Suzanne King

Part of Bradt's distinctive, award-winning series of 'Slow' travel guides to UK regions, the new, thoroughly updated second edition of Cheshire (Slow Travel) celebrates this charming, popular English county. Written with intimate detail and insider tips by two authors raised in Cheshire, it remains the only standalone guidebook to provide in-depth coverage of the county. Already renowned for an abundance of black and white timbered buildings, Cheshire was put firmly on the map in the 2000s thanks to then-resident stars David and Victoria Beckham. The county confounds expectations with its surprisingly varied and dramatic landscapes, ranging from the Cheshire Plain to the wild hills and windswept moors of the Pennines and Peak District in the east, and the upstanding sandstone ridges of the west - not to mention the moody coastal marshes of the Wirral Peninsula, flanked by the major estuaries of the rivers Mersey and Dee, which flow into the Irish Sea. Home to Premier League footballers it may be, but this is also a largely rural landscape that abounds in farm shops and forests, and meres and marinas. Alongside pretty lowland villages lies ample industrial, cultural and scientific heritage, ranging from Bronze Age mining sites and medieval castles to Victorian mills and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jodrell Bank, home of the mighty Lovell Telescope. Then there's the county town of Chester with its fascinating Roman history, unique double-decker medieval shopping arcades and the most complete city walls in Britain. Delve deeper into local culture by visiting engaging museums, grand stately homes and formal gardens; by exploring literary connections to Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll and Elizabeth Gaskell; or by gawping at the World Worm Charming Championship (held annually in Willaston). Recuperate by indulging in local artisan food at one of many spruced-up village inns (including Britain's 2023 Pub of the Year), then lay your head in country-house hotels, characterful B&Bs or self-catering estate cottages. Or, for a truly slow experience, profit from Cheshire's canal network, which is perfect for waterside strolls or pootling along in a narrowboat. Whatever floats your particular vessel, Bradt's Cheshire (Slow Travel) guides your way.

Myth or reality, what are the hidden forces that shape our destiny? Spirits Over Time and Oceans is an epic tale of demons emerging from the past, and the awakening of an extraordinary artist who possesses the powers of a goddess. Delia's spiritual quest to battle darkness and save the wilderness evokes a plea to leave the planet a better place for our children and grandchildren. Symbolic of our times, this legendary tale will take you from a mysterious deep sea cavern in Delos, Greece, to the ruthless whaling history of Hobart Town, to the wilds of subantarctic Macquarie Island - and deep into Delia's soul. An emotional rollercoaster ride through time, to the ends of the earth, to the deepest oceans and way beyond the stars. A masterpiece of imagery full of hope and above all, yearning - to protect nature and all majestic creatures before time runs out.

This brand new title in Bradt's acclaimed UK regional Slow series is the only full guide to Cheshire, a county known for its abundance of black-and-white timbered buildings and which was put firmly on the map in the 1990s thanks to then-resident stars Posh and Becks. Cheshire is a county that confounds expectations, from the Cheshire Plain to the hills and moors of the Pennines and Peak District in the east and surprisingly dramatic sandstone ridges in the west, not to mention the Wirral Peninsula, flanked by the major estuaries of the rivers Mersey and Dee flowing into the Irish Sea. Home to premier league footballers it may be, but it is also a largely rural landscape and an area of farm shops, forests and falconries; meres, marinas and marshes. There is industrial and scientific heritage, too, ranging from Bronze-Age mining sites to the internationally important astronomical observatory and mighty Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. With this new Bradt guide, discover all of this and more: the county town of Chester with its fascinating Roman history, unique double-decker medieval shopping arcades and the most complete city walls in Britain; ruins of ancient castles; and reminders of the salt and silk industries that have been so important in the past. For a truly slow experience, Cheshire also offers a network of canals, perfect for waterside strolls or pootling along in a narrowboat, while Bradt's Slow Cheshire details information for walkers and cyclists, too. Also included in this guide are gardens and parks, grand stately homes and structural legacies of the past (such as Port Sunlight), engaging museums, attractions and events. Local food and drink is covered, along with all types of accommodation, from B&Bs and self-catering cottages to guesthouses and hotels.