‘Framed by jagged peaks, it felt like stepping into a dream': readers' favourite mountain trips in Europe
After a gruelling journey from the UK, arriving at Alpe di Siusi during golden hour felt like stepping into a dream. Farmers turned hay in some of Europe's highest alpine meadows, framed by jagged Dolomite peaks glowing in soft evening light. We can recommend staying at the Hotel Schmung, a family-run gem with delicious northern Italian food and direct access to scenic hikes. Rifugios provide great lunch stops along the trails. The peaceful setting, breathtaking views and freedom to explore on foot without needing a car make this a perfect base for the Dolomites.Louise
The Vosges mountains in Alsace offer relatively gentle walking with fantastic way-marking (shown on IGN maps, the French equivalent of the Ordnance Survey Explorer maps). Panoramic views punctuate the walking through a mixture of pine woods and open pastures. Most Brits seem to keep to the valleys and the beautiful villages and towns but among my highlights of the area is the opportunity to compare the fare at the various ferme auberges that are scattered over the hills. Sharing a table with French and German visitors and locals, the short menus offer food that has to be mainly grown by the farmer/owner. Glasborn-Linge in Soultzeren has a four-course hearty lunch at just €27.Tony Eginton
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A spectacular train ride from Corsica's seaport of Bastia to the small mountain town of Ponte Leccia provides access to the island's highest peak, 2,706-metre (8,878ft) Mount Cinto. It can be approached from the dramatic Asco Gorge. For hikers, a network of donkey trails reveals arresting views, river pools and lost worlds, such as the abandoned village of Sepula. There are a couple of remote campsites off the gorge. There's a ski resort halfway up Mount Cinto where the more challenging cross-island GR20 mountain hiking path can be joined. Late spring is the most enchanting time to visit.Didier
We spent a heavenly week in Gornja Brezna, Montenegro, a peaceful village 1,000 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountains and with a turquoise river canyon (the Piva) to explore. Days were warm and nights cool. We pootled about on rusty bikes, got coffee at the Etno village restaurant, befriended local dogs, went on herb walks and ran about naked in the birch woods, as well as making bigger excursions to Durmitor national park. We stayed at Nikola's beautiful Brezan Lug chalet, in its own private woodland, with hot tub, barbecue, fire pit and all mod cons.Beth
My partner and I had a magical time in the northern Albanian mountains. From Shkodër, we made our way to the Valbona valley national park via a two-night stay on (and boat across) Lake Koman. Once in Valbona, we camped with permission on the grounds of Hotel Rilindja, where the owner offered a wealth of hiking tips. From our base, we embarked on a series of spectacular hikes, including a three-day circular to Çerem. The first two days we saw no one apart from shepherds (and a few vipers, which were given a wide berth) before hitting a slightly more travelled section, where we encountered a handful of fellow hikers. The views were breathtaking; the hospitality, affordable and welcoming; and the experience, incomparable. Alex
The mountains and glaciers surrounding the mountain hut at Nallo in north-west Sweden were so spectacular last year that I'm returning to stay for longer in July. It's roughly seven miles off the popular Kungsleden trail (King's trail) that winds its way through Lapland. There's no mobile phone reception, or food, so bring your own supplies. These can be bought at the trailheads, three days' walk away, or at other mountain huts along the way. What you find at Nallo is a welcoming cabin with a host (£32 for a bunk bed), cozy bunk beds and peace. Catherine
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This exhilarating four-mile stroll across our solar system starts, appropriately, at an enormous sundial next to the Observatoire François-Xavier Bagnoud at Tignousa in the Val d'Anniviers. As you walk away from the sundial, the planets are revealed sequentially in large metal sculptures, informative panels and a hand-cranked audio track. Each one appears at its proportionate distance and size from the sun, so Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Jupiter are soon ticked off on a shallow climb. Twenty minutes later, a striking silver-ringed Saturn overlooks magnificent views of the valley and down to the Rhône a kilometre below. Uranus presages a refreshing paddle in a mountain stream, good preparation for a steeper, but manageable, 30-minute scramble to Neptune and lunch at 2,300 metres, distracted by panoramic views of the Swiss Alps from the deck of the 19th-century Hotel Weisshorn. Bryan Conway
I hiked through the Maiella national park in Abruzzo, just two hours east of Rome, where marsican brown bears, Abruzzo chamois and wolves roam while griffon vultures soar above. The drought-tolerant vegetation and steep-sided valleys conceal caves that were once inhabited by hermits – it was amazing to imagine what it must have been like living there. Flowering plants galore, with rarities such as the Apennine edelweiss, Apennine gentian, Alpine aster and dryas (a glacial relic) on the high peaks. Exploring ancient pathways and clambering up rocky slopes rewarded me with far-reaching views over the Adriatic Sea.Monique Gadella
Rather than ascend the expensive and crowded Zugspitze (Germany's highest mountain at 2,962 metres), during a summer visit to Garmisch-Partenkirchen we instead opted for a cable car up the magnificently named Mount Wank (1,780 metres). We were rewarded with lush mountain meadows, superb views of the valley below and peace and quiet. A cold beer on the sun terrace at the Sonnenalm restaurant is a must. If you have the energy, you can walk the well-marked trail back to the town or head down on the Wankbahn. Travis Roberts
