Europe Itineraries
Sample itineraries written by our Europe experts
Our Europe travel specialists have written the following itineraries to help plan your trip. Not sure where to begin? Contact us now and we'll connect you with a specialist tour operator for expert Europe advice.
15 days
Albania Off-The-Beaten Track Itinerary
15-day walking holiday to Albania and Kosovo
6 days
Trek the Gegham Mountains
Trekking and camping expedition to Armenia'a hidden gems
8 days
Classical music European river cruise
The best itinerary for classical music lovers
21 days
Overlanding through the Caucasus
Travel beyond the ordinary in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
8 days
Istria’s coastlines and hilltop villages
Explore Istria’s walking trails for orchids and architecture
5 days
Albania and Kosovo ~ Walking in Illyria and Epirus
Exploring Albania’s capital and surroundings
12 days
Via Dinarica way through Bosnia Herzegovina
Walking routes through Bosnia’s national parks
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Balkans
Europe’s forgotten wonderland
Contrary to popular opinion, the Balkans is so much more than just the countries of the former Yugoslavia... -
Albania
Europe’s best-kept secret
Once best known as the final European country to throw off the shackles off Communism (outside the USSR), Albania spent much of the 20th century closed to outsiders... -
Tirana
Tirana’s small size makes it a perfect place to explore in a day, but to truly get under its skin, try out its cafe culture for coffee, beer and pastries... -
The Accursed Mountains
The Accursed Mountains (also known, less dramatically, as the Albanian Alps) feel a world away from the rest of Europe... -
Albanian Riviera
Head to the Albanian Riviera for uncrowded shorelines, turquoise waters and the beauty of the Greek Islands without the price tag... -
Berat
Head up through the hills to Berat and you’ll notice the seemingly endless number of windows on the white Ottoman houses lining the way... -
Durres
The port town of Durres is home to Albania’s liveliest beach, but it is the town’s amphitheatre that is the main attraction... -
Kruja
Gjergj Kastrioti, also known as Skanderbeg, was a military commander famous for resisting Turkish invaders in the 1400s... -
Gjirokastra and the Drino Valley
The Drino Valley in southern Albania is the perfect place to see traditional Albanian villages... -
Butrint National Park
Found close to the beaches of the Albanian Riviera, Butrint National Park is one of the Balkans’ largest archaeological sites, with ruins from several different ethnic groups, including Greek, Roman and Venetians... -
Shkodra
Known to Albanians as the ‘city of bicycles’, Shkodra is a pleasant place to spend a couple of days pootling around... -
Bay of Vlore
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Gjirokastra
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Valbona Valley
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Mount Jezerca
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Apollonia
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Theth
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
The lesser-visited, more-beautiful Balkans
If the name Bosnia conjures up for you only images of the devastating conflict of the 1990s which brought death and destruction to its people on an unimaginable scale, maybe it’s time to take a fresh look... -
Sarajevo
Sarajevo has been a city at the centre of conflict for much of the 20th century, whether as the scene of Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassination which sparked World War One or for the brutal siege in the civil war of the 1990s... -
Sutjeska National Park
The Sutjeska canyon is home to huge grey crags that offer rock-climbing to the adventurous, but it’s the park’s hiking trails that are the biggest draw, including a section of the Via Dinarica trail... -
Mostar
Picture-perfect Mostar is best experienced after dark, when the day-tripping hordes head off... -
Hutovo Blato Nature Reserve
Hutovo Blato Nature Reserve is made up of six interconnected lakes that form one of Europe’s most important bird reserves... -
Počitelj
Beautiful medieval architecture is the draw in the fortress village of Počitelj, where visitors can see the restored Hajji Alijia Mosque and 16m Ottoman clock tower... -
Blidinje Nature Park
Just a couple of hours from the Adriatic Sea, vast Blidinje Nature Park is a perfect spot to get active... -
Lukomir
The tiny mountain village of Lukomir is a three-hour trek from Rakitnica River on the southwestern slopes of Bjelašnica Mountain... -
Trebinje
Just 30km from Dubrovnik, Trebinje is a worthwhile alternative to Croatia’s classic destination, with a walled Old Town, mountain views and a river complete with swimming spots... -
Bjelašnica ski resort
Just 25km south of Sarajevo, Bjelašnica ski resort offers decent runs at modest prices between December and February... -
Visegrad
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Andricgrad
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Visoko
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Bijambare Caves
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Konjic
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Kravice Falls
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Blagaj
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Croatia
Dazzling coastlines
There’s no hiding it — Croatia’s spectacular coastline is one of the best in the world... -
Dubrovnik
The jewel in Croatia’s crown, Dubrovnik might just be one of the most picturesque cities in the world... -
Rovinj
Rovinj’s egg-shaped peninsula houses it’s charming old town, where you can wander through cobbled streets, cosy squares and tasty restaurants... -
Lovran
Little-known to foreign tourists, Lovran is actually a town with a long history of tourism... -
Konavle Valley
Easily accessible from Dubrovnik, Konavle Valley is home to 33 villages and offers hiking, biking and horse-riding trails... -
Zagreb
Croatia’s gritty capital mixes concrete slabs with old town glory, but its cafe culture is the main draw... -
Motovun
Many visitors to Istria confine themselves to the coastlines of Pula and Rovinj, but head inland to the greenery of its hilltop villages for a hidden treat... -
Pula
The busy seaside town of Pula is best-known for its ancient Roman architecture, such as the Arch of the Sergii which dates back to 27BC... -
Opatija
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Fažana
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Poreč
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Trogir
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Brač
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Vis
