“The mountains are calling, and I must go”

So said the great man of the mountains, John Muir, and it’s a sentiment that resonates with many a walker. The soaring peaks and clear air, meadows bursting with wild flowers, and the gentle music of cow bells are salve to the soul. There’s really nothing quite like reaching a magnificent view and stopping to drink in the majesty of the mountains.

Does that sound appealing? Then do take a look at our Alpine routes for your next walking holiday. From France to Slovenia we have itineraries that will suit hikers looking for everything from modest mountain walking to something a bit more challenging. None of them require serious mountaineering experience, but all will reward with heart-stopping views and a huge sense of achievement.

Visit the Dolomites in northern Italy for towering rocky peaks and tree-clad valleys. You’ll journey from the Germanic influences of the South Tyrol to Italian Cortina, stopping at a jolly mountain refuge on the way. It’s a short summer season, so do plan ahead!

Still in Italy, a gentler route on the fringes of the Alps will take you from Lake Maggiore with its lovely island villas and gardens, to the top of Mottarone – quiet in the months when the winter sports facilities are deserted. Descend to little Lake Orta, with cultural and spiritual sites to visit and plenty of restorative Piedmontese food and wine to sample.

At the southwestern tip of the Alpine range, the Alpes Maritimes descend through France to the coast at Menton. Here the medieval villages perchés are the highlights, with mazes of tiny, winding streets and cosy cafes. On reaching hilltop Ste Agnes, the view of the Mediterranean suddenly opens gloriously before you.

At the opposite eastern end of their massif, the Alps tip into Slovenia, where our Slovenian Highlands route will take you into the lower reaches of Triglav, the national peak. It’s a land of steep valleys, tumbling waterfalls, and crystal clear lakes, complemented by hearty cooking and some great Slovenian wines and beers. Finish your holiday in style with a visit to picturesque Lake Bled.

These words from Edward Allhusen, following an adventure through the hills of Southern Tuscany, were just too good to keep to ourselves:

“A very, very well planned wander through the vine clad, rolling hills and ancient, fortified hill top towns of Tuscany where steep narrow alleys often resort to time worn steps and corners that had not anticipated the arrival of motor cars 500 years later. We quite expected to meet a fourteenth century merchant clad in dark robes with fur collar hurrying to deliver an order for marble required by Michelangelo or more wine for yet another Medici banquet. Surely Dante rested beneath this gnarled oak, quill in hand, as he pondered on his next work of genius.

“Many of the excellent choice of hotels and hostelries that On Foot holidays had researched on our behalf seemed unperturbed by the triviality of modern times, confident that their ancient walls would out-see the present era. Their comfort and local fare perfectly enhanced the surroundings giving plentiful succour to tired limbs.

“For those not wishing to think too much, or indeed at all, about admin matters when on holiday, preferring to enjoy the ancient landscape and ponder on the thought that Sandro Botticelli once walked this route as he headed to Florence to receive his next commission, or maybe Caravaggio fled along the woodland track pursued by those more interested in his violent deeds than his mastery of chiaroscuro?

“Help is at hand! Stepping away from the mists of bygone ages we were hugely impressed by the technology provided by On Foot. Having done many of these holidays we know that the paperwork can often detract. Once we had reams of maps and instructions held in ungainly wallets that required constant reference to remember where we are, had we yet passed the cross roads at point 26.3? Constant debate with fellow travellers about whether that is the village we need or is it another. No longer! Now all is held within the ubiquitous phone. A polite ‘ping’ alerts us to pay attention for a moment. An amusingly reproacful ‘pong’ if we dared to wander 50 yards from the route. And much else besides. Snippets of history, geography, local customs, recommendations for aperitifs and dinner. All in the palm of your hand delivered from above. Galileo, master of celestial movement, would have loved it. I am sure he smiled when we stood beside his tomb.”

Photo by Tony Ward 

One of the joys of a self-guided walking holiday is that you’ll be walking with your specially selected group of family and friends. No strangers and no guides – just plenty of time to hike with your companions at your own pace and immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes, culture and cuisine.

On some of the more popular routes you may meet other On Foot walkers on a similar itinerary, and we hope you’ll strike up some new friendships, though we’ll never assume that you want to walk or eat together.

As many of the hotels and B&Bs we use are small family-run establishments, and often the only option in a village, the size of group we can accommodate is often dictated by the capacity of the smallest hotel on the route. See the ‘Prices’ tab on the route pages of our website for the maximum party size for each route.

If you’re planning to walk with a larger group, do please book early to increase your options, and be prepared to share rooms. And remember there is usually a discount for groups of three or more – so long as the walkers are all on one booking, booked at the same time on an identical itinerary.

Solo walkers are, of course, very welcome on most of our routes – we’re happy to give advice on walking alone or search all our holidays here. And if you’re a couple looking for something a bit more romantic to celebrate an anniversary or even somewhere to spend your honeymoon, we can suggest some special places.

Whatever the size of your holiday party, we’ll do our best to find the perfect route to suit everyone – leaving you to just enjoy the hike and make magical memories.