Our suggested route pairings – ideal if you’re planning a long trip

Do you have enough free time for a long trip to Europe, and want to make the most of the hiking opportunities while you’re here? We suggest combining two On Foot Holidays routes in one trip. Especially for those travelling to Europe from further afield, this will save on the air fares that would be needed for separate journeys, and you’ll reduce your carbon emissions by making one trip rather than two.

To help you choose your ideal combination, we’ve come up with a list of suggested pairings for our holidays, based largely on easy train transfers between routes. Many rail networks are working hard at the moment to improve their services by adding high-speed routes and night trains, as well as making ticketing simpler across borders – all adding up to stress free travel around Europe.

Of course there are many more possible pairings than those we have suggested below, depending on how much time you have available and the kind of walking and route grading you prefer, so do contact us to talk through the options. There is also a wealth of information and advice online – go to our FAQs page for recommended sites for researching travel connections and booking tickets.

Below are our suggested route pairings, with routes, estimated journey times and some suggested stopovers (details may change seasonally or at weekends, holidays etc, and may be different for shorter versions of routes).

Alpes Maritimes

Alpes Maritimes / Ligurian Hills: 4 hrs by train from Menton to Voghera (change Ventimiglia).
Ligurian Hills / Alpes Maritimes: 6 hrs by train from Camogli to La Brigue (change Genoa and Ventimiglia).

Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast / Southern Tuscany: 1¼ hr by Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples, then 5 hrs by train to Siena (change Florence).
Southern Tuscany / Amalfi Coast: local taxi (30 min) from Montepulciano to Chiusi station, then 5 hrs by train to Salerno (change Rome), followed by short walk to port and ferry (35 mins) to Amalfi.

Amalfi Coast / Umbria: 1¼ hrs by Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples, then 3 hrs by train to Spoleto (change Rome).
Umbria / Amalfi Coast: local taxi (30 mins) from final hotel to Fara Sabina or Poggio Mirteto, then 3½ hrs by train to Salerno (change Rome, Naples), followed by short walk to port and ferry (35 mins) to Amalfi.

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Andalucia

Andalucia / Catalonia – El Priorat: 6 hrs by train from Ronda to Camp de Tarragona (change Antequera and Madrid), then taxi to Poblet (pre-booked). Recommended overnight stop: Cordoba or Madrid.
Catalonia – El Priorat / Andalucia: taxi (pre-booked) from Falset to Camp de Tarragona, then 8 hrs by train to Ronda (change Madrid and Antequera), and taxi to Zahara (pre-booked).

Basque Pyrenees to San Sebastian

Basque Pyrenees / Catalonia – El Priorat: 6½ hrs by train from San Sebastian to Espluga de Francoli (change Lleida), then short taxi transfer (pre-booked) to Poblet.
Catalonia – El Priorat / Basque Pyrenees: Short taxi to Falset station (pre-booked), then 6 hrs by train to Pamplona (change Barcelona), taxi to Ziga or Elizondo (pre-booked).  Recommended overnight stop: Barcelona.

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Camino Primitivo

Camino Primitivo / Galicia – Lighthouse Way: If you have the stamina, the Camino Primitivo route can be followed by all or part of the Lighthouse Way, with a taxi transfer from Santiago de Compostela to your preferred start point.

Camino Primitivo / Ribeira Sacra: Likewise, our route in southern Galicia – 40 mins by train from Santiago de Compostela to Ourense and taxi (included) to your first hotel.

Catalonia – El Priorat

Catalonia – El Priorat / Basque Pyrenees: Short taxi to Falset station (pre-booked), then 6 hrs by train to Pamplona (change Barcelona), taxi to Ziga or Elizondo (pre-booked).  Recommended overnight stop: Barcelona.
Basque Pyrenees / Catalonia – El Priorat: 6½ hrs by train from San Sebastian to Espluga de Francoli (change Lleida), then short taxi transfer (pre-booked) to Poblet.

Catalonia – El Priorat / Andalucia: taxi (pre-booked) from Falset to Camp de Tarragona, then 8 hrs by train to Ronda (change Madrid and Antequera), and taxi to Zahara (pre-booked).
Andalucia / Catalonia – El Priorat: 6 hrs by train from Ronda to Camp de Tarragona (change Antequera and Madrid), then taxi to Poblet (pre-booked). Recommended overnight stop: Cordoba or Madrid.

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Classic Slovenia

Classic Slovenia / Slovenian Highlands: Short walk from hotel to Trieste Station, then 4½ hrs by train to Jesenice (change Sezana), 30 mins by bus or taxi to Kranjska Gora.
Slovenian Highlands / Classic Slovenia: Short taxi ride to Lesce-Bled Station, then 1 hr by train to Ljubljana, short walk or taxi to hotel.