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Hvar
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Korčula
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Ston
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Kosovo
A new dawn in the Balkans
Europe’s newest country is also one of its most talked about... -
Prizren
Kosovo’s second city is its cultural heartland, packed with history, handicrafts and Kosovo’s best food... -
Rugova
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Peja
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Reka e Allages
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Drelaj
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Montenegro
Ancient towns cut into majestic mountains
Tiny Montenegro has long been touted as the hot, new travel destination – and it’s easy to see why... -
Bay of Kotor
Montenegro is a country full of beautiful views, but the Bay of Kotor’s waterfront might just be the best... -
Lake Skadar National Park
Skadar is the Balkans largest lake, with two-thirds sitting in Montenegro and the rest in Albania... -
Lovćen National Park
Located in the Dinara Alps, Lovćen National Park incorporates a range of habitats with a variety of plant and animal species residing in the park... -
Cetinje
Sitting at the foot of the Lovcen mountains, Cetinje is the former royal capital of Montenegro... -
Stari Bar
High up on the edge of a bluff near Mount Rumija lies the ruins of Stari Bar – the original town of Bar, which is now a port city down by the water... -
Biogradska Gora National Park
Peaceful Biogradska Gora is best-known for its primeval forest, where you can spot ancient beech, maple, elm and juniper trees — some of which are more than 500 years old... -
Durmitor National Park
Home to more than 50 peaks, mountain rivers and underground streams, the dramatic Durmitor National Park is Montenegro’s adventure playground... -
Lake Piva
Lake Piva was created in 1975 after the Piva River was blocked by the construction of the hydroelectric Mratinje Dam, flooding Piva Canyon... -
Virpazar
Considered the main gateway to Lake Skadar National Park, the tiny village of Virpazar was once an important trading port... -
Tara Canyon
Found on the northern edge Durmitor National Park, the Tara Canyon cuts deep into the landscape, with its deepest point being only 200m less than the Grand Canyon... -
Prokletije National Park
Only established in 2009, Prokletije National Park is located in the south of the Dinaric Alps near Skadar Lake... -
Podgorica
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Budva Riviera
One of the most popular tourist cities in Montenegro with its beaches and old town as well being a good base for those heading out for hiking and biking trips... -
Perast
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Orahovac
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Njeguši
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Vusanje
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Ulcinj
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Ostros
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Niksic
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Zabljak
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Kolasin
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Lustica
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Serbia
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Drvengrad
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Slovenia
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Julian Alps
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Romania
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Bucharest
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Brasov
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Tulcea
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Transylvania
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Macedonia
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The Caucasus
Where Asia meets Europe
Stretching from the Black Sea in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east, the Caucasus region takes in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, alongside the Russian republics of Chechnya, North Ossetia and Dagestan... -
Armenia
Medieval monasteries and forest hikes
One of Christianity’s earliest civilisations, Armenia’s historic churches and monasteries date back as far as the 4th century... -
Yerevan
Check out Yerevan’s art scene by climbing The Cascade staircase that connects downtown Yerevan with the museum district... -
Dilijan National Park
Northern Armenia’s Dilijan National Park is home to hiking trails where you can see bears, wolves and several species of eagle... -
Lake Sevan
At 1,900m above sea level, the vast Lake Sevan is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world... -
Selim Pass
The Selim Pass road links the provinces of Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor through the Vardenis mountain range, but the main attraction is the Selim Caravanserai, just past the highest point... -
Mount Aragats
Aragats is the highest mountain in Armenia, offering adventurous hikers a challenging climb... -
Lori Province
Armenia’s rich religious history means it has a plethora of churches and religious buildings... -
Southern Armenia
Southern Armenia is full of rugged beauty, with deep gorges and forested canyons... -
Tatev Monastery
The 9th-century Tatev Monastery was a centre of spiritual enlightenment and home to more than 600 monks at one point... -
Lastiver
In a remote corner of a picturesque gorge, surrounded by waterfalls, lies the Lastiver caves, where locals from the nearby village of Yenokavan sought refuge from Mongol invaders in the 13 century... -
Dilijan
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Lake Aknalich
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Geghard
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Gegham Mountains
Armenia's hiking hidden gem
The Gegham Mountains, immediately between Yerevan to the west and Lake Sevan to the east, are a dramatic chain of hills and volcanic peaks that are almost entirely untouched by tourism... -
Mt Azhdahak
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Mt Armaghan
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Khosrov Forest State Reserve
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Angel's Canyon
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Lastiver Waterfalls
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Lori
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Aparan Reservoir
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Noravank
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Goris
