As author. This guide was a triple challenge: to shift the focus from sea and sand tourism; to give insight into local culture and history; to design written itineraries with listings and features. Inland Alicante and Murcia involved great road trips. Dorothy Stannard was an endlessly supportive editor. Photographer: Robert Mort. Editorial director: Brian Bell. Updates to 2004: with Carolina Carl & Francisco Mengual.

This pocket guide, written in 2006, focussed on the cultural continuities underlying Valencia’s very special character. I was lucky to work again with editor Dorothy Stannard. The Insight map team did an amazing job with Valencian language street names. Photographer Gregory Wrona.

Mapping gave a sense of exploration to writing up plains, river valleys, gorges,sierras, historic cities. Still in print and also available in German, Dutch, French and Spanish (Guía de España–El País-Aguilar; Project editor Nick Inman).