Our winter/early spring walking programme features walking holidays for all levels, from gentle strolls between whitewashed fishing villages in Almería to hikes through the ravines and sub-tropical forests of the Canary Islands. In this Top 10 Walks in Southern Europe we list the best day walks from the programme.
Tárbena to Castells de Castells on the Mountains of Alicante walk. This is a walk of contrasts and great drama. It starts with a section through almond and cherry tree groves, then leads through a 150-metre-deep gorge to a superb viewpoint above the ravine which rewards you with views of the coast, some twenty-five kilometres away. You cross an expanse of wild moorland before descending through two very attractive valleys, one quite secret and untouched, the other cultivated and terraced.
Luz to Salema on the Algarve’s Coast & Hills walk. Undoubtedly the best time to enjoy this walk is in spring, when the cliff-tops are carpeted with flowers. Truly delightful coastal paths lead you past pristine beaches ideal for swimming, commanding sweeping sea views. You pass through the pretty fishing village of Burgau, then cross the beautiful sands of the Praia da Almadena to reach the broad estuary of the Boca do Rio, home to many species of bird.
Sóller to Cala Tuent on the Mountains & Villages of Mallorca walk. As this walk explores two very different landscapes, it is almost like two walks in one. The first part leads through a fertile valley that is coated in orange trees. You then ascend to a pass which reveals a completely different landscape, one of pine woods, rocky promontories and a usually azure sea which you can gaze at as you follow the undulating coastal path to the cove at Tuent.
Caldera de Taburiente walk on La Palma. This is a thrilling walk which leads through the amazing landscape of the Caldera de Taburiente, one of the most spectacular erosion craters in the world, framed by peaks around 2,000 metres high. Flanked by towering pine trees, you descend to a lush area at the heart of the Caldera where there are several small waterfalls and good views of the needle-like rocks of the crater. It is worth making a detour to the Cascada de Colores to see the waterfall coloured ochre by the iron it contains, before entering the narrow, deeply cut gorge of the Barranco de las Angustias. Framed by towering rock walls, the stream tumbles over boulders, forming numerous rock pools where you can bathe.
Santo da Serra to Camacha on the Waterways & Flowers walk. Madeira's countless levadas (irrigation channels which crisscross the mountainsides) form a unique network of paths by which to explore this verdant island. The walk to Camacha follows the route of the old Levada da Serra do Faial, some 750 metres above sea level. Only short sections of the actual watercourse remain, but its route is demarcated by the row of noble oaks which once lined its path. Add to this the pretty flowers (especially in spring and summer), the views over the south coast, and the cascades that you pass, and you have the ingredients for an enjoyable day's walk.
Grazalema to Benaoján on the Andalucia's White Towns walk. Part of the appeal to us of this walk is that it crosses an area in which you will rarely see another soul. As with many of the walks listed here, it comprises several distinct sections. You descend from Grazalema through a wood of cork oaks, then rise through a fertile valley and later a 'rock garden' in which you will find the same plants found in domestic rockeries. You emerge into a wide pasture surrounded by a ring of rocks and dotted with old threshing floors and, to end the walk, descend through a lunar-like valley framed by two limestone ridges.
Igualero to Vallehermoso on the Hidden Gem of the Canaries walk. We chose this walk for its variety. At first you walk from village to village along mule tracks that wind across the slopes above deep barrancos (ravines), enjoying views of the island of El Hierro. The second part of the walk leads uphill through the enchanting laurel woods that coat the backbone of the National Park before descending steeply towards the northern coast along a series of stepped pathways. The third and final part is a panoramic ridge walk, a great ending to a varied day.
Lofou to Neo Chorio on the Cyprus' Scented Slopes walk. After three days of walking in the mountains, this walk comes as a great contrast. From the starting point, paths rise to some curious rock formations, among them Eagle Rock, which boasts an excellent panorama of Chrysochou Bay on Cyprus’ north coast. You then pass through cornfields and meadows grazed by roaming herds of goats, skirting three villages that were once occupied by the Turks but long since abandoned and now eerily silent. You finish by crossing the limestone crag framing the Petratis 'Gorge', which is particularly pretty in spring, when the surrounding meadows are lit by yellow oxeye daisies and myriad orchids.
San José circuit on the Coast of Almería walk. Washed by the warmest waters in mainland Spain, the Andalucian province of Almería can boast of being not only one of the least-visited parts of the Mediterranean, but also the southernmost and driest corner of Europe – the lighthouse on the Cabo de Gata headland lies further south than the northernmost tip of Tunisia! This walk starts by heading inland through a quiet cultivated valley before turning back towards the coast, crossing the magnificent beaches of Monsul and Los Genoveses. With its strange volcanic rock formations and massive, wind-rippled sand-dunes, the former was the setting of the film Lawrence of Arabia.
High passes walk on the Beneath Djebel Toubkal walk. What makes this walk so special are the views. Your first target is the Tamatert Pass (2,272 metres), which you reach after ascending past wheat fields, then walnut, apple and cherry orchards, and finally woodland of pines and juniper bushes. You then walk along the Tamatert Valley, surrounded by the high peaks of the Djebel Toubkal Massif, many of which tower over 3,600 metres. Breathtaking.
If our Top 10 Walks in Southern Europe has inspired you to enjoy a walking holiday this winter, please contact our friendly reservations team for more information.