the Psiloritis range
• Eastern Crete 12 walks and treks in the Lassithi Mountains
• Coverage of the E4 Trail across each of these ranges
• Information on walking in Crete and getting to the beginning of each trekking route.
• Routes Graded from A to E, easy to remote/ rugged, including many backpacking routes in the high mountains.

Review by Dave Brown