Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri: Car Tours and Walks by Julian Tippett
This pocket-sized full-colour guide is designed for holidaymakers who want to get off the beaten track. It describes excursions to Pompei, Vesuvius and other famous sites in the area, as well as suggestions for countryside picnics. But the largest part of the book is devoted to walks, and there are unique 'walk-planner' diagrams for the 72 different walking routes. Sorrento, Amalfi and Capri are wonderful areas for walkers, with inland areas linked to the coastal resorts of the Neapolitan Riviera by ancient footpaths and mule trails. These take you almost from your hotel doorstep up into the lemon groves - or you can just take a bus up into the hills and walk back down to your hotel! The flowers are a constant delight - from broom and rosemary in March to freesias and cistus in May. In autumn, the woods are carpeted with cyclamen. Most of the paths described can be followed easily by people who do not claim to be regular walkers, though committed hikers will like them too. The book also has timetables for local transport, fold-out touring maps, and a free on-line update service.