The season of longer days and more sunshine in the northern hemisphere is a great time to lace up the hiking boots and take to the trails.
Europe has some epic hiking possibilities for big views, challenging altitudes and more gentle lakeside strolls. These holidays take in some of the best.
1. Dolomites and Lake Garda
Northern Italy’s UNESCO-listed Adamello Brenta Natural Park allows you to choose from lakeside strolls along turquoise waters and olive groves, to more challenging mountain hikes, appreciating the rugged limestone peaks.
Staying in the small, family-run Hotel Regina Elena in the village of Caderzone Terme gives you a central spot from which to explore trails. The scenic route takes in the famous Five Lakes, the Nardis Waterfalls, and the Genova Valley as well as a day trip to the western shore of Lake Garda.
2. Lefkas and Meganisi
Head to the Greek Islands of Lefkas and Meganisi for raw beauty, olive groves, waterfalls, quiet mountain trails and villages, where cobbled streets lead to stone houses and local tavernas. The views on a walking holiday are jaw dropping but the islands aren’t overrun with tourists. Lefkas is famous for its dramatic white cliffs and Meganisi has hidden beaches, clear waters and an authentic laidback charm.
May is a perfect time to hike in Greece, before the temperatures soar in the summer. Choose from easy strolls to moderately challenging hikes, the trails will take you off road and beyond the beaten track of guidebook recommendations.
3. Sierra Nevada, Spain
Spain’s largest mountain range, Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, offers huge diversity to explore. You might consider a three-day weekend trip to the picturesque town of Lanjarón. With fresh spring water and tranquil squares, it’s an excellent location for walking through the natural beauty of the national park – taking in the rugged landscape, deep gorges, pretty white-washed villages and epic vistas.
You can get an expert local guide to take an average group size of 10-12 on challenging hikes, including a stretch of the GR7, the famous long-distance hiking trail that’s part of the E4 European walking route.
4. Slovenia
Triglav National Park is full of natural wonders, big vistas and traditional farming villages. It takes in the Julian Alps, Lake Bohinj – Slovenia’s largest glacial lake – and Savica Waterfall in the walls of the Komarca Gorge.
A stay at The Art Kristal Hotel, a family-run property on Lake Bohinj, offers views of mountain and the countryside. Typical hikes are graded ‘leisurely’ or ‘moderate’ with four to seven hours of walking, so a good level of fitness is needed.
5. Connemara National Park and Aran Islands, County Galway
Follow new trails at Connemara National Park and on the west coast of Ireland. The country’s second oldest national park has been undergoing a major expansion and upgrade project, which aims to increase in size by more than 12% and double the network of walking trails.
A good place to start is Galway City – home to lively pubs and traditional Irish music – before heading to the rugged beauty of Ireland’s remote Aran Islands to walk to the ancient Black Fort, and stand at the edge of Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric stone fortress thought to be 3,000 years old.
Walkers can then head back to the mainland to hike Connemara’s Western Way and embark on an old pilgrim trail through the Maumturk Mountain, before visiting Leenane, a village on Ireland’s only fjord. The dramatic backdrop of the Galway coast featured in the Oscar-winning film, The Banshees Of Inisherin.
