LightFoot Guide Book Reviews 2008

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GUIDE   REVIEWER   DATE REVIEW
  Via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass & Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome   Nick Crane - Best known for his work as a presenter on the BBC’s Coast and Map Man series, Nick is a rare combination: an expert cartographer, historian and explorer   29.06.08 Thank you so much for sending me the two splendid volumes of the LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena.  I can see that they have been compiled on the basis of many hard-won miles, and they will be an inspiration to many who follow your hoof-tracks! What a wonderful example of green tourism!  Congratulations!
  Via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass & Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome   Alison Raju - For the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome   01.07.08 Paul Chinn and Babette Gallard, LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass,  Fougères: EURL Pilgrimage Publications, 2008, 219pp, ISBN 9782917183014.These are what we have been waiting for!
 
Two route-finding guides in English, to lead the pilgrim all the way from the cathedral in Canterbury to St. Peter’s Rome, whether on foot, on horseback or riding a bike.  (And volume 1, covering the sections through England, France and Switzerland, is the first such guide in any language at all.)
 
Volume 1 covers the first 21,030 kilometres, as far as the Great St. Bernard Pass, while Volume 2 describes the remaining 942, from there to Rome.  The route is divided in 77 sections, 1-44 in the first book, 45 onwards in the second, with each daily stage containing a route summary, cultural and historical overview of the region, detailed instructions, a map and a blog extract.
 
The colour maps for each section not only have the route traced on them but also include numbered GPS waypoints referring to the detailed directions given in the following text, symbols to indicate facilities available in the different places along the way, an altitude profile, map references and, where applicable, pictures of the types of waymarking used.  Each section also include listings of accommodation and practical facilities such as doctors/vets, internet cafés and tourist offices.
 
As well as basic information about England (useful for those who don’t live there), France, Switzerland and Italy, the introductions to each volume also offer practical advice specifically for walkers, riders and cyclists, information about dogs and horses relevant to each country, useful websites, a short reading list (though without bibliographical detail) and vocabulary lists.  At the end of each volume there is also a section that can be used as a pilgrim record.
 
With these two clearly laid-out books the pilgrim should have no trouble finding his or her way along the Via Francigena or places to sleep en route.  They do, however, have one drawback, as least as far as this reviewer is concerned.  The authors explain that information on areas along the route is restricted to the general and/or topographical, without detailed reference to religious sites, a decision taken partly for reasons of space but also because, in their view, a significant percentage of people following the Via Francigena today are either not religious or belong to a different faith.  The pilgrim road from Canterbury to Rome was, however, fundamentally a religious route in its origins, and while many modern-day pilgrims may not be religious in the conventional sense many will be interested in the historical, artistic and cultural aspects of the religious sites along the route.  A whole dimension is therefore missing from this otherwise excellent pair of guidebooks.
 
LightFoot guides are published on demand (POD) and are available from the shop facility on http://pilgrimagepublications.com/UKShop/PayPal/ppbooks.html as well as from the from the Confraternity of Saint James’ secure online bookshop (www.csj.org.uk)
 
A copy of each volume is in the CPR (Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome) library.
 
