A cycling, walking and running break in France’s best area for trails
Bagnoles de l’Orne in Normandy is a traditional spa town reinventing itself with new hiking and cycling routes – and a focus on sustainable tourism
Walks with a focal point: five of the best UK hikes with extras
From a wire bridge near Ben Nevis to a wild swim in Devon, these walks come with a unique manmade or natural element to look forward to as you stroll
‘The hike of a lifetime’ – a circuit of the Écrins national park in France
The Tour des Écrins in the Hautes-Alpes is one of Europe’s finest long-distance walks, and offers a chance to reflect on how best to live alongside nature
One Spanish region where tourists are welcome – especially spaghetti western fans
A new walking route around Burgos, in northern Spain, offers film pilgrims a close-up of the iconic locations used in Sergio Leone’s movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
In the footsteps of DH Lawrence: across the Alps from Germany to Italy
More than a century on, the route from Konstanz to Como across lakes and Swiss mountains must also contend with traffic, but it still inspires a novel
Leaving the herd behind on a family trip in the peaceful southern French Alps
Rugged scenery, an insight into shepherds’ culture, delicious food and remote mountain stays make for a memorable few days hiking in France
How I found my Dartmoor moment with the gift of wild camping
The freedom to wild camp can make hiking among the majestic tors and ancient forests even more rewarding, but this right is at risk
‘I inched across rock faces, explored sea caves and plummeted off cliffs’: readers’ favourite active holidays in Europe
Island-hopping in Sicily, saving turtles in Cephalonia, coasteering in Pembrokeshire, e-biking in Andalucía and more – courtesy of our readers
Walking the Netherlands’ new long-distance Salt Path
A new hiking route in the far north of the country is helping to connect visitors with rural communities and giving churches a new lease of life as B&Bs and art studios
In search of Monet’s wild landscapes: a glorious art adventure in central France
Rouen, Paris and London are better-known Monet destinations, but rural La Creuse’s rugged gorges, spectacular lake and medieval castle really captivated the artist
An alternative guide to the Cotswolds: beyond the Chipping Norton set
The area is known for coach tours and A-lister escapes, but beyond the honeypots lie delightfully alternative communities, ancient walking trails and brilliant pubs
Scaling the fairytale peaks of Saxon Switzerland in Germany
The dramatic landscape was beloved of Romantic painters and hardcore climbers. But the spa town of Bad Schandau provides a gentler introduction for skinny-calfed explorers
Baltic beauty: exploring Estonia’s northern coast
Mossy marshes, sunny beaches and summer cabins surrounded by flowers recall the childhood idyll of Tove Jansson’s The Summer Book, set in the Gulf of Finland
Seven ways to experience the best of Switzerland
From the turquoise waters of Bernese Oberland to toothsome Ticino and musical Montreux, Switzerland caters for every taste
Three castles, three days, three writers in Wales’ border country
Over an early summer weekend, three writer friends trek through the hills of Monmouthshire, mapping the medieval lordship of Three Castles