Inspiration for June holidays

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!

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.

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.

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.

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; gentle coastal walking in Northumberland; a walk with plenty of historical interest in the Shropshire Marches; or an exploration of the North York Moors or the Yorkshire Dales National Parks.