Getting outside and being active with your family is a great idea for a holiday. If you live in Europe then there are a fantastic array of destinations to choose from, but Spain has to be one the best options – in my opinion!
What makes the country so ideal is the selection of luscious beaches, rolling countryside and mountainous terrain. Walking or cycling in Spain can make a fantastic holiday for all of the family.
The North East of Spain is full of many wonderful walking opportunities in the Catalan region. Dramatic cliff walks are the flavour here, the rugged coast line makes for some spectacular scenery.
Further inland there are many examples of the traditional Spanish way of life; these areas tend to be a lot less touristy, with medieval country houses, vineyards and olive groves.
For those who don’t want to stray too far from the coast the best bet is probably the Costa Brava – in the Catalan region. Holidaying in this area can offer a good balance between lazing on beaches and waking opportunities.
Andalucia in Southern Spain is also another fantastic destination to walk in, with some stunning scenery similar to that of the Catalan region. If it is cycling you are after then Mallorca probably the most suitable destination as it is slightly more flat – less hills to pedal up! If you end up going cycling around Mallorca, there is some especially stunning scenery in the South of the Island. The areas to the west tend to be slightly more touristy and some would even argue spoilt.
Walking in Andalucia will leave you spoilt for choice when you see the range of landscapes that you can walk in. The more mountainous areas offer a range of walks for all skill levels, making it a suitable destination for families with younger children. It can be hard to go wrong when choosing a path as the scenery is fantastic, consisting of ancient forests, hill terrain and dense wooded valleys.
Around the Libar Sierra area is full of great accommodation choices for families and individuals alike. Near the area is the very unique pueblos blancos. These are traditional, beautiful villages made up of whitewashed buildings.
Some other major attractions in the area are the Hundidero and Gato caves that are both near the small village of Montejaque. Some paintings that are housed in this village are thought to be up to 25,000 years old. For the more adventurous there are oppurtunities to go mountain biking, kayaking, canonying and orienteering. Moving away from the mountains in Andalucia, the terrain becomes much easier going as the mountains turn into rolling hills. Bird watching in this area is especially good.
Whether you end up going on an active holiday in Mallorca, Catalonia or Andalucía you will be sure to see some amazingly picturesque scenery.
Guest post written by Ben who works for Catalan Adventures – a travel company specialising in Walking Holidays in Europe. They also offer cycling, adventure and painting holidays in the Catalan region of Spain, Europe. Image by rsallo
Costa Brava is a wonderful area for hiking, whether it is down along the coast or in the more mountainous part of the region. The Tarragona region also has a nice coastline to explore, esp. just north of the city of Tarragona (Platja LLarga).