|
Home > Holidays
> Short Breaks > Walking & Cycling
Short Breaks
 • walk or cycle from hotel to hotel with your luggage transported
• walks for all levels, from easy strolls to more challenging routes
• easy cycling routes for all occasional cyclists
• detailed route notes and maps provided
• dinner included most nights
A walking or cycling break is a great way to blow away the cobwebs. Our range of walks is exciting and varied, featuring destinations as far apart as Yorkshire and Andalucia, Normandy and Tuscany. There are routes for all levels - with grade 1 being the very gentlest of strolls, and grade 3 being a challenging hike with long ascents and descents - and your luggage is transported for you, so you travel light. As our walks are self-guided, you walk at your own pace using the detailed walking notes and maps provided. For those who prefer to explore on two wheels, we also offer cycling breaks in the Loire, Catalonia and Mallorca. The terrain is easy and the distances between the hotels relatively short, leaving you plenty of time to visit places of interest en route.
Walking
France
 Woods
& Abbeys (grade 1)
Enjoy varied walking through some of Normandy's most lyrical countryside.
There are fine woodland sections and you pass several ancient churches
and abbeys and typically Norman villages. At each of the four auberges,
including two of our most charming Shortbreak inns, you will be treated
to delicious regional dishes.
> Full itinerary
(4 nights) & prices
 The Heart of Normandy (grade 1-2)
This lovely walk takes you deep into the Suisse Normande, some of the
most dramatic and beautiful scenery in northern France, where villages
of half-timbered houses are dotted across green, rolling hills. The route
follows the River Orne as it flows through wooded gorges and past cliffs
and picturesque hamlets.
>
Full itinerary (4
nights) & prices
< To the top of this page
 Alps to the Riviera (grade 2)
Starting
in the Alps, just before they plunge into the Mediterranean, this short
walk takes you down to the enticing town of Menton on the Riviera. Bathed
in southern warmth and light, the Alpes Maritimes are wonderfully varied,
with hill-top villages, mixed woodland, gorges and dramatic peaks. Enjoy
a mix of Provençale and Italian cuisine, with plenty of fish and
seafood.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 The Best of Roman Provence (grade 1-2)
To discover this secret region on foot, including one of the greatest monuments in all of Roman Provence, the Pont du Gard bridge, is a delight, all the more so when you stay in high-quality hotels offering some outstanding cuisine.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Spain
 Along the Catalan Coast (grade 1)
Discover the unspoiled fishing villages and beautiful sandy beaches of
the Costa Brava ('wild coast'), behind which lie wooded hills. The walking
is gentle and undemanding and, as the days are short, you have plenty
of opportunities to relax on the beach or linger over a lunch of delicious
seafood.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 Alicante's Secret Mountains (grade 2)
Tucked away behind the Costa Blanca, Alicante's mountains are a well-kept
secret and a walker's paradise. We have found some excellent routes that
wind between terraces of almond and olive groves, through rugged limestone
landscapes and into dramatic gorges.
> Full
itinerary (4 nights) & prices
< To the top of this page
 Dramatic Landscapes of Almería (grade 1-2)
One of the Mediterranean’s final unspoiled regions, the Cabo de Gata Natural Park in the Andalucian province of Almería basks in the hot sun, its landscapes more reminiscent of North Africa than of Europe. Bare inland hills dotted with cacti descend to an astonishing coastline of cliffs, salt flats, wild bays and long, sandy beaches.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 Catalan Coves & Castles (grade 1)
Northern Catalonia is renowned for its rugged coastline with rocky coves and bustling fishing ports, but just as appealing are the medieval villages that crown the rolling inland hills. Often guarded by a crumbling castle, their cobbled streets of honey-coloured houses are full of history and a delight to explore.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 Hidden Catalonia (grade 2)
The warm, wooded hills of the Garrotxa lead down towards the sea from the great peaks of the Pyrenees, and mark the transition from the mountain to the Mediterranean landscape. This is one of Catalonia’s least-known and most varied regions, blessed by a truly Mediterranean climate and an astonishing range of fauna and flora.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Italy
 Strolling through Tuscany (grade 1-2)
Nestling
between the great art cities of Florence, Siena and Pisa, the Tuscan hills
are as famed for their beauty as they are for their delicious wines. Discover
the rolling landscapes crowned with timeless hill-top towns and immortalised
in the works of many great artists on this relaxing break, which mixes
gentle walks with stays in some of Tuscany's most fascinating
towns - San Gimignano, Siena and Colle Val d'Elsa.
> Full
itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 The Amalfi Coast (grade 2)
Bathed in bright sunshine, the coastline between Amalfi and Sorrento is justly considered to be among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Lush mountains, their terraced slopes dotted with Saracen watch towers and colourful villages, plunge into the sea, and the air is filled with the scent of lemons. Friendly hotels combine with unforgettable walking routes to create the ideal short walk.
