The Canary Islands comprise seven highly individual islands and this book covers the three eastern islands. Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are explored by fifty varied and interesting walks and the route research was spread over a total of six weeks in two visits.

On Gran Canaria the walks stretch all the way from sea level at the Dunas de Maspalomas to the mountainous crest from Roque Nublo to Pico de las Nieves. As much of the northern, eastern and southern parts of the island are built-up, the routes concentrate on the mountainous central and western regions. Many of the walks are inter-linked so they can be strung end-to-end to offer longer walks across the island.

Fuerteventura is a dry and dusty island, with a series of routes arranged on the mountainous Jandía peninsula, more routes across the middle of the island, and a few more in the north. The tiny island of Lobos is also included at the end.

Lanzarote is explored through a series of inter-linked routes arranged around the southern and northern parts of the island. Some of these can be strung end-to-end to offer longer walks around the island. The landscape is rugged and volcanic, having seen intense volcanic activity in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Timanfaya National Park is so strictly preserved that walkers are barely allowed to set foot on it, though walking opportunities do exist and are mentioned in the book.

Although the little island of Graciosa is part of Lanzarote, it is big enough to offer a good weekend's walk and is given a section all to itself in the book.

Walkers will be surprised to find enough walking opportunities to last them for several visits, taking in mountains, pine forests, scrubby semi-deserts, rolling dunes and lush cultivated slopes.Explorations of these islands can be continued with a companion volume; Walking in the Canary Islands - West. This offers fifty more walks spread across the islands of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, bringing the total distance covered in both volumes to over 1600km (1000 miles).

This guidebook is now out of print and has been replaced by two completely new guidebooks, taking into account recent signposting and waymarking of trails.

See: Walking on Gran Canaria and Walking on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

See Also: Walking in the Canary Islands – West