Walking - Hiking
Europe

Alps | Pyrenees | Spain | France | Italy | Greece

Germany | Iceland | Walking Tours

Europe Cycling Tours | Europe Map

Walking/Hiking in Europe, what's so good?

Scenery - there is varied and spectacular scenery to suit most tastes - from ageing, snow-headed mountains to young, sultry deserts, and from rolling hilly forests to dark volcanic weirdness.

Architecture - Europe is at the core of western civilisation as we know it today, with reminders everywhere of ancient societies, mysterious dark ages, the birth of the industrial revolution and great empires not yet turned to dust.

Health - generally efficient and usually free medical services exist in most areas.
Hygiene is good and tap water is generally drinkable. Natural water sources will sometimes need treatment but dangerous waterborne diseases are rare.

Safety - well equipped rescue teams are usually to be found where they are likely to be needed and are used to dealing with wayward walkers.
Criminal behaviour at any serious level is unlikely beyond city limits.
Few political problems exist after the fall of the iron curtain, though the Balkans region remains unstable.
With the exception of the odd disgruntled snake, boar or rare bear there are few dangerous animals around.

Downside: the weather can be miserable in winter in northern parts - mix 'n' match from these adjectives: cold, grey, wet, dull, damp, windy.
However, really problematic extremes are unusual other than at high altitudes or in the extreme north of Europe.
There is little outside the cities that could be described as 'exotic', but then it's not supposed to be.

Where to go on Walking Tours in Europe:

Hiking the Alps - some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe is to be found in the Alps mountain range. They swallow up much of Switzerland and Austria, and also bits of France, Germany, Slovenia and Italy - Hiking in the Alps

Hiking the Pyrenees - a mountain range that separates the south west of France from the north east of Spain, with some interesting results - Hiking in the Pyrenees

France - traditionally quaint countryside, green volcanic landscapes, high rise mountain blocks, vineyards by the barrel load, more mountains, and then yet more mountains on a rock in the Mediterranean - Walking in France | France Travel Hiking | Corsica Hiking | France Pictures

United Kingdom - green and pleasant countryside, cute cottages, mountains with lakes, mountains with lochs, flat as a pancake watery broads, rugged walkable coastlines, castles and great houses with their estates; lots of possibilities for such a small country - Walking in the UK | England Pictures | Scotland Pictures

Germany - some splendid Baroque architecture and truly 'fantastic' castles, woody medieval settings with associated timbered buildings, traditional inns with big beers and heavy food to slow you down, plus a little bit of the Alps to the south - Walking in Germany | German Activities [woah, sounds sccary!]

Spain - horse opera style mountains with a real desert, 'Himalayan look-a-like' mountains, rainy forested mountains, mountains in the Mediterranean, part French mountains - Walking in Spain | Spain Travel Guide | Spain Pictures

Italy - the tallest part of the Alps and culturally colourful with a bootful of smaller mountains and hills to get lost in and plenty of arty chapels, statues, and architecture - Walking in Italy | Italy Pictures

Greece - bright mountains scattered with drought defying flowers and rocks all over - hard rocks, soft rocks and shapely rocks in the middle of nowhere. Lots of culture and relics around, with a relatively exotic culture and lots of leftovers from Greece's heyday - Walking in Greece | Greece Pictures

Iceland [picture top right]- a simmering cauldron of geologically hot headed rocks tempered by freezing glacial flows, funny little churches and tall Viking tales - Walking in Iceland | Iceland Pictures