Andy's EPIC Hikes & Walks in Europe
Some of the best and most iconic hikes and walks in Europe
The benefits of hiking are well documented. It tones your muscles (apparently), reduces body fat, prevents heart and other diseases, and is excellent for your mental health. These days I am just about capable to get up and down a mid-sized mountain, which is why I consulted an expert for further advice. Enter Peter Welk; mountain goat extraordinaire. Peter is a retired banker and in a more adventurous capacity has been a tour leader at the German Alpine Association for the past 40 years or so. He has climbed and hiked across Asia and North America, but his preferred spots are in the Dolomites and in the Swiss Alps, and I have listed some of his favourite tours. You do not have to be a super fit athlete to tackle some of the hikes suggested in this post, and I have listed a number of gentle walks (Lake District, 6 Walks in England, mountains in Wales, German Wine route) that ought to be manageable even for the novice (famous last words ...).
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Peter Welk
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Four day-hikes that get you close to this awesome glacier; the biggest one in the European Alps, with starts and finishes at Bettmeralp, in the Swiss canton of Valais/Wallis.
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Itineraries for two easy to moderate day hikes around the area of the 'Three Peaks' (drei Zinnen), famous as the backdrop for many Hollywood movies (Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone anyone?). The location scouts were right; one of the most spectacular places in the Alps.
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The highest mountain in Bosnia & Herzegovina is located in the country's oldest National Park Sutjeska: Solitude, wilderness, and a challenging climb helped by strategically placed cables.
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Itineraries for six day hikes through England's glorious countryside: Seven Sisters Cliffs, Cheddar Gorge, Malvern Hills, Caer Caradog, North York Moors and Mam Tor.
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The pearl of England's many national parks. If you can beat the crowds, it doesn't get much better than this. Scafell Pike, Helwellyn and Blencathra.
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The UK's least visited country offers wonderful hiking adventures in often far-flung corners. Mount Snowdon, Pen-y-Fan, Haybluffs, Sugarloaf Mountain.
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Another of northern England's many gems, the Yorkshire Dales offers some truly supreme hikes: Buckden Pike, Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent. And if you're after the original '3 Peak Challenge', skip the first and add Whernside, the least attractive of the trio.
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Often overlooked when it comes to serious high altitude hiking. But what a beautiful place. Here's our suggestion for a five-day long distance hike, with the start and finish in Poncebos/Asturias.
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Wine, hearty cuisine, picturesque villages, nestled in the south-western corner of Germany right next door to France. Explore this hidden gem with a 5-stage itinerary.