So where does this leave me?
Contained within 2,000,000 square
kilometres of the Atlantic Ocean are
twenty-one subtropical islands and
I’ve covered them in ten separate
guidebooks, with two of them
subsequently being translated into
Finnish. Two books have dropped out
of print in favour of others that have
been reprinted and gone into entirely
new editions, with the most recent
books being published twenty years
after the first one. While giving talks
recently I was approached by natives
of the islands, whose job is to promote
the islands to visitors, admitting to me
that they knew little or nothing about
the extent of walking opportunities
available.
There are a few things I’ve never
done on these islands. These include
taking a package holiday, exploring
holiday resorts, lounging on beaches,
frequenting bars or hiring cars. In my
opinion, doing any of these would
essentially ruin what these islands are
able to offer me. I find it much better
to cut myself off completely from the
tourist trappings and simply head for
the wild places, seeking out natural
8 Outdoor focus | spring 2020
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Anyone planning
to visit and
explore all the
islands will
require a lot of
stamina and
determination
wonders and heritage features. That’s
how I’ve made the most of these
islands.
It’s been great fun, taking me
through the most amazing volcanic
landscapes, into stunning national
parks and through a host of other
protected areas, following centuries-
old trails through mountains, linking
historic villages, as well as taking me
up the highest mountains on Spanish
and Portuguese territories. One day,
someone else will have to keep all this
up-to-date. I doubt it will fall to a
single person. It’s more likely to need a
team of people. I envy them, but I also
hope they know what they’re letting
themselves in for. There are thousands
of kilometres of trails ranging from
short strolls to multi-day expeditions,
with landscapes ranging from deserts
to lush forests, from barren lava fields
to remarkably rugged mountains.
Anyone planning to visit and explore
all the islands will require a lot of
stamina and determination.
Finally, it would be wrong for
me to give the impression that I’ve
spent years of my life exploring these
wonderful islands. I think in total