Walking can be a long and hard slog. However, it all depends on the context. Schlepping to the nearest bus stop because your car has just given up its ghost and you need to go to work is one thing. But filling in your lungs with the Lake District air is definitely another.
True, summer is the colour of ice cream, winter is perfect for a layer of cuddles, and autumn does have its beige and brown charms. However, spring is the most beautiful season of all: there’s the poetry of birdsong in the air, the perfume of a million blooms, and little lives rustling in the undergrowth. And what better way to celebrate spring than to slip on your walking boots, pack a flask of steaming coffee and leave your footprints along some of the best nature trails in Europe.
Cinque Terre, Italy.Cinque Terre, Italy
A rugged stretch on the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre is one of those places which actually look better than the postcard. The houses clinging on the stocky cliffs are the colour of candy, the sea is savage one minute, tame the other, and life is just beautiful.
The five villages of Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Monterosso al Mare and Riomaggiore and the surrounding hills are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park. When walking along the coastal paths, the scenic combination is just perfect. On one side you have the Mediterranean, with fishing boats bobbing on the waves and a constantly changing palette of blues. On the other side, it’s a spectacle of quaint fishing villages and solitary monasteries and churches.
Southwest Ireland
Come spring, Ireland’s green hills come alive with the call of the wild. The southwest of the island is especially beautiful, with ancient castles set against the bluest of skies and country paths strolling by country homes and vintage pubs.
Southwest Ireland offers plenty of walking holiday options. The Dingle Peninsula, for instance, is a scenic feast of dramatic cliffs and stone cottages while if you’re interested in history, you can spend hours walking around the Iron Age ruins at Slea Head.
For the best of everything, spend your days walking in Killarney National Park in County Kerry. Stretching across more than 25,000 acres, Killarney was the first national park in Ireland and boasts a diverse ecology of oak and yew woodlands, mountain peaks and lakes.
Switzerland
The face that launched a thousand chocolate and milk adverts, Switzerland was made for walking. Picture it: from soaring mountain landscapes, pristine lakes and waterfalls to ancient glaciers and flower-lined trails, Switzerland is a walking holiday dream.
From Wengen, you can explore the surrounding valleys and meadows as well as the famous Mannlichen ridge. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is another favourite and has five summits, glaciers and mountain ranges to explore.
Lake District, UK
The Lake District National Park offers some of England’s finest mountain and lake scenery. You can either choose from one of the advertised treks or else make your own, depending on your fitness. One of the more moderate and yet most beautiful routes is the circular trail through the Langdale valley.
Covering more than 14 kilometres, the route starts from the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, which is also home to the popular Hikers Bar. From here, head east towards Blea Tarn and onwards to the Langdales. The route then winds its way towards Wrynose Pass. Continue towards Great Langdale Beck until you return to your starting point. Then sit down at the Hikers Bar and exchange stories with fellow travellers: you will have plenty to tell.
Montagne Noire, France
The Montagne Noire region in southern France not only has one of the most romantic names but it also packs plenty of rural charm and a landscape dotted with bubbly streams, lush meadows and peace.
This region of southern France seems to be caught in a time warp, which is a good thing. There is a sense of beautiful ruggedness: wild boar roam the woodland, the cottages are made of stone, and the population is ageing. The scenery, though, is breathtaking: dark forests, mountain lakes, moss-covered giant trees, buzzards circling over the hills and occasionally, ruined castles that tell of peace but mostly war. Pack a lunch because you will frequently stop sur l’herbe to admire the view.