Walk your way to health
The news that tens of thousands of lives in the UK could be saved by stepping away from the sofa and out for a walk (150 minutes of moderate physical exercise per week to be precise, according to the Walking Works report) is a startling reminder of how life-threatening inactivity can be.
Why not kick-start your campaign to get fit with a rejuvenating walking holiday? On Foot Holidays, which offers wonderful self-guided walks throughout Europe, suggests three off-the-beaten-track hikes – all graded easy to medium – that are perfect for beginners looking to up their activity levels:
On the flat in Slovenia
Where most companies’ Slovenian walking trips concentrate on the Julian Alps, On Foot’s eight-night trip journeys via the unheralded Karst, a much flatter and less touristy area of woods, caves, rivers, villages and vineyards. Those same vineyards produce fiery teran, a red wine which perfectly complements the local prsut (a prosciutto). The trip finishes in the lively port of Trieste, to which walkers descend via a scenic funicular tram, for some chic relaxation. Available April-October, the trip costs from £740 pp (two sharing) including eight nights’ B&B, daily luggage transfers, six picnics, five dinners and route information.
Unspoilt island hopping and hiking in the southern Adriatic
Stroll along the winding backstreets of the walled city of Dubrovnik before making tracks for the beguiling Elafiti islands, which stretch out like a string of pearls along the dramatic Adriatic coast. Explore the maze-like paths of car-free Lopud, dotted with impressive churches and forts, and swim at one of the few sandy bays in the Adriatic; skirt the cliffs of Kolocep in search of the lighthouse, and stride out on Sipan from its pretty little harbour to a scenic bay at the far-end of the island. Available April-October, the trip costs from £660 pp (two sharing) including five nights’ B&B, two nights’ accommodation only, port transfers and ferries, luggage transfers and route information.
Head out on home soil in Thomas Hardy country
For those of you who would prefer to step out on home soil for your first walking foray, try following in Thomas Hardy’s footsteps in pastoral Dorset. Starting with an overnight stay in the cathedral city of Salisbury, amble past the romantic ruins of Old Wardour Castle to Saxon Shaftesbury. This route is peppered with pretty villages and old inns and culminates in a day’s exploration of the dramatic Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage site, with a chance to potter around pretty Lyme Regis. Available year-round, the trip costs from £715 pp including six nights’ B&B, one night accommodation only, luggage transfer between hotels and route information.
On Foot Holidays also features routes in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. Each walk has been designed by a ‘Route Adviser’ – a person who lives locally and has painstakingly developed an itinerary through varied countryside, packing in as much culture as possible en route and seeking out the most welcoming small hotels, farmhouses and village rooms.
To book, visit onfootholidays.co.uk.