HIGH TATRAS

With breathtaking scenery, some 600km of well-maintained, waymarked paths and a selection of characterful resorts, the Tatras mountains have all the elements of a perfect walking holiday. Straddling the border between Slovakia and Poland, the region boasts stunning mountain landscapes: rocky pinnacles, craggy peaks, jagged ridges and towering cliffs, mirror-surfaced tarns and dancing waterfalls.

Covering the Western, High and White Tatras, and both sides of the Polish-Slovakian border, it presents 180 walks and scrambles routes of between 1km and 30km (both circular and linear and from easy to strenuous) linking the main resorts with peaks, lakes and mountain chalets. In Poland, there is just one base - delightful Zakopane - whereas in Slovakia, you can walk from several villages strung out along the foot of the range and linked by a tramway. The guide also includes a wealth of information about local services, facilities and attractions and extensive practical advice covering travel and insurance, accommodation and facilities, mountain guides, languages and safety in the mountains. The Tatras have been designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in recognition of their rich biodiversity and the guide presents a summary of the region's plants and wildlife, as well as its fascinating history. Other highlights include an ascent of Krivan, the national symbol of Slovakia, glorious ridge walks in the Western Tatras and gentler strolls taking in caves and waterfalls. Blending information with inspiration, this book is a must for anyone wishing to visit the High Tatras.

Renata Narozna was born and bred in the Slovak Tatras, and workd as a mountain guide for the state tourism organisation, Cedol. After Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Revolution', Renata ran her own travel company in the Tatras for a while, then she was appointed manager of the Vienna branch of the Slovak tourism organisation. In a complete career change, Renata recently became the organisational director of Greenpeace in central and eastern Europe.

Colin is a Londoner through and through, almost but not quite a Cockney, having been born during World War 2 a few miles outside the sound of Bow Bells, but within the sound of exploding bombs and anti-aircraft gunfire.

An early ambition to join the Merchant Navy was frustrated by a complete lack of technical ability, so he went for the next best way of travelling the world, the travel trade. Spells with industry giants Thomas Cook and Trust House Forte eventually led to being headhunted by a small tour operator specialising in walking holidays. This was most apt, as walking has been his main leisure activity since early adulthood. In 1989 Colin set up his own business, organising walking holidays in Britain and as a consultant on leisure walking.

In 1967 Colin joined the Vanguards Rambling Club, whose ethos in its early days (hard walking and hard drinking) suited Colin down to the ground, though the rigour of those activities has mellowed somewhat over the years. In fact, like other club members, he has been an active member of the Ramblers' Association and Long Distance Walkers Association, and has played a key role in setting up the Vanguard Way, Wandle Trail and Capital Ring walking routes, and in organising challenge and charity walking events.

As a sideline, Colin has written several books on walking. These include Manual on Navigation and Leadership(Ramblers' Association), Walking in the High Tatras (Cicerone Press), Vanguard Way Guidebook (Vanguards Rambling Club), London; the definitive walking guide (Cicerone Press) and Capital Ring Guidebook (Aurum Press).