Scotland Highlands & Islands Handbook

'If there is a heaven then it must look like the Scottish highlands, but let's hope the petrol's cheaper.' Author Alan Murphy's love of Scotland is tempered by a dry sense of humour and keen eye for the absurd. The combination makes for an entertaining guide to the region. Murphy has no time for the 'dreadful tartan tat' of Scotland's tourist traps and steers the reader away from the crowds. The nitty gritty of getting from A to B and where to stay and eat is dealt with comprehensively in each chapter, but there's plenty of space for observations on matters more esoteric, for example where to get the best smoked kippers and the myth of the Loch Ness monster.

Walkers are well catered for with lots of detailed route descriptions and maps, though at just under 500 pages, it's a fairly weighty addition to the rucksack. But if you like your guide books to have a bit of personality then you'll be hard pushed to find a better one than this. Footprint Handbooks, £9.99.

The Travellers Internet Guide

If you've ever wondered where to go for online safety tips on travelling in Algeria, a database of kosher restaurants, a link to the official newspaper of the Communist party in Cuba or Arabic lessons - this book is for you.

This isn't the first traveller's internet guide, but it's certainly one of the most comprehensive, targeted at the independent traveller rather than the tourist looking for cheap deals.

Produced by travel club, Wexas, the book lists over 1,000 websites ranging from government tourist office sites to personal web pages. There are a few duds, but also several gems. My favourite is 'Peter's (I live here) Guide to Colombia' which has some useful insider tips on local scams. Paranoid travellers will love the health and safety chapters which allow you to swot up on avalanches, disease outbreaks around the world and airline safety records. The book costs £5 (incp & p) and is available from Wexas on 020 7589 3315 or www.travelleronline.com.