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Noratus
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Noravank
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Yeghegnadzor
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Syunik
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Kapan
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Mt Khustup
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Azerbaijan
Land of fire
Travelling to Azerbaijan can be confusing... -
Baku
Azerbaijan’s capital might be changing fast due to the oil-boom, but its heart still lies in the UNESCO-listed Old City, full of tree-lined boulevards and fascinating mansions... -
Lahij
The ancient village of Lahij in the Upper Caucasus was once an important trade and craft centre, with artisans creating copper adorned ornaments and knives, weaved cloth and leatherware before mass-produced factory goods saw the town decline... -
Sheki
Once a trading stop on the fabled Silk Road, the town of Sheki is now the perfect place to sample Azerbaijan’s historic architecture (look for Sheki Khan’s Palace), craft workshops and try piti, a national dish of lamb stew cooked in a clay pot... -
Mount Yanar Dag
Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire and nowhere is that more apt than at Mount Yanar Dag in Mehemmedi village, where an eternal flame burns from the hillside’s underground gas reserves... -
Burov
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Sulut
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Gala
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Georgia
Rolling hills and centuries-old villages
Georgia is no longer a backpacker’s secret... -
Tbilisi
Tbilisi’s famous sulphur baths can be found in the Abanotubani district in the old town... -
Svaneti
Svaneti is one of the most popular regions in Georgia, attracting keen hikers and walkers as well as casual tourists... -
Kakheti region
Kakheti in eastern Georgian is the country’s premier wine-producing area, with plenty of wineries where you can sample a glass of qvevri – named for the large, lemon-shaped terracotta pot buried in the ground that the wine ferments in... -
Lagodekhi National Park
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Sighnaghi
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Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
The forests of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park are home to a dozen hiking trails and activities like horse-riding, biking and camping... -
Kazbegi
Kazbegi is one of Georgia’s most popular hiking regions – often visited as a day trip from the capital... -
Stepantsminda
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Tusheti
Tusheti may not boast picturesque landscapes like Svaneti, but its mediaeval villages, defensive towers, and unusual mix of paganism, Christianity, and Islam make it a fascinating place to visit... -
Omalo
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Sakheo mountains
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Oreti Lake
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Kakheti
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Racha
Racha is often overlooked due to its limited tourist services and infrastructure... -
Khevsureti
Khevsureti, sandwiched between the more famous Kazbegi and Tusheti regions, is a lesser-known but stunning place to go hiking and walking... -
Rabati Fortress
Located on a mountaintop overlooking the town of Akhaltsikhe, Rabati Fortress attracts tourists for its mix of architecture, churches and mosque... -
Kutaisi
Kutaisi was once the capital of Georgia and dates back to the 15th century BC... -
Shatili
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Mutso Fortress
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Abudelauri Lakes
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Samegrelo & Tobavarchkhili
Samegrelo, a western region of Georgia bordering Svaneti, is often ignored by hikers due to its flat terrain... -
Germany
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The Black Forest
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The Rhine
The Rhine is Europe’s fairytale river, rising high in the Swiss Alps before wending its way past the dramatic castles and medieval cathedrals of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands... -
Danube
Captivating in its beauty and as enchanting as a Brothers Grimm folk tale, the Danube River embodies all the classical romance of Europe... -
Italy
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Tuscany
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Dolomites
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Amalfi Coast
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Sicily
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Portugal
Sun and sand and so much more
If your only exposure to Portugal is via the fly & flop tourism industry, it's easy to mistake it for something smaller than it is: A quiet afterthought to Spain, a convenient weekend city break, a collection of coastal resorts for pasty northern Europeans chasing the sun... -
Douro Valley
A long time river cruise favourite, Portugal’s Douro River – nicknamed the “River of Gold” – captures the hearts of visitors with its beguiling vineyards, enchanting castles, beautiful beaches and historic monasteries... -
Iceland
Dramatic landscapes and beautiful glaciers
A huge island with a tiny population, Iceland is a shifting mass still being shaped by nature — literally... -
Hekla Volcano
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Svartifoss waterfall
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Reynisfjara Beach
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Fjadrargljufur Canyon
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Akurey Island
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The United Kingdom
Four nations, one shared history
Where can you find four countries in one, each with its own defining characteristics, but with at least one big thing in common?The United Kingdom is that rare beast... -
Scotland
Much more than kilts & bagpipes
There is a border between England and Scotland, but it’s easy to miss... -
The Highlands
Scotland’s geological fault line runs from the Isle of Arran in the south-west to Stonehaven in the north-east, delineating the dramatic Highlands from the more gently rolling landscapes to the south... -
Great Glen Way
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Caithness
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John O'Groats
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Thurso
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Speyside
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Cairngorms National Park
