Awards & Reviews
Awards:
7 November 2009: 'Velebit. A Mountain in Croatia' (hidden europe, September 2008) awarded 'best outdoor feature' prize in the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild Awards for Excellence, 2009 (sponsored by Crimson Publishing)
Judges' comments:
'This was the hardest category to judge because there wasn't a single entry that disappointed. It was heartening to see that, in these times of the dumbing-down of the print media generally, there are still outlets where good writing is appreciated and published, for which we should all be grateful.
'Any one of three or four superb and very different pieces might have won, but after reading and re-reading, there was one entry which the judges felt was consistently good from first word to last. It showed a deep understanding of the destination, and its people; it was both thoughtful and entertaining, cleverly wove together the author's own thoughts with history and legend, and highlighted a part of the world that is on everyone's doorstep but remains mysterious and very special.'
31 October 2008: The Mountains of Montenegro awarded 'best guidebook' prize in the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild Awards for Excellence, 2008 (sponsored by Aquapac International)
Reviews:
The Mountains of Montenegro (Cicerone Press, 2007)
Horse at Stavna, Komovi (Nikon FM2n, Nikkor 20mm f/2.8)
Winner 'Best Guidebook' award, Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild Awards for Excellence, 2008 (sponsored by Aquapac International)
Judges' comment: 'It passed the most important test of all - the itchy feet test!'
'This is a hugely welcome and finely presented walking guide to the mountains of a European country which not many British people think of going to. Montenegro, newly independent from Serbia in 2006, may have only 700,000 inhabitants and few natural resources but, inland from the relatively well known coastal delights of Budva and the Gulf of Kotor, lies a truly mountainous country with four National Parks already designated and another area, the Prokletije range in the far south of the country up against the Kosovan and Albanian borders, about to become one, and about time too! The Durmitor National Park in the north takes in both the Tara river canyon, 1600m deep, and Bobotov kuk, at 2523m not quite the country’s highest peak. That accolade goes, albeit with some controversy, to Maja e Kollatës, 11 metres higher at 2534m on the Albanian border. Durmitor is the most visited area and also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This guide describes 15 waymarked walking routes in 7 different mountain areas, with suggestions for further exploration and for multi-day treks because these mountains are as attractive to walk through as to climb. The coloured sketch maps are clear and the whole book has a wealth of information on Montenegro itself: history, geography and geology, fauna and flora, language (a very useful section), travel to and within the country, food and drink, contacts and useful addresses. There is important advice on maps, which apart from those produced by the National Parks, are hard to come by. The photographs are highly seductive, but it is a pity that the author had bad luck with the weather when he was in Prokletije; atmospheric scenes of cloud-wreathed valley sides can’t do justice to the dramatic, saw-toothed ridges and peaks of this amazing area....
This is an important book, not just as an attractive and enticing guide but because Montenegro needs visitors to its mountains and valleys to climb, walk, kayak, mountain bike or study the environment, all ‘sustainable visitor activities’, bringing money into the local economy and leaving the mountains still unspoiled. If you glance at Rudolf Abraham’s book you too will want to go there.'
Richard Hargreaves, Climbers' Club Journal 2006-2007
'...a good resource for alpine adventurers...'
Lonely Planet Montenegro
'The author describes Montenegro as containing some of the 'wildest, most spectacular and least visited mountains in Europe.' At a glance the photographs reveal a collection of jagged limestone peaks, alpine meadows, lakes and canyons.
The guide describes fifteen routes in seven different areas, with two or three walks in each area. The route descriptions are clear and contain many helpful suggestions as to the location of water and camping spots. The local maps seem to contain many inaccuracies, such as huts and springs that don't exist and routes obliterated by rock fall, venturing on these trails with a map alone seems a recipe for some unforgettable adventures and this guide will undoubtedly repay its cost many times over.
This book is no exception to the high standards of the Cicerone guide series and is of excellent quality. It is well worth the investment if you are looking for something different for your IML log book.'
AMI news, September 2007
‘Excellent all round travel guide. Superbly presented, this book gives good details, links, numbers, names to arrange/travel around Montenegro. Certainly one of the best of this kind of books I have come across.’
