Summer may be the season for beach breaks and festival hopping, but now that it’s over, it doesn’t mean you have to shove your passport in a drawer to gather dust. Instead, dig it out, give it a wipe and take yourself on an autumn adventure.
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With cooler temperatures and crisp air, there couldn’t be a better time for a walking holiday in Europe – and this new list from The Times will save you some serious research time.
The British newspaper has named the 25 best destinations in Europe for an autumn walking escape. Highlights include The Accursed Mountains in Albania (don’t let the name put you off; it’s also known as ‘The Albanian Alps’, owing to its dramatic peaks and alpine pastures). According to The Times, it’s an ‘empty, thrilling place’ with several routes that, reassuringly, won’t ‘grind your joints to dust’.
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For the full Hansel and Gretel experience (minus the cannibalistic witch), Germany’s Black Forest is a winner. Its magical landscape includes the waterfalls at Schleinfenbach and the basalt columns of Randen. Thirsty hikers should take the Oberkircher Brennersteig trail, where they’ll encounter a free-flowing schnapps fountain.
If sea air is more your thing, West Cork in Ireland is the spot. Stroll along the rippling waves of the Celtic Sea before rewarding yourself with a Guinness in a village pub, where live music is more than likely on the cards.
Need more inspo? See the full list below.
The best autumn walking destinations in Europe, according to The Times
- Cyclades, Greece
- Alsace, France
- Puglia and Basilicata, Italy
- Athens, Delphi and Meteora, Greece
- West Cork, Ireland
- Madrid to Porto, Spain and Portugal
- Istria, Croatia
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Mont Blanc, France
- Madeira, Portugal
- Aeolian Islands, Sicily
- Valencia, Spain
- Jersey, Channel Islands
- Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- Black Forest, Germany
- Suditrol, Italy
- Azores, Portugal
- Malta and Gozo
- La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain
- Lycia, Turkey
- Lombardy, Italy
- The Accursed Mountains, Albania
- Atlas Mountains, Morocco
- Piedmont, Italy
- Sardinia, Italy
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