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Top Ten Coastal Walks

A blue, cloudless sky, the sound of the sea lapping on the sandy shore below you... There is something calming and relaxing about walking along the coast. Our choice of destinations is wide, from Brittany to deepest Andalucia. The vast majority of our coastal holidays are gentle strolls of just a few miles each day, so there is plenty of time as or after you walk to relax on the beach or to linger over a delicious seafood lunch.

Llafranc to Aiguablava on the Along the Catalan Coast Walk. The unspoiled coastline of Empordà, close to the French border, remains a well-kept secret. The first of several highlights on this day’s walk comes early on, when you reach the San Sebastián lighthouse to be rewarded with spectacular views over the sea and inland across to the Pyrenees. A fine coastal path then leads from the idyllic bay of Cala Pedrosa (a good spot for swimming) to the rocky headland of La Musclera, another pleasant spot to sit awhile before you head across the rocks to the lovely, sandy bay at Tamariu.

Camogli to San Fruttuoso on the Along the Ligurian Coast Walk. Covered in olive trees, pines and holm oaks, the rocky Portofino Peninsula has been described as one of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy. Most of it is only accessible by boat or on foot, making it a real joy to discover. Our route takes you through woodland and olive groves to Portofino, from where you catch the boat to San Fruttuoso for a different – and breathtaking – perspective of the peninsula. From this secluded abbey you have a lovely walk back to Camogli, with frequent views along the coast.

Sagres to Cape São Vicente on the Secret Algarve Walk. As its name suggests, this holiday explores little-known western Algarve, which is seemingly a million miles away from the high-rise hotels further east. The last day's walk to Cape São Vicente along rugged cliffs framing spectacular beaches makes a fitting end to the holiday as the cape is on the very edge of Europe. Take time to gaze out across the Atlantic before returning to your 4-star hotel where you can continue to enjoy the sea views from the cliff-top swimming pool.

Walk from Porto da Cruz on the Madeira's Wild North Walk. You will need a good head for heights for this walk, but it is truly thrilling, rewarding you with far-reaching views along Madeira's wild and rugged northern coastline. You start by walking over the Boca do Risco (‘Mouth of Risk’!) Pass to the coast. You then traverse narrow paths carved into the cliffs 300 metres above the sea, enjoying extraordinary coastal views as you pass through expanses of gorse, tree heather and volcanic rock formations at first, then eucalyptus and pine trees.

Bomerano to Positano on the Amalfi Coast & Villages Walk. The coastline that stretches either side of Amalfi is justly considered to be among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Lush mountains plunge into the sea, and the air is filled with the heady scent of lemons. The walk to Positano follows the famous Path of the Gods, high above the glittering sea, offering new views along the coast as far as the island of Capri at every turn.

Perros Guirec to Trégastel on the Granite Coast of Brittany Walk. Brittany’s Côte du Granit Rose is quite varied, from wooded estuaries to craggy bays, and its coastal paths offer some fantastic views. Some of the best of these come on the last day, when you follow the magnificent Sentier des Douaniers, originally used by anti-smuggling patrols, from which you can gaze across the sea to the Sept Îles, a haven for thousands of seabirds. The second part of the walk is equally enjoyable, through a reserve dotted with some of the weirdly shaped pink granite rocks, moulded by the wind and waves, that give the coast its name.

Collioure to Banyuls on the Collioure to Cadaqués Walk. The coastline either side of the Franco-Spanish border (the Côte Vermeille in French, the Costa Brava in Spanish) has attracted artists for decades. The first day’s walk is a good introduction to the beautiful scenery, with a marvellous section around the rugged Cape Béar headland. The views are truly spectacular – you can see as far as Cape Creus, your final destination, in clear weather – and there are a couple of spots where you can pause for a swim before winding your way through the vineyards to Banyuls.

Cabo de Gata to San José on the Coast of Almería Walk. Its landscapes more reminiscent of North Africa than Europe, Almería is an enchanting region to discover on foot, combining as it does secluded coves, bare inland hills, and rocky headlands. From the panoramic Cabo de Gata lighthouse, you follow a superb path along the cliffs, passing several beaches before reaching Mónsul Beach, framed by extensive sand dunes amid which many scenes from the film Lawrence of Arabia were shot. On the other side of the dunes lies the wide and sandy Los Genoveses Beach, which makes for a pleasant final leg to San José.

Kambos to Paleochora on the Crete's Coast & Mountains Walk. This holiday combines coastal and mountain scenery to dramatic effect, the ancient sites you encounter along the way adding an extra dimension to the walking. This particular walk follows one of Greece’s most picturesque coastal paths around the island’s south-western tip and past the ruins of the city of Vienna (where you can see the remains of pink and green marble columns on the beach). During spring and autumn you enjoy a wonderful array of flowers to rival the beautiful views.

Noriega to Llanes on the From the Picos to the Sea Walk. What makes this day's walk special is that it reveals the wonderful contrasts of Asturias: the rugged foothills of the Picos de Europa and the beautiful coastline. The route starts along a broad ridge with sweeping views of the Atlantic to the north and the Cuera Sierra to the south. But the best is yet to come, as you descend from the ridge to walk along the cliff tops past enticing little coves where you can swim, limestone swallow holes, and the rocky inlet where the River Purón carves through the limestone to the sea.

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