Adrian Smith, Amazon
, March 2008'The author describes fifteen circular and point-to-point routes, generally on waymarked trails, with options for further routes identified. He asserts that Montenegro has some of the wildest, most dramatic and least-visited mountains in Europe, and who are we to disagree?
This at present is the only English language guide to walking in Montenegro - and it is a good one. Montenegro is a land of jagged limestone peaks up to 2,500m high, linked by fine ridges, and its gentle valleys are dotted with picturesque lakes. It is just waiting to be discovered.'
Walking World Ireland, 2008 Annual
‘All sorts of questions arise at the very idea of visiting Montenegro, the first being where exactly is it? Separated from Serbia a year ago, it is a rough parallelogram squashed between the Adriatic, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania, and containing “some of the wildest, most spectacular and least visited mountains in Europe.”
Montenegro has a long, dramatic and complicated history, and Abraham, unusual in a walking guide, provides a 12-page historical appendix. I can't check any of the routes, which vary in length from an hour up to a few days, but from the illustrations they look interesting, and in some cases exciting, in a scenery of glacial cwms and rocky ridges.’
Irish Mountain Log magazine, Autumn 2007
Walking in Croatia (Cicerone Press, 2004)
The mountains of Southern Velebit and Paklenica, viewed from the village of Jovici, Croatia (Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f/4 G ED-IF DX, graduated ND filter)
'Essential reading for anyone serious about hiking around these parts.'
Time Out Croatia
'How the map of south-east Europe has changed in recent years – as the overview of that wonderfully evocative part of the world shows on pages p10-13 of Rudolf Abraham’s new book. With their forested hills, limestone crags and spectacular massifs, the mountains of Croatia are tailor made for outdoor adventure.
This pocket guide is certainly well researched, thorough and very detailed. Before you eventually reach the section detailing the walks, there are almost 60 pages of history and general information to get through, including tips on eating out, festivals to visit and wildlife to study. Perhaps not surprisingly, the chapter on Croatia’s bloodstained history covers 15 pages, but is nevertheless a fascinating insight into how this troubled corner of the world has changed and evolved over the years. The day and multi-day hikes range from the Dinaric Alps to several islands in the Adriatic, catering for all tastes and abilities.'
Nick Channer
'An adventurous new guide for the adventurous traveller.'
Walk magazine / Rambler's Association, Autumn 2004
'The first ever English-language guide to walking in Croatia is now available from Cicerone Press. The walks in the guide provide an intimate view of Croatia and its people, opening up the country to the more adventurous visitor who wants to explore beyond its well-known coastline. The routes cover all the main hiking areas, from the Dinaric Alps along the coast to a number of other areas further inland, as well as some of the country's beautiful Adriatic islands.
Catering for varied abilities, the routes range from easy day-trips to muti-day treks across jagged mountain chains. All the walks are graded in difficulty -though some involve scrambling, none requires any climbing skills or specialist equipment. The guide is designed to put the walker in control, it offers numerous trips and alternative routes whjch allow the walker to shorten or extend the routes to suit their itinerary and ability.
Croatia, with its stunning scenery and sunny summer climate, is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travellers from the UK, though few stray beyond the country's celebrated coastline. Much of Croatia's interior remains largely untouched by tourism, and its mountains, rising suddenly and spectacularly beyond the narrow ribbon of coastal cities and rocky beaches, are an ideal and, as yet largely undiscovered, walking destination.
Paths and trails are clearly waymarked, and the country's network of excellent mountain huts enables walkers to explore the more remote mountain areas, where the scenery has a dramatic and rugged beauty. Ranging from gently sloping forested hills to rugged tops and limestone crags, the mountains are at their most spectacular in the massifs collectively known as the Dinaric Alps, a wilderness of magnificent grandeur.
The author, Rudolf Abraham, has travelled extensively in eastern Turkey, the south Caucasus, Iran and the Central Asian republics. He lived in Croatia from 1999 to 2001, working as an English teacher in Zagreb, and has undertaken numerous walking trips into the mountains of Croatia and Slovenia. He shares his wide knowledge of the country in a generous introduction, which includes sections on history and geography, culture, food and drink, as well as practical information on accommodation, maps and local transport. Appendices give details of mountain huts and shelters, as well as information on the language. The guide gives all the information you need to explore this fascinating country.'
David Lynch, Bluedome, 2004