A great place to finish your walk

When designing the On Foot Holidays routes, we always try to bring you to a destination that is really worth the effort – usually a delightful town or small city. They’re places to stop for a while and celebrate your achievements, maybe spending an extra night or two to explore what these lovely places have to offer.

The romantic fishing port of Camogli (Ligurian Hills) was described by Charles Dickens as “the saltiest, most piratical town” on the Mediterranean. Now more welcoming of visitors, it’s a place to relax by the sea and visit the maritime museum or the nearby villages of Portofino and San Fruttuoso.

Situated at the mouth of the River Dart, the historic seaside town of Dartmouth (Devon) is a favourite with sailors, but has plenty of other things to do. Take a steam train ride, visit the ancient castle, discover the town’s naval history, or just stroll the cobbled streets and pop into the many enticing shops and galleries.

With over twenty bookshops, it’s no surprise that Hay-on-Wye (Welsh Borders) is called the ‘town of books’. It’s also home to an internationally renowned literary festival. Maybe ask Sarah, our local contact, about taking a guided walk, or simply kick your boots off, grab a book and relax.

Our Alpes Maritimes route reaches the sea at pretty Menton, the ‘Pearl of the French Riviera’ – a town of old-fashioned charm. There are many beautiful gardens to visit, and do save some time to enjoy a wander through the shady streets while admiring the pastel-coloured buildings.

Your Andalucia itinerary allows an extra day to explore the clifftop town of Ronda, with its incredible views and many historic buildings that are a blend of Moorish and Spanish influences. Walk across the extraordinary bridge, nearly 100m above the gorge, and watch the birds soaring around the cliffs.

The final day of the Classic Slovenia walk brings you into Italy and the city of Trieste – a beautiful multicultural port with stunning buildings, hospitable locals, and fascinating museums. And if you want more of Slovenia, you can take a ferry to medieval Piran on Slovenia’s tiny 47km coastline.

This lovely route in the quiet hills of Provence is available again, having had a break while we made improvements. Our Local Contact, Emily, has been working hard to seek out the best hotels, with some long-standing favourites remaining too. And we’ve updated and refreshed the walking, adding a new circuit. So if it’s been on your wish list before, now may be the time to give it a try!

This area, to the east of Avignon, is full of extraordinary geological features.  At the centre lies ‘le Mont Ventoux’ (the windy mountain), well known to cyclists and spectators of the Tour de France. While the view of its lonely summit is often on the horizon, our walks wind through its greener foothills.

The medieval cliff-top village of Venasque makes a great starting point, with views to the peaks of the ‘Dentelles de Montmirail’ (lace points) where you will walk later in the week.  From Venasque you’ll walk to Mazan, tiny Le Barroux, and finally to a top restaurant with comfortable rooms just outside of Vacqueyras for two nights, your base for an exploration of the Dentelles.

And of course as this is France, the food and wine are most definitely not of secondary importance.  As well as excellent restaurants along the way, a couple of the hotels boast excellent kitchens. There are plenty of opportunities for wine lovers to try not only the well-known regional wines but also Vacqueyras whites and a variety of ‘marcs’ – straight from the vineyards you pass on the way.

If you’ve got time, we recommend you add a night or two in historic Avignon to see the Palais des Papes, the bridge and also the fascinating side streets and museums. A great way to round off your adventure.

Find more about our Northern Provence route here

Whether you are a dedicated walker or an armchair wanderer, travel books are a wonderful way to transport yourself to a different landscape. As passionate walkers and readers, the On Foot Team recommends these great reads…

“Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere” by Jan Morris – read by Debbie

An easy and absorbing read with the remarkable description of a city that has fallen from grace. From being one of the principal Mediterranean ports, its glorious history is reduced to that of a small city, almost forgotten in northeastern Italy. Yet it has an extraordinary atmosphere that is so well evoked by the wonderful Jan Morris – whose prose beautifully describes the character of this once great city.

“Lonely Planet’s Guide to Train Travel in Europe” – read by Heather 

This is a glossy book to dip in and out of, which will inspire glorious journeys and fun stopovers for your travels round Europe by train. Via the device of half a dozen long distance journeys on high-speed routes, it covers many of Europe’s most scenic lines, with plenty of enchanting places to stop on the way. Useful for general advice and route planning, rather than forensic detail.

“As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning” by Laurie Lee – read by Viiktoria 

This is a classic travel memoir that describes the physical and emotional journey of a young man setting out in life. Laurie left his quiet Gloucestershire village to walk across Spain, only to find himself caught up in the escalating civil war in Andalucia. Lee writes a frank but poetic portrayal of his experiences and the people that he gets to know along the way.

“Neither Here Nor There” by Bill Bryson – read by Tina 

Bryson takes you on his journey through Europe as a student, sharing his highs and lows. He has created a light-hearted, funny summary of his travel experiences, and reminds me that exploring new cultures isn’t always as easy and glamorous as we might wish.

“A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemmingway – read by Harriet 

A Farewell to Arms is an unflinching historical romance that follows the events of the Italian campaign of WWI. The author’s minimalist writing style heightens the sense of suspense and danger during the lovers’ daring escape across Lake Maggiore and into Switzerland. The narrative features many places included in or near our Lake Maggiore walking holiday, so you can step back into the local history and see through Hemingway’s perspective. A passionate and refreshing read.

Hemingway’s most iconic novel – a dramatic portrayal of love and war. Loosely biographical.

And if you liked those, here are more suggestions for books to fire the imagination of a keen traveller:

Mythos by Stephen Fry – a vivid retelling of the myths of the Greek gods and goddesses. Ideal preparation for your own Greek odyssey!

The Red Room by Mark Dawson – a murder mystery starring private investigator Atticus Priest, set in On Foot’s home town of Salisbury.

Europe, An Intimate Journey by Jan Morris – a portrait of a continent forged over decades of journeying.

Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – an exciting account of this aviator’s flying adventures, from the Pyrenees to the Andes.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières – a modern classic, blending a tender love story on the Greek island of Cephallonia with the harsh realities of World War II.

The Writer’s Map edited by Huw Lewis-Jones – this is a beautifully illustrated “atlas of imaginary lands” for map lovers, which will take you to Narnia, Middle-Earth and Moominvalley, as well as the semi-fantastical charts of early explorers.