Holiday ideas for June

Exploring not only the ‘mainland’, but also a couple of smaller islands, our holiday in Sardinia promises plenty of coastal cycling. And this isn’t just any coastline. Think pristine stretches of white sand, dramatic cliffs reflected in the translucent turquoise waters, and salt ponds where you may spot flamingos wading. The average June temperatures are more than warm enough to take full advantage of the beaches, and the routes are short enough that you can afford to take your time, so be sure to remember your swimsuit!

Not for nothing is northern Spain referred to as España Verde (‘Green Spain’). It’s the polar opposite of the stereotypical image of Spain. Swap the olive groves in ochre-coloured soil for verdant hills, the whitewashed houses for stone-built dwellings, the wine and sherry for cider, and the flamenco for bagpipes, and you have a more accurate picture of Asturias. With its more settled weather, June is a great month to discover the region’s rugged Picos de Europa mountains.

With the superbly preserved citadel of Carcassonne as its starting point, and its target no less than the sparkling Mediterranean, our Canal du Midi cycling holiday brings a greater sense of journey than most. Along the way you cycle along towpaths shaded by plane trees and through the olive groves and vineyards to the north so that, by the time you reach the Roman town of Narbonne, your last base, you’ve gained a good feel for this glorious region. Visit in June while it’s warm but not too hot, to beat the summer crowds which justifiably flock to this corner of southern France.

Sunshine and tranquillity sum up Germany’s Moselle Valley in June. As you walk amid the vines – by now in full leaf – along some of the finest sections of the Moselsteig, the panoramic long-distance path which echoes the river’s concertina-like twists, you can marvel at the perseverance of the wine-makers here. Given the 60-degree slopes, modern technology has no place here, meaning that the vines must still be tended by hand. It’s worth it, though, as the wines – which you’ll have ample opportunity to sample – are delicious.

As the heat rises, so the lavender blossoms in the second half of June, painting Provence’s rolling landscapes purple and filling the air with its delicate scent. Whether you choose to explore on two wheels, on foot or by car, our routes showcase all the colours of the landscape: houses of honey-coloured stone, ochre mines, yellow sunflowers tilted towards the blue sky and silver-green olive trees.

The Alps are majestic at any time of year, but the summer flowers undeniably add to their beauty. Visit in June (particularly in the second two weeks) and the meadows will be filled with blue, yellow, white and purple flowers – gentians, crocuses, Martagon lilies, pasque flowers, Alpine anemones and Alpine sea holly, to name but a few.

Umbria is often referred to as ‘Italy’s green heart’, but at this time of year red is another significant colour in the landscape, thanks to the profusion of poppies. This, the numerous other wild flowers, and the animated bustle of medieval Spoleto, one of Umbria’s finest hill-top towns, as it gears up for its three-week-long festival of opera, dance, drama and music that starts at the end of the month, make June a wonderful time to explore this spiritual and mystical region on foot.

Bavaria’s picturesque scenery, combined with the opulent castles and churches, means that Romantische Strasse is an apt name for the long-distance cycle trail that crosses the region. You’ll have to stop, of course, to see the flowers that June brings in detail, but you can appreciate the glorious riot of colour from the saddle. Another reason to travel in early summer is that justifiably popular sights such as the fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein and the frescoed village of Oberammergau are considerably quieter, so you can take your time to explore.

With burgeoning hedgerows and trees by now in full leaf, June is a great month to explore England’s green and pleasant land on one of our four-night walking breaks. Choose a stroll between the thatched villages of north Suffolk; a very gastronomic and indulgent walk in the Cotswolds; a discovery of the Peak District’s hauntingly beautiful landscapes; a trail through Hardy’s Wessex or the South Downs; gentle coastal walking in Northumberland; a walk with plenty of historical interest in the Shropshire Marches; or an exploration of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.