A good book and a great walk have something in common: they both need to have a gripping story, be atmospheric and memorable. A change of pace and dramatic breaks are also important. The hiking destinations below all meet these criteria, so whether you’re following the story of St James along Spain’s Camino de Santiago on your Christian pilgrimage, or immersing yourself in the legends of British authors such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Beatrix Potter in the Lake District, our selection of the best hiking holidays in Europe has something for you.
You could spend a lifetime on walking tours in Spain. The national park of the Sierra de Guadarrama is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, surrounded by harsh rocky outcrops and the tranquil shade of pine trees. For the more casual wanderer, southern Spain and the Alpujarras are the best places to go. Guided walking tours lead you along mountain passes where eagles soar, to warm, sun-drenched white villages where olive groves gather like a conclave. But the ultimate Spanish walking trail is the ancient path of the Way of Santiago, which winds its way along the coastline.
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2. “Cursed mountains” for difficult routes
Craving a challenging walk? Forget about attempting to scale the highest peak of Mont Blanc. Try the Akrusud Mountains, which cross northern Albania and border Montenegro and Kosovo. Walking routes here pass through mountain ranges in national parks, steep valleys tumbling with glacial blue rivers, isolated yet welcoming villages and dense green forests with unique flora and fauna. A guided walking holiday in one of Europe’s last remote areas will provide you with an exhilarating adventure.
• Best things to do in Albania
Garajonay National Park, La Gomera (Getty Images)
3. La Gomera: Experience the thrill of a volcano
Explore the forgotten Canary Islands on foot. This volcanic region shaped by cloud forests, folk legends and ancient hiking trails is just a stone’s throw from the much busier package holiday hotspots of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, yet a whole other world. Garajonay National Park lets you experience this living museum up close, with fairytale forests and volcanic spines rising like giant fists from the valleys and highland plateaus. Climb to the peak of Garajonay, the island’s highest point, or follow the island’s winding footpaths and historic mule tracks.
4. Scotland for Jurassic drama
Hiking the igneous rocks, dragon-scaled ridges and Jurassic landslides of the Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland is a journey through both time and geology. After clambering along Black Cuillin, a ridge with 11 Munros, 16 other summits and views of finger-like sea inlets, a wish list of other walks beckons. Circumnavigate the Cuillin and Old Man of Storr on the Trotternish Peninsula, spot rutting red deer in Fairy Glen, tackle the coastal cliffs on your way to Neist Point Lighthouse or reward yourself with a wild splash after hiking to the mirror-clear Fairy Pools. Pack your boots and Erne Bleu rucksack and you’ll soon realise there are enough hikes here to do every day of the year.
Scotland
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Durbach in the Black Forest (Alamy)
5. Cake and Walks in Germany
When Germans crave a Waldeinsamkeit, a sense of oneness with nature, they head to the Black Forest in the southwest of the country. This is a land of enchanting meadows, fairy-tale villages and picnic-basket lunches in Little Red Riding Hood’s forest. Medieval Triberg has an evergreen trail that leads to the Triberg Falls, the highest waterfall in Germany, while the long-distance West, Central and East paths are shortcuts to the rejuvenating delights of these remarkable woodlands. There are 15,000 miles of waymarked walks here – the perfect tonic for the guilt-free portions of Black Forest cake available in every village, with the added bonus of burning calories.
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• Best things to do in Germany
6. Sweden is known for its beautiful coastline
Get your Fjallraven outdoor gear ready and head off to one of Scandinavia’s landmark trails – the High Coast Trail on Sweden’s Baltic coast overlooking the Gulf of Bothnia. It’s home to the world’s highest coastline (286 metres above sea level), and the 80-mile route from south to north takes you through rocky shores, pebble beaches and forest paths overlooking an ancient seabed. Start at Hornoberget, overlooking the High Coast Bridge, relax in Skulskogen National Park and finish off with fika (Swedish coffee and cake) in Ånskoltsvik.
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7. Türkiye on the Lycian Road
On this walk, the past springs up all around you. The trail leads to hilltop oak and cedar forests littered with Lycian tombs, Roman heirlooms and Byzantine mysteries. Walled acropolises, crumbling churches and the ruins of a sandstone theatre hidden among the scrub. A ruby-pink sun frames the view, bathing deserted beaches and stunning emerald-green waters. This is just a small part of Turkey’s Via Lycian. Retracing the path once taken by Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great, the Via Lycian is a life-affirming 310-mile journey that stretches from Oludeniz near Dalaman, over Mount Olympus to the front door of Antalya. It’s full of a month’s worth of ancient wonders, but also suits a leisurely few days.
