England is home to some stunning nature treks while Germany boasts a number of dense woodlands. Norway is famous for its fjords, many of which have trekking routes and nature trails running alongside them. Trekking is a great way to see the natural beauty of every country and is something which can be enjoyed by the whole family.
With the opening up of Eastern Europe, many people are heading there to take advantage of the untamed nature and numerous treks. Hungary is famous for its trekking paths, while other places of interest for trekkers include Slovenia, Bosnia, Slovakia and Poland.
Pennines, England: The Penninnes is a small mountain range, but very popular with ramblers. The hills stretch from the Peak District in Derbyshire, through the Yorkshire Dales and end at the Scottish border. The North Pennines have been actually been named as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Grand Italian Trail, Italy: This trek begins in Trieste and crosses the Alpine Arc, the Apennine mountain chain, Sicily and ends in Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia. The long trail merges a number of smaller trails such as the Grand Alpine Trail, the Ligurian Mountain Trail and the Tuscan Grand Apennine Trail.
Countrywide Blue Tour, Hungary : This is another long trail which is perfect for experienced trekkers. The route begins on top of the Irottkő Mountain which is on the Austrian-Hungarian border and runs through Hungary for 1128kms, ending in the village of Hollóháza close to the Hungarian-Slovakian border. You do not need to do the entire trek, but you should visit the highlights as you will see pass of Hungary’s best sights such as forts, castles, ancient villages and volcanoes.
Eagle Nests Trail, Poland: This trail runs through south western Poland and offers trekkers the chance to view medieval castles and stunning scenery. There is the chance to trek through lush forests in Częstochowa before arriving in Kraków.
Lade Trail, Norway: This is a small trek, just 14kms long and takes visitors along the Lade Peninsula which is home to some beautiful fjords. In this part of Norway, there are also rocky beaches which offer excellent trekking as well as the chance to have a dip in the water and cool down.
Black Forest, Germany : This part of Germany is ideal for those who like trekking. There are different trails throughout the forest which lead to small villages where it is possible to find accommodation.
Pieterpad, Netherlands : This is a popular rambling route with numerous trails leading from Pieterburen, in the northern part of Groningen along the eastern part of the Netherlands. Most trails end atop Mount Saint Peter in St Pietersberg.
Swiss National Park, Switzerland : This park was built in 1914 and was one of the first national parks in Europe. It still remains the only one in Switzerland so is a nature lover’s paradise. There is a wide array of flora and fauna including elk, chamois, golden eagles and bearded vultures.
Pyrenees National Park, France and Spain : This park located on the border of France and Spain boasts an impressive mountainous landscape and a wide variety of outdoor activities. The park has no barriers or fences, allowing the 70 different species of animal to wander completely free and making for a very impressive trek.
Bavarian Forest, Germany and the Czech Republic: This forest is actually a low mountain range in Germany located on the border with the Czech Republic. There are many sights to see while trekking here and part of the forest is actually a national park where you will be able to see a number of different species of wildlife and a great variety of flora.