Going on a long-distance walk isn’t everyone’s idea of the perfect holiday, but for many travellers it’s a great way of having an active holiday, doing something a little bit different and seeing a country at a slower pace. Whether you are travelling on an organised tour, or arranging your long distance walk independently, there are lots of routes across Europe which can really give you a holiday with a difference.

Camino De Santiago

One of the oldest long distance walks in Europe is the Camino de Santiago which takes you through Northern Spain with an end destination of Santiago de Compostela in the north-western region of Galicia. There are many different starting points to the route, but most tourists start in the towns of Pamplona or Burgos, and then head west through Leon and Astorga to reach Santiago de Compostela. There is a huge tourist industry around the Camino route, with many companies offering luggage transportation between stops and plenty of accommodation along the way. This is one of Europe’s most popular walks though, so if you are planning on walking during the peak times of Spring or Autumn, make sure you have your stops sorted out well in advance. If walking isn’t your thing, much of the route is accessible by bicycle.

West Highland Way

Closer to home, one of the most popular routes in the UK is the West Highland Way, which runs 96 miles from just outside Glasgow through some of the UK’s most stunning scenery to Fort William, on the west coast. Around 15,000 people walk the full route each year, and as the route passes through many villages and small towns, it is easy to source accommodation along the way. If you’re feeling particularly hardy, camping is also an option, depending on the weather. The best time for walking the West Highland Way is between April and September – the weather at other times of the year is often too unpredictable, wet and windy.

Kerry Way

The scenery in the south west corner of Ireland is some of the country’s most beautiful, and the 133-mile-long trail called the Kerry Way is a circular route starting and ending in the region’s largest town, Killarney. Most walkers take 9 days to complete the route, and traces the coast as much as possible. There is plenty of information online about the route and accommodation possibilities, and if you are a solo walker, networking groups to share tips and meet up with other walkers planning to do the route at the same time.

European Walking Routes

Those who are up for a real challenge can investigate the European E8 path, which stretches almost 3,000 miles from Cork in Ireland to Istanbul in Turkey. Only a few people set out to walk the entire route, and most plan to walk a small section. Check the political situation carefully before planning your trip as movements of refugees up through the Balkans into central Europe has led to the closure of borders and made this sort of long distance walking more challenging than previously.