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Lake Oeschinen (Alamy) in the Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps
8. Switzerland: Beautiful mountains and alpine meadows
Whether you’re looking for a challenging hike through the towering splendor of the Alps or an easy walk through countryside where cowbells jingle and the colours of a patchwork of primroses, gentians and buttercups sparkle in the sunshine, Switzerland has a walking holiday to suit everyone. Try a guided walk in the southern region of Ticino, close to Italy, where walking routes follow tranquil palm-fringed lakes that sparkle in the brooding shadow of jagged mountain ranges. Want to go further? Italy’s lakes await.
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• Best Hotels in Switzerland
The town of Amalfi on the Mediterranean coast (Getty Images)
9. The lemon-scented Amalfi Coast
The throngs of celebrities who yacht into the Amalfi Coast can make it seem inaccessible to anyone but A-listers. But don’t despair, overcome the difficulties. Walking trails crisscross the hills, with breathtaking views of the sun-dappled sea and the jewelled island of Capri sparkling in the distance. Elsewhere, walks take you through chestnut groves, fragrant lemon groves and vineyards. Continuing on with a guided walking holiday, you’re never far from the sea, which shows its different faces in the sun.
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Heiligenblut Church at the start of the Grossglockner Alpine Road in Austria (Getty Images)
10. Austria is known for its natural beauty
Amazing Austria has hills and mountains that offer hiking holidays ranging from easy to challenging. Take a guided walking tour high in the Alps, where the air is as clear as the voices of the Vienna Boys’ Choir, or follow a walking trail along the Danube River as it tumbles through the Wachau Valley. And don’t forget Tyrol, dotted with storybook villages, magnificent mountain ranges and densely forested valleys.
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The Monastery of the Holy Trinity overlooking the town of Kalavaka in central Greece (Getty Images)
11. Historical Walks in Greece
The Greek landscape is full of history and myth, and a walking holiday will have you following in the footsteps of gods and monsters. The centaurs, for example, lived in the unspoiled Zagori region near Albania. Enjoy a challenging walking holiday through rugged mountainous terrain, where rock-top monasteries and ancient village taverns offer a friendly welcome. Take a guided walking holiday to island-hop, past historic olive groves and meander along mountain paths with views over the wine-coloured waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean.
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12. Easy trails: Portugal
As you’ll discover on a guided walking holiday, there’s much more to Portugal than Lisbon and Porto. Can you hear the howls of a lone wolf as you make your way through the ruggedly beautiful landscape of Peneda-Gerês National Park in the north? Meanwhile, in the Algarve you can enjoy leisurely strolls that leave you feeling the sea breeze and avoiding beach lovers, while in the Alentejo in the south, guided walks will see cork trees and olive groves standing sentinel amid Instagram-worthy castles and hilltop villages.
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Tuscan Sunset (Getty Images)
13. The rolling hills of Tuscany
Tuscany’s lush hills are dotted with medieval red-tiled villages that have been visited by invaders but that still sleep peacefully with a sense of their own permanence. This is the perfect place for an unforgettable walking holiday, where history, flora, fauna, food and wine mix together. There are many easy guided walks that will take you into the heart of Italy’s most beautiful places.
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Lavender fields at Sénanque Abbey in Provence (Getty Images)
14. Flower-filled walks in Provence
The picturesque villages of Provence are the ideal starting point for a green and peaceful walk. From medieval villages to ancient Roman aqueducts, the footpaths are quiet and well-maintained. The meadows are filled with the scent of fresh Herbes de Provence, where marjoram, rosemary and thyme compete with oregano bathed in the summer sun. Spend the morning tasting local delicacies at the bustling market in Gordes, then walk through the purple lavender fields to the Abbey of Sénanque. For a change of pace, try Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the town where Van Gogh found inspiration for many of his paintings. A stroll through the medieval architecture is an alternative to more strenuous hikes. For the more energetic, there are challenging mountain trails that lead in different directions. Mont Ventoux, known as the “bald mountain” because there is almost no vegetation on its summit, offers magnificent views.
15. The Lake District is a great place to stroll
From a challenging walk at Old Man of Coniston to a leisurely stroll through the grassy moorland of Tarn Hows and the views of the Lakeland Fells, there are walking routes to suit all abilities in the stunning Lake District. Whatever route you choose, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views, cool, clear lakes and plenty of wildlife. Keen hikers can enjoy a walk to the top of Mount Helvellyn. It’s 950 metres above sea level, so make sure you wear appropriate walking gear and take plenty of rest as you make your way up. Another great route on a clear day is Blencathra (also known as Saddleback), in the north of the Lake District. This mountain has six peaks, the highest being Hallsfell Top at 868 metres. The 3-4 hour walk from Thirlmere to Bly Tarn is a more strenuous route, but the beautiful surrounding views make it worth it. If you get tired, there are pubs along the various walking routes. Try Grasmere and Patterdale for the most variety.
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