Andy's EPIC Hikes in Europe
Some of my Favourite (and Best) Hikes in Europe
The benefits of hiking are well documented. It tones your muscles (with limited evidence on my body though), reduces body fat (see above), prevents heart and other diseases, and is excellent for your mental health. These days I am just about capable to get up and down a mid-sized mountain, which is why I consulted an expert for further advice. Enter Peter Welk; mountain goat extraordinaire. Peter is a retired banker and in a more adventurous capacity has been a tour leader at the German Alpine Association for the past 40 years or so. He has climbed and hiked across Asia and North America, but his preferred spots are in the Dolomites and in the Swiss Alps, and I have listed some of his favourite tours. You do not have to be a super fit athlete to tackle some of the hikes suggested in this post. Okay, crossing the Alps requires a certain degree of preparation and training, but I have also listed a number of gentle walks (England in 7 Walk, Isle of Skye, German Wine route) that ought to be manageable even for the novice (famous last words ...). And of course, if you prefer to combine your hikes with trips to the beach, you can always engage in some island hopping across the Canaries, whilst tackling some the archipelago's tallest peaks (including Spain's highest mountain Pico del Teide at 3,715 m).
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Peter Welk
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Itineraries for two easy to moderate day hikes around the area of the 'Three Peaks' (drei Zinnen).
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Often overlooked when it comes to serious high altitude hiking. But what a beautiful place. Here's our suggestion for a five-day long distance hike.
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7-day itinerary from Tegernsee in Germany to Sterzing/ Vitipeno in South Tyrol, Italy.
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Itineraries for seven day hikes through England's glorious countryside: Seven Sisters cliffs, Cheddar Gorge, Malvern Hills, Caer Caradog, Helvellyn, North York Moors and Mam Tor.
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Four day-hikes around the biggest glacier in the Alps.
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Three itineraries for short day hikes on this most magical of islands off the west coast of Scotland. Old Man of Storr, MacLeod's Maidens and the Quiraing Range.
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Wine, hearty cuisine, picturesque villages, nestled in the south-western corner of Germany right next door to France. Explore this hidden gem with a 5-stage itinerary.