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Top Ten Woodland Walks

These woodland walks hold many surprises, from rare wildlife to colourful flowers, and from ancient trees to marvellous viewpoints.

Thury-Harcourt to Clécy, The Heart of Normandy Weekend Walk. This walk is arguably at its best in spring when, if you time it right, you will be greeted by marvellous displays of bluebells which carpet the woodland through which you walk, or you will see purple orchids at the side of your path.

Madonie dei Fornelli to Traversa, From Bologna to Florence Walk. These two great cities are linked by the Via degli Dei (‘Route of the Gods’), a series of ancient drovers’ roads and mule tracks that lead through beech woods and along broad, grassy ridges between rugged peaks named after gods. This particular day takes in one of the most remote – and most rewarding – sections of the Via as it passes from the region of Emilia Romagna into Tuscany, winding through silent beech and chestnut woods along ancient cobbled trails trodden by countless travellers over the centuries.

Gincla to St Paul, The Castles of the Cathars Walk. What can make this walk along the wooded ridge between these two villages so special is the possibility of spotting golden eagles – apparently the tranquillity of the ridge makes it a good nesting spot. One member of staff saw not one but three eagles while she was walking there.

Colle Val d’Elsa to Siena, Hill-Top Towns of Tuscany Walk. There is something mysterious and even magical about the woodland of Monte Maggio, which you could well imagine as the setting of fairytales about forest-dwelling elves and other creatures. Our route follows some of the many ancient stone paths and mule tracks which criss-cross the wood, and you may be lucky enough to spot a small herd of wild horses grazing amid the trees.

Valldemossa circuit, Mountains & Villages of Mallorca Walk. Not only does this walk feature wild goats, but it also takes advantage of a couple of the many superbly constructed cobbled bridleways which Archduke Luis Salvador, Mallorca’s great benefactor, built across his vast estates to enable him to enjoy his love of nature to the full. As you wind through the woods, it is fascinating to see evidence of how past generations lived and worked – you pass several lime kilns and charcoal-burning platforms, plus a huge ice-house where snow was stored during the winter to be transported (by night) later in the year to the villages far below.

Bonnieux circuit, Hill-Top Villages of the Luberon Walk. Provence is a region famous for its lavender fields and expanses of aromatic plants, not for its woods. However, this walk deserves a mention for the stately cedar trees of the Forêt des Cèdres, a beautiful forest which coats the panoramic ridge to which you ascend on this rewarding circular route.

Rocca Gonata to Bergi, The Mountains of Sicily Walk. Sicily’s Madonie Mountains are coated with majestic woodland in which you will find a whole host of different trees, including both European and African species. Having had the chance to marvel at some 300-year-old holly trees which tower some 14 metres above the ground on the previous day’s walk, this route takes you past some equally impressive chestnuts and oaks, whose broad canopies take on beautiful colours in the autumn.

Camacha to Monte, Waterways & Flowers of Madeira Walk. We’ve chosen this particular walk not so much for the beauty of the woodland (though it is very attractive) but because it delights other senses, namely your sense of smell. Two water channels – the Levada da Serra and then the Levada dos Tornos – lead you through dense woods of both pine and eucalyptus trees which fill the air with their heady scent.

La Cure to La-Chapelle-des-Bois, Lake Geneva to Lake Neuchâtel Walk. This, the first walk of the holiday, takes you through the vast Risoux Forest, sticking close to the Franco-Suisse frontier which is duly marked with regular boundary posts. Every now and again you emerge from the forest to be greeted with marvellous views – the panoramas from some of the viewpoints extend across the entire valley.

Castaño del Robledo circuit, Spain’s Secret Sierra Walk. This holiday explores the Aracena Sierra, a timeless corner of Andalucia between Seville and the Portuguese border. That it is an area of beautiful woodland is evident in the names of the villages: ‘castaño’ means ‘chestnut tree’ while ‘robledo’ is translated as ‘oak wood’. This, the first walk of the holiday, reveals some of the sierra’s great features – not only a majestic chestnut wood, but great views, pastoral landscapes dotted with unspoiled hamlets, and the cork-oak woods which still provide a living for many of the locals.

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