Hiking and nature

[icelolly12]

Having really got into hiking/walking in the UK, what other destinations do people recommend within or out of Europe where I could stay for a week or two and enjoy really stunning scenery and walking on my doorstep? I don't just mean countries, but specific villages/locations. I'm open to destination although ideally no more than a 8 hour direct flight. Any suggestions welcome tia

Scotland has to be number one. I stayed in aviemore and boat of garten in the past. Further afield and more than 8 hrs I highly recommend flying into Seattle and staying in the cascades - best place I stopped was inside mt rainier National park. Closer I recommend the German alps/foothills eg I loved Fussen kitch

You could do a lot worse than the Porte du Soleil area; ie Morzine and Les gets in the French alps.

About 90 mins flight to Geneva, huge lift network to get you up to altitude quickly and surrounded by some great walking all round, views across to Mount Blanc and the larger alpine peaks.

The Eifel region of Germany www.landal.com/countries/germany/eifel#filter:eyJzdCI6OTI0LCJzIjoiMSJ9 (We stayed at this park)
Austria is also a good shout - we’ve stayed here

Wengen/Grindelwald in Switzerland, paths for all levels some at altitude, some along valleys. There are lifts and mountain trains so you can hop on when you have had enough to get back to resort and further places to visit if you fancy a day off.

I'm thinking definitely somewhere in the alps now. Lots of great suggestions thank you.

I would also say Wengen/Grindalwald area in Switzerland. Amazing scenery, good weather, great hikes and easy to get around. Also Slovenia but I can't remember exactly where I stayed!

We've been to San Martino di Castrozza in the Italian dolomites and loved it. Lots of hiking trails of all different levels.

Hotel Jezero on Lake Bohinj in Slovenia. I stayed there in July.

Or the Wellness Hostel 4000 in Saas-Fee. It has a spa.

I live in Scotland so I’d agree with @gogohmm that there’s beautiful walks here. I’d check out the North East, the Cairngorms and the islands too.

Outside of the UK I’d really recommend La Gomera in the canaries (you’d need to get a ferry from a bigger island but it’s much less populated). I also love the Azores - you can get a direct flight to Sao Miguel and it is simply stunning, volcanic island with gorgeous walks (google Sete Cidades) has the added benefit of hot springs which is great for relaxing afterwards!

Madeira is supposed to be good. I've not been but lots of people from my hiking group recommended it. Easy to get around on public transport and the trails are marked too. I'm thinking of going when DD is a bit older.

^ yy to Madeira, it looks breathtaking. My parents had a walking holiday there and said it was amazing. Scary runway at the airport though apparently!

Lots of hiking in Spain.

For example:

https://www.costatropical.net/las-alpujarras/hiking-lanjaron-walks.php?utm_content=cmp-true

Too hot between about June and September, but good at the rest of the year.