Classic Slovenia / Southern Tuscany: 6½ hrs by train from Trieste to Siena (change Venice Mestre and Florence). Recommended overnight stop: Venice or Florence.

Classic Slovenia / Lake Maggiore: 7 hrs by train from Trieste to Stresa (change Venice Mestre and Milan), then short ferry journey to Isola dei Pescatori. Recommended overnight stop: Venice, Verona or Milan.

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Dolomites

Dolomites / Lake Maggiore: 7 hrs – bus to Venice Mestre, then train to Stresa (change Milan).  Recommended overnight stop: Venice, Padua, Verona or Milan.
Lake Maggiore / Dolomites: 9 hrs – taxi (pre-booked) to Novara, then train to San Candido (change Milan, Verona and Fortezza). Recommended overnight stops: Milan or Verona.

England and Wales: Welsh Borders

Welsh Borders / Dorset: 1 hr by bus or taxi to Hereford, then 4 hrs by train to Salisbury (change Newport and Bristol).

Welsh Borders / Devon: 1 hr by bus or taxi to Hereford, then 3½ hrs by train to Exeter (change Newport and Bristol).
Devon / Welsh Borders: 1 hr by bus to Totnes, then 4½ hrs by train to Craven Arms (change Bristol and Newport), 30 mins taxi (pre-booked).

Welsh Borders / Peak District: 1 hr by bus or taxi to Hereford, then 5 hrs by train to Matlock (change Birmingham and Derby) or 4 hrs by train to Hathersage (change Manchester).
Peak District / Welsh Borders: 3½ hrs by train from Edale to Craven Arms (change Manchester), then taxi to Bishops Castle (pre-booked).

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England: Coastal Exmoor

Coastal Exmoor / Devon: 1 hr bus to Taunton, then 30 mins train to Exeter St Davids.

Dorset / Coastal Exmoor: Short bus or taxi to Axminster, then 2½ hrs by train to Barnstaple (change Exeter St Davids).

Coastal Exmoor / Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit): 1 hr bus to Taunton, then 4 hrs train to St Ives (change St Erth).
Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit)/ Coastal Exmoor: 4½ hrs by train from St Ives to Barnstaple (change St Erth and Exeter St Davids).

Coastal Exmoor / Welsh Borders: 1 hr bus to Taunton, then 3½ hrs train to Craven Arms (change Bristol/Newport) and 30 mins taxi (pre-booked).

England: Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit)

Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit) / Devon: 3 hrs by train from St Ives to Exeter (change St Erth).
Devon / Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit): 1 hr bus to Totnes, then 3 hrs by train to St Ives (change St Erth).

Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit) / Coastal Exmoor: 4½ hrs by train from St Ives to Barnstaple (change St Erth and Exeter St David’s).
Coastal Exmoor / Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit): 1 hr by bus to Taunton, then 4 hrs by train to St Ives (change St Erth).

Dorset / Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit): Short bus or taxi to Axminster, then 4½ hrs by train from Axminster to St Ives (change Exeter St David’s and St Erth).

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England: Devon

Devon / Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit): 1 hr by bus to Totnes, then 3 hrs by train to St Ives (change St Erth).
Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit) / Devon: 3 hrs by train from St Ives to Exeter St David’s(change St Erth).

Coastal Exmoor / Devon: 1 hr by bus to Taunton, then 30 mins train to Exeter St David’s.

Devon / Welsh Borders: 1 hr by bus to Totnes, then 4½ hrs by train to Craven Arms (change Bristol and Newport), 30 mins taxi (pre-booked).
Welsh Borders / Devon: 1 hr by bus or taxi to Hereford, then 3½ hrs by train to Exeter (change Newport and Bristol).

Dorset / Devon: Short bus or taxi to Axminster, then 40 mins by train to Exeter St David’s.

England: Dorset

Dorset / Devon: short bus or taxi to Axminster, then 40 mins by train to Exeter St David’s.

Dorset / Coastal Exmoor: short bus or taxi to Axminster, then 2½ hrs by train to Barnstaple (change Exeter St Davids).

Dorset / Cornwall (Land’s End Circuit): short bus or taxi to Axminster, then 4½ hrs by train from Axminster to St Ives (change Exeter St David’s and St Erth).

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England: Peak District

Peak District / Yorkshire Dales: 2½ hrs by train from Edale to Harrogate (change Sheffield and Leeds), then 30 mins bus or taxi to Ripon.
Yorkshire Dales / Peak District: Short local taxi to Settle, then 3½ hrs by train from Settle to Matlock or Hathersage (change Leeds and Sheffield or Derby).

