Spring time for Via Ferrata, Lake Garda, Italy
Spring north of Lake Garda is a paradise of adventure. I’ve been several times and enjoyed ferratas: iron cables fixed to climbing routes that require fitness and a sense of adventure but not technical mountaineering skills (safety equipment required). The landscapes are astonishing and varied, from valleys and ledges to grassy mountain peaks and bold, massive vertical staircases with castles, bastions and temples along the route. Renting a bike or choosing one of the many bike-equipped apartments is also a great area to explore the trails and see the lakes and mountains by pedal power. Tired of all this? Paddleboarding, windsurfing, swimming and river boat trips are also available. All accompanied by great food and gelato.
David Thomas
Gorgeous Lake District by boat or bike
I have enjoyed many excellent activity breaks around beautiful Keswick. Paddleboarding, canoeing and sailing are fantastic on both Derwentwater and Lake Bassenthwaite; However, you should always pay attention to the no-boating areas that have been established to protect breeding birds. Once we have enough water, we rent mountain bikes and enjoy the various trails in Whinlatter Forest. The 26 kilometer Back o’ Skiddaw route is a true wilderness journey. Walkers are spoiled for choice: my favorites include the nine-mile Coledale Horseshoe and climbing Blencathra via Sharp Edge to get your pulse racing. Solitude and stunning scenery make Dock Tarn, a few miles south of Derwentwater, perfect for a wild swim.
katharine
Senior hiking in the Pyrenees, Andorra
The Coronallacs Trail offers spectacular hut-to-hut hiking in the Pyrenees. The trail consists of five stages and covers 57 challenging but extremely rewarding miles (92 km), passing remote mountain lakes and spectacular landscapes and reaching a high point at 2,900 meters above sea level. The route connects all four of Andorra’s staffed mountain refuges, which provide accommodation and food, allowing you to pack light. The fourth stage, at 22 kilometers, is the longest and most challenging stage and ends in a shelter on Andorra’s highest mountain, Coma Pedrosa. Packages offering four nights half-board accommodation in cottages can be found on stadesport.com for around £180 (€219.72) per person.
Jasper
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Exotic plants and winding roads, La Gomera, Canary Islands
La Gomera in the Canary Islands is a hiker’s paradise. There are exciting mountain views, great well-marked trails, mild weather all year round, and the whole place is very pristine and peaceful, without too many people. Sometimes it’s like walking down a winding path through ornamental gardens, with unusual plants underfoot but spectacular mountain views all around. The island also has an excellent road network; This means you can shorten the walks by taking a taxi or bus at the start or finish. Yet you feel far away from everything. I traveled on a self-guided route with On Foot Holidays, with exceptional execution and luggage transfer.
Paul Kirkwood
On wheels and keeping an eye out for warblers in Wales
West Pembrokeshire is famous for its deep cliffs and turquoise waters that rise and fall in remote bays. But get on two wheels on a spring day and you can enjoy a complete field guide to inland wildlife. Traffic-free asphalt and sparse climbs make this a suitable destination for cyclists of all experience and abilities. The gorse hedges are as yellow as the cross on St David’s flag in spring. Take your time. Stop often to be rewarded with the first swallows and warblers to arrive from Africa. Carefully step onto the sun-warmed ground where lizards and vipers bask. When your journey is over, relax in one of the uncrowded, independent tea rooms.
Matthew Page
River walking adventure, France
My family and I went river tracing (also river walking) at Les Gorges du Toulourenc in Drôme in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 40 kilometers east of Orange. It’s a great place to embrace physical activity and the beauty of nature at the same time. The color of the water, which is mostly at calf level but sometimes reaches up to the waist, is an ethereal turquoise. Climbing a bit on the rocks and swimming in deeper water is challenging enough to make you feel like you’re on a proper adventure, but you can also sit quietly at the water’s edge and watch the rocks rise into the sky. rare Bonelli’s eagles soar high.
Jenny Ross
The air is as sweet as wine in Portugal’s Douro Valley
There’s no better place for a burst of spring energy and activity than the Douro Valley. By mid-March the weather is as sweet as wine and golden grapes, making it ideal for walking or cycling breaks. It’s also pretty flat, as we discovered last year, making it accessible to the very old (in my case) and the very young (in my grandchildren’s case). It’s easily accessible by train from Porto and you can rent a bike for €20 per day or just walk. It’s also fun to swim from side to side in the river. Be sure to visit Aveiro, preferably by boat, to see its colorful houses, cafes and streets.
Gayle
Our activity dreams in the Alps came true
Before starting life with kids, we headed to the French Alps for a multi-activity break with Responsible Travel (from £700pp excluding travel), sleeping in an off-grid yurt with a pick-and-mix activity menu. We chose via ferrata, gorge hiking, mountain biking and – a dream come true – paragliding! All events were easy to book. Cooking facilities were available on the farm; We also tried local food markets and restaurants. We’ll be back for more as soon as our little people are old enough to jump into the cold rivers.
Charlotte
On the quiet route from Amsterdam to Brussels
After taking the Eurostar to Amsterdam and returning from Brussels, I booked a six-day light cycling holiday from Amsterdam to Brussels (€889 per person for two sharing including breakfast) with Netherlands Cycling Tours. Even though I did it alone, it was a nice, quiet cycling trip suitable for families. Dutch Bike Tours took care of my luggage and I booked a hotel, so I set out to tour quiet countryside and picturesque towns of my own choosing, such as Gouda, Bergen op Zoom and Louvain. The route is guided by a series of numbered “junctions” and shows what cycling in the UK might be like.
David Bryce
Winning tip: My reservoir loop in the Peak District
We enjoyed a traffic-free cycling holiday in the beautiful Peak District town of Bakewell. We warmed up on 13.5km of flat, family-friendly Monsal Road, passing through stunning limestone valleys and over the magnificent Headstone Viaduct. The Upper Derwent Valley circular route (25 miles) around the Derwent, Ladybower and Howden reservoirs was a longer challenge with beautiful views throughout. Slippery Stones, just beyond the northern end of Howden reservoir, proved to be an excellent lunch break halfway through the tour. We finished our trip on the High Peak and Tissington trails, which offer easy cycling with sweeping rural views. Afternoon tea at the Hartington farm shop and café capped off a fabulous holiday.
Hussein
Please use the comments to tell us about your own favorite spring adventure vacations.