Walking the acequias of the Alpujarras in the southern Sierra Nevada, following 1,200-year-old irrigation systems built by the Moors while the snow-capped peaks above soar to almost 3,500 metres. Acequia Baja from the forest track above Capileira, curves round into the Poqueira valley, into a basin below the three highest peaks in mainland Spain while booted eagles ride the thermals. There are views across the Mediterranean to the Rif mountains in Morocco in clear conditions, framed by the deep valleys funnelling year-round snowmelt waters down steep gorges, yet the walk along the acequia is quite easy-going given the altitude.Jeremy
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BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Why I've walked the West Highland Way 97 times
When Robert Marshall first walked the West Highland Way in 1993, he completed the 96-mile route in just three days - but he barely had time to take in the dramatic scenery that makes it famous. Almost as soon as he finished, he vowed to do it again and to take more time to appreciate the landscape on the well-trodden trail between Milngavie, near Glasgow, and Fort William. He enjoyed it so much that he returned again and again. He has now completed the famously challenging route 97 times and he plans to reach the milestone of 100 by the time he turns 70 in November. Experts on the West Highland Way say Robert's achievement is "unparalleled". "I'm always learning things about the landscape," the retired police officer from Gourock, Inverclyde, said. "Initially when you do these long distance walks you go from A to B and that's it."That's the target, let's get to B."Now I want to look at every blade of grass, you want to know everything about everything. It's a journey not a destination." The famous walking route from the central belt to the Highlands takes walkers along the shores of Loch Lomond and across Rannoch Moor - one of the last wildernesses in then climb the zig-zag ascent of the Devil's Staircase footpath in Glencoe before reaching their final people complete the route, which follows cattle drover paths and 18th Century military roads, over six or seven days. Robert always walks the route south to north, over five days, spending one night camping and the rest in B&Bs and secret to a speedy completion of the challenge? Fresh milk. The teetotal grandfather said: "Sometimes I go out of my way to buy milk. "I'll be desperate for milk so I'll take a big detour off the path to find a shop." On one trip, a passer-by asked him how many times he had walked the route and he realised that he had no idea as there were no fitness trackers in 1993 to record his achievements. But once Robert had calculated that he had made the trip 17 times, he set himself a target of walking it 50 times by the time he reached 65. He now goes through one pair of sturdy walking boots every year. "I want to reach 100 times before I'm 70 in November. "It will mean I did it 50 times in just five years compared to the first 50 which I did over 27 years," Robert told BBC Scotland plans to walk the route for the 100th time in September with his six children, Kirsty, 46, David, 43, Jennifer, 40, Ciaran, 25, and Ross, 21. The West Highland Way was the first long-distance walking trail of its kind when it opened in 1980. Ian Beattie, race director of the West Highland Way running race and UK Athletics chairman, believes Robert's achievement is likely to be a record. "I think this is likely to be a record."It's hard to know if there is anybody else out there but I've never heard of anyone who has done any more than this".The 59-year-old, who has completed the route himself between 15 and 20 times, added: "I think its great he has done it so many times. "It's a lovely route and I'm sure you see different things every time you go and different people."I think doing it in five days is challenging. It's not easy to do that." Kenny Auld, head of visitor services at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, said Robert's "unwavering commitment" to the West Highland Way was inspiring."To our knowledge, in the history of the National Park, an achievement like walking the West Highland Way 100 times by a single individual is unparalleled," he said."Robert truly embodies the spirit of our national park."His passion for nature, tireless volunteer work, and deep connection to the landscape he loves serve as a beacon for all who care deeply for the outdoors."His journey not only highlights personal perseverance but also underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating our natural heritage, so that future generations can enjoy it too." When Robert, who has had two heart operations for an irregular heartbeat, is not walking the West Highland Way he volunteers on the path to help repair it. He says he will keep doing the route until he can no longer walk "I have already booked up my 101st trip this year and I've booked up for next year," he said. "I will only stop when I can't walk any more. "Sometimes I find it tougher than others and it just depends how you feel and how the weather is, because the hotter it is the harder it is."Sometimes when I'm doing it I think this is getting too hard and I think I'll need to change it to six days but then the next day I feel like Billy Whizz and nothing can stop me. It's weird."It's pleasurable. I just love the walk. I love the scenery. I love all the high points as in the high-up points, you get such amazing views."There are people who go sightseeing in a car everywhere and never walk any where and they get great views of Glen Coe and all that but they don't get the best views."
