Holiday ideas for June

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.

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 walking breaks. Choose a stroll between the thatched villages of north Suffolk or along the Thames Path south of Oxford; 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 or Norfolk; a walk with plenty of historical interest in the Shropshire Marches; or an exploration of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.