travel
‘It’s one huge adventure playground’: readers’ best summer trips in the lakes and mountains of Europe
From the Alpine meadows of Bavaria to a pristine lake in Italy and the pilgrim routes of the Pyrenees, here are some of your favourite discoveries. Tell us about a lesser known European island – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher
TL;DR
- Haldensee in Austria offers hiking with views of the Allgäu Alps and opportunities to see grazing cattle.
- Northern Lake Garda is an adventure hub for walking, cycling, climbing, and watersports, featuring the old Ponale mountain road.
- La Fouly in Switzerland provides walking routes away from crowds, including those near Lacs de Fenêtre, with camping by rivers.
- Slovenia's Logar Valley is ideal for exploring on foot or by bike, with paths leading to Rinka waterfall and local farms selling produce.
- Lago di Monate in Italy boasts fresh swimming water due to a ban on motorboats, offering paddleboarding and lakeside dining.
- Ruhpolding in Bavaria features Alpine scenery, lakes like Lödensee and Weitsee, mountain refuges, and proximity to Chiemsee and Munich.
- Cycling the Velosud route in the foothills of the Pyrenees offers traffic-free paths alongside rivers with mountain views.
- The Camino de Santiago offers stunning panoramic views, particularly the challenging stretch from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles.
- Alpi Apuane in Tuscany presents dramatic marble peaks with challenging trails like the Via Vandelli and quiet valleys.
- The Vosges mountains in eastern France offer forest paths, mountain climbs like Hohneck, and local cuisine such as tarte flambée.