Reuters
12 hours ago
- Reuters
Coordinated protests against tourism levels planned in Spain, Portugal and Italy
BARCELONA, June 13 (Reuters) - Activists against overtourism are planning protests across Spain, Portugal and Italy on Sunday, with one group urging people to bring water pistols to the demonstration in Barcelona. Anger has been growing in southern Europe against what protesters say are excessive levels of tourism that they complain are forcing locals out of affordable accommodation, pushing up living costs and clogging up city centres. International travel spending in Europe is expected to rise by 11% to $838 billion this year, with Spain and France among the countries set to receive record numbers of tourists. Protests are planned in Barcelona and seven other Spanish cities, including Granada, Palma and Ibiza; Portugal's capital Lisbon; and the Italian cities of Venice, Genova, Palermo, Milan and Naples, according to announcements issued by several of the organising groups. Organisers, some of whom dismiss the counterargument that tourism brings jobs and prosperity, told Reuters that they wanted to build on scattered protests across Spain last year with the coordinated day of action. They are joining forces with groups in Portugal and Italy under the umbrella of the SET alliance - Sud d'Europa contra la Turistització, or Southern Europe against Overtourism - Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, spokesperson for Barcelona's Neighbourhoods Assembly for Tourism Degrowth, said. Some 26 million tourists swelled Barcelona's 1.6-million population in 2024. A survey conducted by Barcelona last year showed that 31% of residents considered tourism to be damaging, the highest figure on record. "When they (officials) say that we have to specialise in tourism, they are basically telling us that you have to get poorer so that other people can get richer," Pardo Rivacoba said, complaining of low pay and poor or non-existent contracts. Graffiti saying "Tourists go home" has become an increasingly common sight across the Mediterranean city and Barcelona's tourism agency was spray painted on Thursday with a message about the planned protest. The agency said in an open letter published on Friday: "If you hear someone from Barcelona say, 'Tourists, go home', you should know that most of us don't think that way." It said the city welcomed tourists because they brought diversity, while underscoring the challenges brought by mass tourism and the measures taken to address them, such as a ban on tourist apartments and an ongoing tourism tax. Barcelona, which depends on tourism for 15% of its GDP, announced last year it would shut all short-term lets by 2028. The mayor said at the time rents had risen by 68% in the past 10 years and the cost of buying a house had risen by 38%, becoming a driver of inequality, especially among young people. Jaime Rodriguez de Santiago, head of vacation rental platform Airbnb for Iberia, said this week that Barcelona's restrictions scapegoated short-lets, which he said can help redistribute visitor flows to less crowded parts of a city. Catalonia's Socialist president also announced the expansion of Barcelona's airport this week, saying it was critical for the airport to become a major hub for intercontinental connections, drawing further condemnation from campaigners. Demonstrators have been urged to bring water pistols to the Barcelona protest, Pardo Rivacoba said, after groups squirted tourists last year in a protest that was criticised by the government and travel companies. A Catalonia regional police source said the force would guarantee the right to protest and citizens' right to move freely, but declined to comment further. The protest in Venice looks set to be more low-key, with one organiser saying members would display banners in two locations to denounce the impact of overtourism. "Each city in the SET network organises a demonstration in its own way," they said. While residents in Rome or Venice have staged anti-tourism protests, in poorer southern Italy a tourism boom is helping make some neighbourhoods safer and bringing much-needed cash.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- The Independent
Pope confirms when millennial saint Carlo Acutis will be canonised
Pope Leo XIV has announced that Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church 's first millennial-era saint, will be canonised on September 7. The announcement was made during a consistory, a meeting of cardinals convened to set the dates for the canonisation of several new saints. Acutis's canonisation was initially planned for April 27 but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Acutis died at the age of 15 in 2006 in northern Italy after a brief battle with leukemia. He has gained immense popularity, particularly among young Catholics, who have been visiting his tomb in Assisi in large numbers. Despite enjoying typical pastimes such as hiking, video games, and spending time with friends, Acutis also taught catechism in his local parish and engaged in outreach to the homeless. He used his computer skills to create an online exhibit showcasing over 100 eucharistic miracles recognised by the Church throughout history. His tomb in Assisi has become a pilgrimage site, especially during the 2025 Holy Year underway. It features a glass coffin in which Acutis can be seen dressed in sneakers, jeans and a sweatshirt. The outpouring of devotion has surprised even Assisi 's bishop, the Rev. Domenico Sorrentino. He described the scene as a "volcano of grace erupting", noting the stark contrast to the relative obscurity of the Santuario della Spogliazione just two decades prior. What was once a "forgotten" church next to his residence is now a vibrant center of pilgrimage, thanks to the inspiring story of Carlo. Over the last year, more than a million pilgrims paid homage to the teen, Rev. Sorrentino said, drawn by 'his smiling way of living our faith'. In setting the September 7 date, Leo announced that Acutis would be canonised along with another Italian Catholic, Pier Giorgio Frassati, who also died young at age 24 after contracting polio.