  Via Francigena: Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome   John and Marion Topping   03.07.08 We are finally back home in New Zealand after completing our Via Francigena successfully due mostly to your wonderful book.  We had a great time together which is just as well because we came into contact with no other pilgrims on the entire journey.  It's funny, although everyone says it's not like the Camino you sort of don't really believe it, but gradually as you walk you realise that there is in fact no 'spirit', no pilgrim feasts, common goal or all of the other wonderful aspects of that journey.  We were surprised as to how little known the journey is the prime example being when we had arrived in Rome and stopped at the souvenir shop beside the pilgrims office to see if they had anything commemorating the Via Francigena .. but no the women had absolutely no idea of what we were talking about and when it finally dawned on her she simply said the office was next door.  We had no problems with finding accommodation, but it was a bit more expensive than the book indicated in some areas ... but that's inflation for you ....and a weak kiwi dollar.  Best wishes  Marion
  Via Francigena: Canterbury to Orsiéres   Maria Franci   24.07.08 My news after a long time, I am sorry!
I left Canterbury april/27 and arrived at Orsiéres june/05. I walked 37 days and met only one pilgrim, Augusto, an Italian from Tuscany, going to Rome.It was at the good "gite rural" of Amettes. I showed him your book, he was with the maps TOPOFRANCIGENA and said it was difficult to find the ways.
I confirm I could follow the ways with the guide.
I slept two nights at Laon, Reims and Besançon, very beaultiful places, where I wanted to stay one day more.
I could not find place to stay at Tergnier, the very bad hotels had no place and Le Rallye is now closed, then I went to Laon by train. I was very happy, the only town I had no place to stay was served by SNCF. Them, I did not walk TEGNIER - LAON.
The way Martigny - Orsières was too difficult for me. I am a 65years old woman that was affraid with the difficult ways completely alone. Before, at some woods, I had thought it was dangerous to walk alone, but I decided to go on. But when I arrived at Orsiéres I thought I had reached my limits and I did not try Orsières - Col St Bernard.
 Once again, thanks for your attention and your guide. I don't know I will continue Via Francigena next april/june. I am thinking  to return to the ways in "Chemin St Jacques", now, beginning at Mont St Michel. I never was so alone like in Via Francigena! I will think about.
If you want to know if I had problems at any specific section, tell me.
          Thank you and good ways!
                 From braziliam pilgrim
                                              Maria Franci
  Via Francigena: Via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass & Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome   James Martin - Travel Journalist   28.07.08 Another interesting thing about pilgrimage is the willingness of pilgrims to share information. Babette Gallard recently sent me a copy of her LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena. It’s a monumental work, full of necessary route information and maps for the pilgrims, but also a worthy book on the wonders found along the route by folks who’ve experienced it in various ways, including on horseback.

Check out the map of the Via Francigena, even if you have no interest in traveling along it. You’ll find all the “best” cities in that part of Italy along it.

Pilgrimage changes not only the pilgrims. 

When I return to the Lunigiana in a few weeks, I'll be right on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route that takes pilgrims from Canterbury to St. Peter's in Rome, This time I'll have Paul Chinn and Babette Gallard's LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena with me. The authors have created a very detailed record of the Via and what you'll find along it. It's always a great feeling to know that there are people who work toward a common cause that is spiritual, or at least doesn't have as its aim the domination of the world or the destruction of other cultures.

Walk in peace, pilgrim.

                
 
  Via Francigena: Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome   Mike Metras, author of Walking with Awareness   15.08.08 I apologize for being so tardy at getting to reviewing your wonderful new book LightFoot Guide to the Via Francigena, Summit of the Great St. Bernard Pass to Rome. I received the copy you sent me last month. Thank you.
 
As I mentioned earlier, in 2006-07 we walked from Germany to Rome following the VF from Fidenza. I have written a web version at http://www.WalkingWithAwareness.com/romewalk.htm. I have just sent my book on this pilgrimage, Germany to Rome in 64 days: Our Pilgrimage, to the publisher. It should be available at the beginning of September or so at www.lulu.com/mikemetras.
 
The LightFoot Guide is a wonderful book, clearly a product of a lot of gathering, work, and organization. I reviewed it extensively and used it to cross-check some of my facts as I finished my book. We used Guida della Via Francigena by Monica D'Atri and Franco Cinti  and Association VF maps and their Dormifrancigena B along with their Vade Mecum. All are in Italian. We made it with our marginal Italian. But now a book in English! And such a thorough book!
 
As I studied the book comparing it to my notes, recollections, and these other books I used, I wished more and more that I would have had it when we walked. Even without a GPS and knowing nothing about what all those numbers really can do for me., I can see the LightFoot Guide could be a great help to someone walking the VF. That said, I cannot say I am ready to be so tied to a machine and the companion words in the book, looking at them ever hundred meters or so--or, for that matter, having to keep track of going 470 meters for the next way-point. I seem to be able to flow with a map better--maybe it is my 55 years of using a map :).
 
Thanks for your wonderful work.
 
  Via Francigena: Canterbury to the Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass & Summit of the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome   Mike Metras   9/2008
Babette Gallard and Paul Chinn was published in 2008 by Pilgrimage Publications, Fougères, France. At the time of this writing (9/2008) this is the only guidebook to the Via Francigena (VF) I have seen in English. It comes in two volumes, one on the VF from Canterbury, England to Great St. Bernard Pass on the Swiss-Italian border and the other volume from there to Rome. I received a copy of LightFoot Guide to the Via Francigena: Summit of the Great St. Bernard Pass to Rome. I am reviewing this book on the Italian segment of the FV. Before I get into the details and nuances of my feelings, I must say that this an excellent book, well worth its higher than average price tag. Having said that, here are some details.

