No skis required! Winter sports areas to visit out of season

The spotlight falls on northern Italy this year, as the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics arrive in Milan and the mountain resorts of the Dolomites. The slopes glisten with snow, and the villages buzz with news of sporting endeavours.

Of course the peaks look completely fabulous in their winter clothes, but they’re just as beautiful in their summer attire!  Do you fancy walking through pastures dotted with wildflowers and gentle cattle? How about a night in the cosy camaraderie of a mountain refuge, enjoying dumplings with goulash and swapping tales from the trails with fellow hikers? Here’s some inspiration for your alpine adventure.

Our summer route in the Dolomites could be just the thing – but don’t leave it too late to book, as it will be extra popular this year and the season is short. Hike from San Candido through mountain peaks and alpine meadows to Cortina, which hosts some Olympic events.

Kranjska Gora, at the start of our Slovenian Highlands route, is a popular winter sports venue, but switches to hosting walkers after the snow melts. Our walk is graded Medium, getting you into the heart of the mountains with modest effort!

The mountains of Arcadia in the central Peloponnese are popular for winter breaks, with snow-shoeing, skiing and snowmobiling on the menu. In the warmer months, our walkers on the Menalon Trail enjoy the same great views and stay in some lovely stone-built villages.

The Picos de Europa and Cantabrian hills of northern Spain are busy with sporting activity in winter, but On Foot hikers can use the cable car at Fuente Dé to get up into the peaks with no skis needed! Just relish the gentle walk down from the rocky slopes into a lush green valley.

Skirt round the slopes of Mt Tahtali on your way to the coast in Lycia – this is an unconventional winter sports area, with ‘wild’ skiing and a mountain-top bungee catapult for the brave!  We suggest you keep your feet on the ground…

And for a surprising link to the Olympics – the little town of Much Wenlock, just a few miles from the start of our Welsh Borders walk, was host to a forerunner of the modern Olympics. The first competition in 1850 included athletics and traditional country sports – and a race on penny-farthing bicycles!  Baron Pierre de Coubertin visited the games in 1890, and was inspired to create the International Olympic Committee and the Games as we know them now.

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In the quiet hills of Italy, the country’s patron saint is eternally present in the names of churches, monasteries and wayside chapels, and on the network of pilgrimage routes winding through the heart of Italy towards Rome.  As the 800th anniversary of his death approaches in 2026, we’re taking a look at St Francis of Assisi and his legacy, and where you can encounter him along our routes.

Born around 1181 into a prosperous family, the young Francis enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, but after a strange vision came to him, he devoted himself to a life of poverty and prayer. Preaching a message of brotherly love, peace and respect for the natural world in the mountains of Umbria and beyond, he attracted a following that led to the founding of the Franciscan Order in 1210. The Order grew throughout Italy and across Europe, alongside an order for women known as the Poor Clares, and a secular order that does not live monastically. He died in October 1226, and was declared a saint in 1228 when the building of the Basilica of St Francis was begun in Assisi. Today he is venerated around the world for his example of caring for the poor and needy, and as the patron saint of ecology, and is still very much present in the lives of present-day pilgrims.

Walk with St Francis in Umbria

Hikers taking On Foot’s route south from Spoleto in Umbria might like to visit Assisi before their walk, to see the Basilica and take in the atmosphere of the anniversary celebrations during 2026. You will also encounter the Via di Francesco pilgrimage trail occasionally. A highlight of your holiday is the little town of Greccio, with its hermitage clinging to a cliff face nearby. Inspired by his visit to the Holy Land, it was here that St Francis created the first nativity scene in 1223, in a rustic chapel hewn from the rock. An ox and ass attended the simple manger, and villagers processed with torches and candles. The scene is still recreated every Christmas.

Visit the Franciscan chapels of Sacro Monte

Set in woodland above Orta, final destination of our Lake Maggiore walking holiday, are the 20 small chapels of Sacro Monte di Orta, one of the most sacred places in Piedmont. Built between 1590 and 1788, with architectural styles reaching from Renaissance to Baroque and Rococo, each chapel contains the depiction of a scene in the life of St Francis, in frescoes or life-size statues.  As you leave the site, which is now a Special Nature Reserve, and walk down to the charming town of Orta, you’ll pass a striking modern statue of the saint in his customary pose with birds alighting on his hands.

Sacred spaces in Tuscany

As the Franciscan Order grew rapidly in the 13th century, many new churches were dedicated to the saint. Walkers in Southern Tuscany pass through the charming town of Pienza, where it’s worth taking a moment to visit the church of San Francesco in the town centre. This simple building is now surrounded by much grander facades, though its interior retains remnants of 14th century frescoes alongside contemporary pieces, and provides a peaceful sanctuary from the busy street.

See all On Foot Holidays routes in Italy

Yes, the European summer is fading, and the autumn hiking season is well under way, but now might be just the moment to look ahead to the cooler months.
Spain is the reliable option at this time of year. On Foot Holidays has a selection of routes here, where you’ll find gently warm temperatures, fabulous landscapes and quiet trails. And not a snow-mobile in sight!

Sunny Alicante might not be your first thought for a walking holiday, but do take a look at our route in the quiet hills beyond the coast. Marina Alta has charming villages, geological features that make for varied hiking, and a fine seaside town to complete your walk.  Available October to April, except Christmas and New Year.

Closer to Africa than Europe, La Gomera in the Canary Islands is best visited in winter, when the island welcomes more hikers than sunseekers. The fabulous volcanic landscape is a rewarding challenge, and the villages are delightfully undeveloped.  Available October to mid-May, except Christmas and New Year.

White villages (pueblos blancos) scatter the hills of the Grazalema National Park in Andalucia, surrounded by dramatic limestone landscapes that are a paradise for birdwatchers. Walk over the wild hillsides and lush river valleys to the Moorish cliff-top bastion of Ronda.  Available September to mid-December and February to May.

Another island – Mallorca – completes our winter quartet. After a couple of nights in the historic capital, Palma, head into the mountains of the northwest, well away from the coastal resorts, where you’ll find dramatic paths high above the coast, drifts of almond blossom in spring, and some lovely hotels.  Available September to mid-November, and mid-February to June.

See all our routes in Spain here

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