Great weekend getaways where you can explore the outdoors
Holidays are often the chance to escape, do something you love but never get enough time for, or perhaps to try something new. For some that means immersing themselves in gallery tours, for others it's sampling the local cuisine, but for many people their main requirement from their getaways is to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
With that in mind we’ve come up with ten great destinations where you can make the most of the outdoors, whether that means hiking in the French Alps or enjoying the local wine in Italy. Just don't forget your sun cream!
Italian Lakes
Italy’s lakes in the north of the country are a well known holiday hotspot and one of the reasons they are so popular is that there is so much to do here. Sailing, swimming and fishing are the most obvious pursuits but this is a fantastic region for cycling and hiking too. Lake Garda, close to Verona is best-known of Italy’s lakes but make your long weekend a more extended holiday by renting a car (or if you have the legs for it, cycling!) and head west, to Lake Iseo, Lake Como and finally Lake Maggiore to the north west of Milan. Along the way explore the forests and stop off in San Pellegrino Terme, where the famous sparkling water is sourced.
Fly to: Verona or Bergamo
Stay with: Giovanna in Lake Iseo
Annecy, France
Another lakeside stop-off, this time near the French border with Switzerland is the town of Annecy. Warm in summer, cold in winter, this town is a brilliant base to head into the Alps exploring and is significantly cheaper than staying across the border where the nearest Swiss town is Geneva. And while it’s a given that the hiking trails around here are second to none, what actually makes the outdoors so popular in Annecy is the town itself. Nicknamed the Venice of the Alps, the quaint medieval architecture and the River Thiou that run through the town make Annecy a great place to stroll through the streets as well as on the slopes nearby. And if it’s not hiking in the hills that lets you feel alive, you can try your hand at some of the more adventurous sports like paragliding or water skiing that are also popular in the region.
Fly to: Geneva, just over the border in Switzerland or Lyon.
Stay with: Catherine in Annecy
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Anyone who’s ever had an interest in hillwalking or hiking has heard of the Camino de Santiago, otherwise known as the Way of Saint James. The route is based on the medieval Christian Saint James’ pilgrimage to the city and the entire route is over 1000 kilometres long. Although there are many variations to this route, with pilgrims coming from France, Spain and Portugal, all roads lead to the finish line in the central square of Santiago de Compostela. The most popular route, the French Way, begins at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France along the north of Spain to Galicia. The scenery here is lush and tranquil and the atmosphere and hospitality from other walkers is an entirely unique experience. Santiago de Compostela is also a beautiful city in its own right and worth a weekend getaway even without the walking.
Fly to: Santiago de Compostela or to walk part of the camino, the best option is to fly to Madrid and take a train north to Sarria or Lugo which are around 120km from the finishing point.
Stay with: Silvia in Santiago de Compostela
Biarritz, France
The Atlantic west coast of France is a haven for holiday makers and a gem of a getaway spot: less popular than the coast around Nice, western France has a more rugged feel and travelling south from La Rochelle along the coast, you will find a host of famous French cuisine from the home of cognac, the Bordeaux wine region and onwards down to the seaside town of Biarritz. Surfing here is the order of the day, although there are of course plenty of brilliant coastal walks if you don’t quite feel like taking a dip in the sea. Biarritz itself has a bit of a glam feel with plenty of great restaurants as well as some casinos, so you can have the feel of the French Riviera without the crowds.
Fly to: Biarritz
Stay with: Serge in Biarritz
Lake District, UK
In the north of England, close to the Scottish border lies the national park known as The Lake District which is the ultimate English setting to get away from it all. The area has some fantastic walkways, fishing spots and mountains for you to climb with the region lying to the west of the long Pennines mountain range. Given the level of rainfall in the region, hiking is best done between late spring and autumn and in recent years the Lake District has worked to make the area a place that can be accessed by all: guided tours take place for those with limited vision or mobility, and certain trails have been designed to facilitate wheelchair and pushchair users.
Fly to: Carisle or Leeds
Stay with: Yvonne in Cleator Moor
Finland
Another country whose landscape is dominated by lakes is the Nordic nation of Finland. With over 150,000 lakes scattered across the country it is the ultimate destination for all things watersports from freshwater swimming, rowing, water skiing and fishing all easily accessible in the tranquil Finnish countryside. What is even more sacred in Finnish culture than the presence is water is the ritual of going to the sauna. Most people have been in an electric sauna, but a traditional wood-burning sauna in the Finnish countryside is an entirely different experience. The tradition of going to the sauna in Finland goes back centuries and is an essential part of social and family life. A vasta, or bunch of birch leaves is used to massage and stimulate the skin in the sauna and when they heat becomes too much for you, it’s customary to take a dip in those icy freshwater lakes, followed off by a beer and some barbecued sausages.
Fly to: Helsinki or Tampere
Stay with: Roya in Loviisa
Sardinia, Italy
Located in some particularly crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean, the Italian island of Sardinia is a stunning spot for anyone with an interest in snorkelling or marine life. The white sand and turquoise waters could be mistaken for the Caribbean but once you leave the beaches here the vibe is distinctly Italian and retains a local, traditional feel. Try out the beach at Cala Brandinchi, known for its particularly Caribbean-white sand, or the secluded Cala Luna, which can be accessed via a hiking trail from Cala Fuili. The Blue Marino Caves are not too far from here either and can be visited by boat.
Fly to: Alghero or Cagliari
Stay with: Alessandra in Castiadas
Cyprus
Most people think of Cyprus and a sun or beach holiday destination and while that certainly is the case, one of the great things the island has going for it is its array of fantastically preserved archaeological sites. Paphos, close to the port of Limassol, is the largest site on the island dating to ancient Greek times and is said to be the birthplace of the Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. Later Roman remains can also be found in the excavations and the area is a veritable pilgrimage site for any students of classics. In 2017, Paphos will share the status as European Capital of Culture (the other selected city being Aarhus) showing its continued cultural relevance in the modern day.
Fly to: Nicosia or Paphos
Stay with: Nicoletta in Limassol
Tuscany, Italy
There is no shortage of things to do in Tuscany, from visiting the famous galleries of Florence to the world’s most famous leaning tower, but if you want to enjoy more the countryside in this region than sampling the local produce may well be the way to go. A drive through the small towns of Tuscany and the countryside in between will invariably reveal olive groves and vineyards dotted along the landscape. If you see any signs for farms selling their own olive oil, or indeed any fresh produce, definitely stop off. I can almost guarantee that it will not disappoint. For wine-tasting, head to the Chianti and Montepulciano regions of Tuscany, away from the coast where you can find plenty of guided tasting tours of wineries as well as tour operators for those who don’t have access to a car. Chianti.com will tell you more.
Fly to: Florence or Pisa
Stay with: Elonora in Chianti
Rhine-cruising in Germany
Outdoor adventures in Germany generally connote long hiking trails by summer and downhill skiing slopes for winter. River cruises however are another great way to explore the outdoors in Germany and you could do a lot worse than sampling a Rhine cruise in the summer months through the countryside. Fly into Düsseldorf and make your way south down to the city of Cologne, take in the views from the city's famous Gothic cathedral before travelling further south to the town of Bonn. Day and night by boat isn’t for everyone however so luckily we have hosts along this famous riverway so you can enjoy your evenings on dry land.
Fly to: Cologne or Dusseldorf
Stay with: Niv in Cologne
Written by Mary Plunkett
Mary’s curious personality means that she is forever looking to explore new places and cultures. Like many Irish kids, Mary first got a taste for travel on family camping holidays to France.
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