The open moorland of the Beacons Way in Wales
Taking Friday off gave us 3 days of free time, so we had plenty of time to walk from Llangynidr to Abergavenny along the Beacons Way. It was amazing! On the first day we bought a return train ticket from Bristol to Abergavenny and then caught a local bus from Abergavenny to Llangynidr. We were one of 3 passengers and the driver was very friendly. On the first day walking we enjoyed open moorland, fern covered hills and beautiful scenery. After a night in Crickhowell we walked over 4 ridges to Llanthony with amazing views and the incredible Patriarchaud Church. We camped at Llanthony Abbey campsite and had a cosy dinner in a lovely little pub. Our final day was in Abergavenny, another amazing place with amazing views. It was great to finish off at Skirrid, very steep and very challenging. Afterwards we had a beer in Abergavenny before catching the train back. It felt great.
Rachel
Coasting in Pembrokeshire
Photo: Robert Harding/Alamy
Pembrokeshire is home to coasting, an activity that combines swimming, climbing and cliff jumping to scale the coastline. In a wetsuit, helmet and holey sneakers, I trudged up rock walls, explored dark sea caves with hidden swells and jumped off cliffs into crashing waves. The wind and water smack my face and there's an eerie sound as the sea rushes into the surrounding caves. The local guides are fantastic and will take you on a half-day adventure for just £55 a person. I recommend staying in St David's and finishing the day with some delicious pizza at Grain.
Steph
Canoe across Sweden's largest lake
Photo: imageBroker/Alamy
Dalsland, known as Sweden's Lake District (and with less traffic and tourists), is the perfect place to embark on a “dive into nature” style adventure. My outdoorsy friend and I rented a metal canoe and barrel to store our tent and camping gear for the next four days. We paddled along the canals and arrived at Lake Vänern, Sweden's largest lake. Dotted along the way were small sites with rustic amenities like fire pits and benches, making them ideal places to spend the night. Bonfires and starry skies were our evening treat. Apart from a few people in canoes and a moose wandering around, we pretty much had the beautiful lake to ourselves.
Paulina
Scrambling and wild swimming on the Isle of Arran
Photo: Richard Bowden/Alamy
Travelling around the Isle of Arran without a car is quite an adventure. Arrive in Brodick by ferry and walk three miles to Glen Rosa campsite for back-to-basics camping (no need to book in advance, but bring some cash and drop it in the donations box). Then spend the day exploring the stunning valley. Swim in the blue pool (you can jump in from a small footbridge off the main path) and walk up the hill. For the more adventurous, Achille Ridge is an exciting scramble (you'll need to be confident preparing to abseil) and some great multi-pitch climbing. Then head back to Brodick and treat yourself to a pizza at The Parlour. One last tip: don't forget your mosquito net and spray!
Jess
Hike to a free concert in the Italian mountains
Italian singer Francesco De Gregori taking part in “I Suoni delle Dolomiti”, a series of open-air concerts in the Trentine Mountains. Photo: Baison Paolo/Flickr Vision
My favorite hiking trip is I Suoni delle Dolomiti, a summertime festival of free open-air concerts ranging from classical to folk to jazz in a remote part of the Trentino mountains. The best concert venue is an ancient theater-like rock formation near Laghi di Bombasel, in the Lagorai mountain lakes, about an hour's hike from the end of the ski lift from Cavalese. Along the way, we stop for a hearty lunch at Rifugio Paion. Cavalese is a charming town and a great base for the festival, with cafes, eateries, hotels and farmstays nearby.
Ariella
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Secret Sicily Tour
Snorkeling on the reef off the coast of Ustica. Photo: Jeff Rotman/Alamy
Our walking holiday in Sicily with Headwater Holidays was fantastic. There was a great choice of self-guided walks, lovely hotels, historic villages, ancient monuments and great walking companions who we now call friends. The Zingaro Nature Reserve in the northwest of Sicily is a beautiful place with amazing views and hidden coves to cool off in. Our walk on Marettimo was fantastic. Our favourite part was the boat tour around the island with snorkelling and swimming in caves. We loved the crystal clear water and colorful fish. We would definitely go back.
Angela
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Aigu's Great Adventure (with Dolphins)
A sea cave near Laig Bay in Creedale on the Isle of Eigg, looking towards the Isle of Rum. Photo: Ashley Cooper/Getty Images
We are usually very active on holidays, but after Covid we needed something calmer and wilder for a little adventure. So we decided to stay for a week in Aigg Shed (from £80 a night), a tiny house on the tiny island of Aigg in the Inner Hebrides. The cosy and comfortable hut was just big enough for the two of us and the dog. We were accompanied by dolphins on the ferry to and from the island. We paddled, walked, cycled and swam in the most beautiful surroundings. The views from the hut were incredible. It was pure bliss and we returned to our daily lives feeling rejuvenated.
Lucy
Saving the Turtles of Kefalonia
Loggerhead turtle in Kefalonia, Greece. Photo: creativephototeam/Alamy
I went to Kefalonia to volunteer with Wildlife Sense, a sea turtle charity based in Argostoli and Lixouri. We cycled around the island and visited nesting sites. The roads were very safe and the views over the sea and hills were spectacular. A great opportunity to spend an active holiday with people who are passionate about the environment. And save sea turtles!
Sarah
Magical Madeira
Sunrise at Pico do Areeiro. Clouds cover part of the island of Madeira. Photo: Jason Wells/Alamy
In February, my girlfriend and I spent a week hiking through the stunning landscapes of Madeira. The best views were from the path between Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo, the highest points on the island. The apartment we rented was in Camara de Lobos, which had beautiful views and several seaside restaurants, the best of which was Vila do Peixe, where we ate fresh fish and watched the chefs cook it.
Haldane
Winning Tip: Cycling, beer and bird songs in Andalusia
Sierra de Aracena, Huelva, Andalusia, Spain. Photo: Santiago Urquijo/Getty Images
The four of us (Mom, Dad and kids) went off-road biking through the cattle and cork country of the Sierra de Aracena in western Andalusia. Herds of longhorn cattle grazed among the wildflowers and watched over us from the shade of cork oaks. Our e-mountain bikes easily navigated river crossings and climbed cattle tracks. Eagles soared lazily above our picnic spot beside a small, turtle-filled lake. We listened to the birds, drank cold beer and ate fresh tortillas before returning to the farm for a swim in the pool and dinner. It was a great day for biking. We were tired and a little sunburned, but we were all very happy.
Nick