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Loch Ness
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Caledonian Canal
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Inverness
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Fort William
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Sound of Arisaig
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Knoydart
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Loch Lomond & the Trossachs
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The Borders
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Dumfries and Galloway
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Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
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Loch Linnhe
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The Lowlands & Central Belt
The Scottish Lowlands sweep up from the English border past the major cities of the Central Belt, the old Kingdom of Fife and up to Stonehaven in the northeast... -
Inner Hebrides
When looking at a map of Scotland, it can be hard to distinguish peninsulas from islands on the wonderfully convoluted west coast... -
Isle of Mull
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Isle of Jura
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Isle of Islay
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Shuna Island
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Isle of Barra
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Isle of Lewis
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Isle of Skye
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St. Kilda
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Isle of Rùm
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Isle of Eigg
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Isle of Arran
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Outer Hebrides
In the westernmost reaches of Scotland, embrace Gaelic culture, archaeological wonders, and remote and wild landscapes... -
The Northern Isles
The Northern Isles feel a world away from the mainland UK—both Orkney and Shetland are closer to the Arctic circle than to London—yet these rugged archipelagos at the collision of North Sea and Atlantic Ocean are surprisingly accessible... -
Orkney Islands
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Edinburgh
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Oban
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Glasgow
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Aberdeen
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Balmoral
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Morvern Peninsula
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Kintyre Peninsula
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Glencoe
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England
Rolling countryside and special cities
Get underneath the skin of eccentric England and you’ll discover a place of outstanding natural beauty, ancient history and modern metropolises... -
South West
Easily my favourite place in the UK to walk, although as it's my home patch I may be biased... -
Dorset
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Cornwall
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Dartmoor National Park
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Exmoor National Park
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Somerset
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Devon
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Cotswolds
For a glimpse of classic English limestone countryside with rolling hills, leafy vales, dry stone walls and pretty, if sometimes twee, villages, try some of the paths criss-crossing the Cotswold region... -
Isle of Wight
With a varied and fascinating coastline of 60 miles, the Isle of Wight is bigger than many outsiders expect... -
South Downs
You won’t find wilderness areas along the south coast between Kent’s ‘Garden of England’ and Poole Harbour... -
Lake District
Perhaps the most famous walking region in the UK, the Lake District offers a chance to wander lonely as a cloud amid impressive landscapes of mountains and water... -
Windermere
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Keswick
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Northumberland
There’s a large area between the Tyne and the Scottish border that is little troubled by tourists but full of walking possibilities... -
The Peak District
The UK's original national park
The Peak District is the UK's first national park, established in 1951 to carve out a protected space between the encroaching industrial cities of the midlands and northern England... -
Yorkshire Wolds
Yorkshire isn't known for its modesty, especially not when it comes to the well-known (and busy) Dales, Moors and Peak District... -
Norfolk
Hillwalkers look away now... -
Yorkshire Dales National Park
The Yorkshire Dales is a classic north-English landscape of rolling hills, stone villages and patchwork fields... -
Low Row
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Keld
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West Witton
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Hawes
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Aysgarth
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Middleham
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West Burton
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Askrigg
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Hardraw
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Wensleydale
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Malham
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Burnsall
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Linton
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Kettlewell
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Arkengarthdale
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Reeth
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Buckden
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Ravenstonedale
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Sedbergh
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Yorkshire
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York
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North York Moors
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Carlton
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Kent
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Chiltern Hills
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Suffolk
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Cheshire
