8 Hiking Trails That'll Help You Discover the Beauty of the European Countryside
The Camino de Santiago: Spain
The Camino de Santiago is actually a multitude of routes that crisscross Europe and ultimately end up in the same destination — Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Once upon a time, pilgrims walked the route in single file, aiming to get to the shrine of Saint James in Santiago, where legend has it the remains of the saint are buried.
The beauty of this hike is that you can join from anywhere you want. The hiking trails begin as far away as France and Italy, so you can customize your route depending on where you want to begin and how long you want to walk for.
Because of the number of people walking the Camino every year, there are plenty of accommodation options and a lot of information available, so it’s straightforward to undertake independently.
La Alta Via Uno: Italy
The Dolomites are a mountain range stretching through northeastern Italy. Characterized by craggy peaks with vertical cliffs, long, narrow valleys and a scattering of turquoise lakes, this is one of the most visually stunning places to hike in Europe.
Make sure you take your camera and some spare batteries — this is a landscape you will want to capture over and over again.
The Alta Via Uno is a 75 mile hike that reaches heights of just over 9,000 feet. Hikers usually allow 10 days to complete the trek, starting from the town of Dobbiacco and finishing in Belluno.
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West Highland Way: Scotland
This 96 mile route crosses moors, cuts around lochs, and climbs the Devil’s Staircase. Running through the Scottish Highlands, this hike is simply spectacular, with unforgettable landscapes that have all the blustery wilderness Scotland is famous for.
About 80,000 people set foot on the path each year, and it’s not for nothing that the path is so popular. The hikes uses ancient roads that drovers, coachers, and the military used to take. Tradition dictates that the track is walked from south to north.