As I mentioned on other parts of this web site, in 2006-07 we walked from Germany to Rome following the VF from Fidenza. I review this book as one who has walked along the paths being described here.

The LightFoot Guide is a wonderful book, clearly a product of a lot of gathering, work, and organization. I reviewed it extensively and used it to cross-check some of my facts as I finished my book, Germany to Rome in 64 Days.

While walking the VF we used Guida della Via Francigena by Monica D'Atri and Franco Cinti and AIVF maps and their Dormifrancigena B along with their Vade Mecum. All are in Italian. We made it, indeed, we made it well with our marginal Italian. But now a book in English! And such a thorough book!

As I studied the book comparing it to my notes, recollections, and these other books I used, I wished more and more that I would have had it when we walked. The book supplies GPS waypoints and data to generate them. I have no feel for them so I can say nothing about them. Even without a GPS and knowing nothing about what all those numbers really can do for me, I can see the LightFoot Guide could be a great help to someone walking the VF. I seem to be able to flow with a map much better--maybe it's my 55 years of using a map :). The guide has information for the walker, the bike rider, and those going by horse.

The LightFoot Guide a wonderful work.

Here are some highlights of the book and (of course) a few things I'd like to see different:

  • The book is divided into 34 chapters, one for each day's segment of from around 20 to 40 kilometers. The maps give main and alternate routes. The alternate routes are both where required by bicycles and where someone may just want to walk an alternate.
  • Every segment has convenient altitude maps with kilometers and altitude for the day's walk. That gives me a nice idea of the whole day though it is not stated whether these altitudes are for only the main route and not the alternate. The charts do not identify specific locations through the day other than kilometer marks. So it does not help me make a decision of the main route or an alternative if I am at town Xyz (when I don't really know how far it is from the beginning of the day). Adding the GPS way-points to these altitude charts would do wonders to help. And I am, as many on the VF are, getting older, my eyes are getting weaker.
  • The numbers on the altitude charts are tiny. I cannot read them without an additional magnifying glass and bright sun. In a dark (as most are) hotel room, I am confident that I could not read them.
  • The altitude maps also sometimes are not as long as the segment they appear in. I have no way of know where they start/end in these cases.
  • The maps seem to be better than any that I used on our walk. Nonetheless, I would like more detail, I use them more than I use words. In addition, there are only a few GPS way-points on the maps. I would like to see all (or most of) the way points on the maps so I could quickly refer back and forth between the words and the map.
  • There are only a few city maps. More would be helpful. I got really lost in Sarzana and a bit less so in Lucca. Maps or even more words would have helped. But this book is more helpful in that way than the books I used.
  • The book does not show the remaining distances to Rome at the beginning of each day. That is, there is no "543 km left to Rome," or something like that at the beginning of each segment. A simple box on the corner of the page with the number would be a very convenient addition. I always want to know how far I have came and how far I have to go at as short a glance as possible.
  • The book includes "Blogs," which are running narratives from the authors' walks and bicycling down the FV. Their stated purpose is to let others know that they, the writers, had problems and joys also walking the VF just like the readers will. In fact, there are some 44 pages of "blogs." The book has 230 or so pages. Almost 20% of the weight of this "guidebook" is material not guiding me. I admit it is "nice," but it is unnecessary weight when every ounce has to be accounted for. I would rather read it before I left and leave it at home but I cannot rip it out as it stands; it is interspaced with the guidebook material. The authors are considering addressing this in future editions.
  • Another thing with the blogs: they are not always titled with the same from-to titles as the segments in which they are located. That confuses me.
  • The price is high. (...I know, one supper for two along the VF as you get farther south and you have spent the price of the book.) Is the color necessary? The authors think so. It seems to me it is not. You pay for color.
  • The book includes a lot of good general information and information on lodging all along each segment so you can stay in several places other then just the end of the segment. The lodging list is large but not exhaustive. We stayed in some places not listed here and the other guides we used include some not here. So you still should consider using more than just one guide.
In the end, despite these minor uncomfortable areas, This is a great book. I wish it would have been available in Dec 2007 when we started in Fidenza. Life would have been a lot easier.

Check out the online sample pages and then go for it. I think you will be happy you did so.