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Cumbria
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Easton
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Kirkby Stephen
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Grange over Sands
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Herefordshire
Herefordshire gets overlooked... -
Symonds Yat
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Hereford
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Tyne & Wear
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Shropshire
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Worcestershire
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Broadway
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Hadrian's Wall
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Lincolnshire Coast Path
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Wiltshire
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Wales
History, hills and Hiraeth
Wild Wales is the perfect place to get away from it all and explore nature... -
Cardigan Bay
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Brecon Beacons National Park
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Monmouthshire
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Pembrokeshire
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Powys
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Snowdonia National Park
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Anglesey
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Llyn Peninsula
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Monmouthshire
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Northern Ireland
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Mourne Mountains
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The Isle of Man
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The Channel Islands
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France
Europe's cultural capital
The entente is always cordiale in France – the country which can seem so familiar that there’s a danger of taking its many charms for granted... -
Tarn
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Cordes-sur-Ciel
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French Pyrenees
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Occitania
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Beziers
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Corsica
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French Alps
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Alpes-Côte d'Azur
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Alpes-Maritimes
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The Seine
Magical in its meanders from Paris to the sea, the Seine River takes you drifting through some of northern France’s most historic and storied landscapes... -
Dordogne
It’s many an oenophile’s dream to cruise leisurely along the Dordogne in the renowned Bordeaux region of France... -
The Rhône
A cruise along the majestic Rhône, stretching from the Swiss Alps to the French Riviera, encapsulates all the charm and romance of southern France and is the perfect way to explore the region’s culture, cuisine and nature... -
Spain
A modern nation with an old heart
Plan a trip to Spain with a travel brochure, an Instagram feed or worse – an AI tool, and you'll be spoon-fed an unimaginative menu of beach resorts, paella, and some clichéd gibberish about siestas and flamenco... -
Catalonia
More than blockbuster Barcelona
Most visitors to Catalonia (Catalunya) arrive for either the tourist hotspots of Barcelona, the beach resorts of the Costa Brava, or both... -
Barcelona
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Sitges
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Penedès
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Santiago de Compostela
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Spanish Pyrenees
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Greece
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Athens
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Corfu
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Bulgaria
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Austria
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Tyrol Mountains
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Vienna
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Linz
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Melk
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Salzburg
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Switzerland
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Meiringen
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Ireland
The small island with a big heart
When it comes to Ireland, travel writers tend to wax lyrical about the Emerald Isle and pints of Guinness in country pubs... -
The Burren
With its lunar-like landscapes, rolling hills and unusual rock formations, the Burren, in County Clare, is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe and is a popular destination for walking holidays... -
Wicklow Mountain National Park
Wicklow Mountain National Park—Ireland’s largest national park and just a short drive from the capital city of Dublin—boasts some stunning walking through classic Irish countryside... -
Dingle Peninsula
On Ireland’s southwestern coast, the Dingle Peninsula attracts walkers with rugged coastline, quiet beaches and interesting coves... -
Beara Peninsula
On Ireland’s remote and lesser-visited southwestern coast, the Beara Peninsula’s quiet, craggy coastline and windswept mountains make it ideally suited for walking holidays... -
Connemara National Park
Connemara, located in County Galway on the west coast, is an austere but picturesque landscape of bogs, coastline and lakes... -
County Kildare
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County Kerry
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County Laois
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County Clare
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County Galway
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County Cork
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Czech Republic
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Slovakia
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Bratislava
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The Alps
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Norway
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Svalbard
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Hungary
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Budapest
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