> Full
itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 The Cinque Terre (grade 2)
With its magnificent and very dramatic coastline, the Cinque Terre (‘Five Lands’) is the most splendid stretch of the Ligurian Riviera. Nestling in coves framed by rocky promontories are the fishing villages after which the coast is named, and you can visit all five on this enjoyable break which also takes you to the delightful coastal village of Portovenere.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
< To the top of this page
 Paths of the Dolomites (grade 2-3)
The Südtirol, the mountainous corner of northern Italy, has a distinct identity blending Italian and Germanic influences. Our break gives you an insight into this fascinating culture as you walk near the villages of Aldein and Radein, enjoying breathtaking panoramas and staying at two very special hotels.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 Quiet Mountains of the Apennines (grade 2-3)
The rugged and little-known Apennine Mountains form Italy’s spine and a few days spent here reveal an area of rich woodland, dramatic peaks and deep valleys that are criss-crossed with inviting paths offering superlative views. This is Italy off the tourist map, where you will find traditional hospitality and tasty regional cuisine at our hand-picked inns.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
 Lake Iseo – Jewel of Lombardy (grade 2)
Lake Iseo, set between the better-known lakes of Como and Garda, is a secret jewel. Its southern shores yield to gentle, vine-covered slopes that produce some of the country’s most delicious and interesting wines. You stay in top-quality 4-star hotels, each with a pool and boasting outstanding cuisine.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Switzerland
 The Swiss Alps (grade 2 & 3)
A real walker’s paradise, the Bernese Oberland is justly famed as Switzerland’s most dramatic region. Well-waymarked paths offer thrilling views at every turn, with vivid green meadows - carpeted in flowers from mid-June to mid-July - giving way to jagged peaks. Our routes are fully flexible, enabling you to tailor the walking to suit you.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Austria
 Austria ’s Lake District (grade 1-2)
To the east of Salzburg, in the shadow of the mighty Dachstein, mountains plunge into sparkling blue lakes, creating almost fjord-like landscapes. Inviting paths lead alongside the water at the foot of the mountains, and cable cars give easy access to the upper slopes, for gentle walks across meadows, surrounded by jagged peaks. In this deeply traditional region, the hotels are friendly, and the cuisine, delicious.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Britain
 The North York Moors (grade 1-2)
The North York Moors National Park is an area of outstanding natural
beauty. On this walk you will enjoy fine sections of 6-11 miles across
wild, heather-clad moorland and through the lush Esk valley. You stay
in traditional villages in hand-picked hotels and guesthouses that provide
excellent hospitality, comfort and cuisine.
> Full
itinerary (4 nights) & prices
< To the top of this page
Cycling
France
 Loire Highlights (grade 1)
Ussé, one of the jewels of the Loire and the setting of Perrault's
original tale of Sleeping Beauty, is a true fairytale château. Visit
this and the châteaux of Azay-le-Rideau and Chinon (pay locally
in all cases), on this relaxed break. Leisurely routes of 11-21 miles
lead through rolling farmland, hunting forest and some of the vineyards
that prodice the delicious wines for which the Loire is renowned.
> Full
itinerary (4 nights) & prices
A Taste of the Dordogne (grade 2)
 Heading north-west from the bustling market town of Souillac, the rolling landscape of farmland and woodland has an unspoiled and sleepy charm. Here, families have earned a living from their land and livestock for generations, and continue to supply fresh produce and delicacies such as foie gras, pâté and truffles to the region’s gourmet restaurants (as well as those of the world beyond). The ever-changing scenery and variety of accommodation are real highlights.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Spain
 Unspoiled Central Mallorca (grade 1)
This relaxed cycling break explores the very heart of this beautiful
island, winding along quiet lanes past ancient farms to reveal Mallorca’s
genuine, unspoiled face. This is a side of the island that, thankfully,
few tourists bother to experience, and cycling here is a true delight,
especially when staying at our two charming fincas. Both have pools
so you can enjoy
some well-earned relaxation at the end of each day.
>
Full
itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Hidden Valleys of the Garrotxa (grade 1-2)
This corner of northern Catalonia is one of Spain’s least-known and most varied regions, where you pedal among ancient stone villages, dotted between wheat fields and pine woods. This is cycling at its leisurely best, following disused railway lines on your way to the fascinating city of Girona.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Catalan Coast (grade 1)
 The contrasting charms of unspoiled Catalonia are impossible to resist. This stretch of coastline, between Palamós and Begur, reveals hidden coves and sandy beaches where you can relax well away from the crowds, while the inland Empordà Plain, south of the River Ter, is a beguiling patchwork of medieval farms, ancient villages, fields of sunflowers and vineyards.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
Italy
A Flavour of Tuscany (grade 1-2)
 Enjoy quintessential Tuscan landscapes of rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards as you follow this circular route which begins and ends in magnificent Siena, a Renaissance jewel. Complementing the scenery are delicious regional dishes and world-class wines.
> Full itinerary (4 nights) & prices
< To the top of this page
< Back to Short Breaks Index
 |