Peak District / Welsh Borders: 3½ hrs by train from Edale to Craven Arms (change Manchester), then taxi (pre-booked) to Bishop’s Castle.
Welsh Borders / Peak District: 1 hr by bus or taxi to Hereford, then 5 hrs by train to Matlock (change Birmingham and Derby) or 4 hrs to Hathersage (change Manchester).

England: Yorkshire Dales

Yorkshire Dales / Peak District: Short local taxi to Settle, then 3½ hrs by train from Settle to Matlock or Hathersage (change Leeds and Sheffield or Derby).
Peak District / Yorkshire Dales: 2½ hrs by train from Edale to Harrogate (change Sheffield and Leeds), then 30 mins bus or taxi to Ripon.

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Galicia – Lighthouse Way

Galicia – Lighthouse Way / Northern Portugal: 2-3 hr bus from Fisterra to Santiago, then 3 hr direct bus from Santiago to Braga, then 1 hr taxi to first hotel.
Northern Portugal / Galicia – Lighthouse Way: short taxi from Pousada to Braga, then 3 hr direct bus to Santiago, then included taxi to first hotel.

Galicia – Lighthouse Way / Ribeira Sacra: taxi (included) to Santiago de Compostela, then 40 mins by train to Ourense and taxi (included) to first hotel.
Riberia Sacra / Galicia – Lighthouse Way: 40 mins by train from Ourense to Santiago de Compostela, then taxi onwards (included) to your chosen start point.

Camino Primitivo / Galicia – Lighthouse Way: If you have the stamina, the Camino Primitivo route can be followed by all or part of the Lighthouse Way, with a bus or taxi transfer from Santiago de Compostela to your preferred start point.

Greece: The Cycladic Islands of Naxos and Amorgos

Naxos and Amorgos / Andros: taxi from your Amorgos hotel to port (included), various ferry options via Naxos or Mykonos (may require overnight stop), and 1 hr by taxi (included) to your Andros hotel.
Andros / Naxos and Amorgos: 1 hr by taxi from your Andros hotel to port (included), 2¼ hrs by ferry direct to Naxos (or up to 4 hrs if changing at Mykonos), short walk or taxi to your Naxos hotel.

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Greece: The island of Andros

Andros / Naxos and Amorgos: 1 hr by taxi from your Andros hotel to port (included), 2¼ hrs by ferry direct to Naxos (or up to 4½ hrs if changing at Mykonos), short walk or taxi to your Naxos hotel.
Naxos and Amorgos / Andros: taxi from your Amorgos hotel to port (included), various ferry options via Naxos or Mykonos (may require overnight stop), and 1 hr by taxi (included) to your Andros hotel.

Lake Maggiore

Lake Maggiore / Dolomites: 9 hrs – taxi (pre-booked) to Novara, then train to San Candido (change Milan, Verona and Fortezza).  Recommended overnight stop: Milan or Verona.
Dolomites / Lake Maggiore: 7 hrs – bus to Venice Mestre, then train to Stresa (change Milan).  Recommended overnight stop: Venice, Padua, Verona or Milan.

Lake Maggiore / Ligurian Hills: Short taxi to Orta-Miasino, then 3½ hrs by train to Voghera (change Novara and Milan), then 25 minute taxi to Montalto Pavese.
Ligurian Hills / Lake Maggiore: 4½ hrs by train from Camogli to Stresa (change Genoa and Milan), then short ferry journey to Isola dei Pescatori.

Lake Maggiore / Southern Tuscany: Short taxi to Orta-Miasino, then 6 hrs by train to Siena (change Novara, Milan, Florence).  Recommended overnight stop: Florence.
Southern Tuscany / Lake Maggiore: local taxi (30 mins) from Montepulciano to Chiusi, then 6½ hrs by train to Stresa, followed by short ferry journey to Isola dei Pescatori.  Recommended overnight stop: Milan.

Classic Slovenia / Lake Maggiore: 7 hrs by train from Trieste to Stresa (change Venice Mestre and Milan), then short ferry journey to Isola dei Pescatori. Recommended overnight stop: Venice, Verona or Milan.

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Ligurian Hills

Ligurian Hills / Lake Maggiore: 4½ hrs by train from Camogli to Stresa (change Genoa and Milan), then short ferry journey to Isola dei Pescatori.
Lake Maggiore / Ligurian Hills: Short taxi to Orta-Miasino, then 3½ hrs by train to Voghera (change Novara and Milan), then 25 minute taxi to Montalto Pavese.

Ligurian Hills / Southern Tuscany: 4½ hrs by train from Camogli to Siena (change Rapallo, Pisa and Empoli).
Southern Tuscany / Ligurian Hills: local (30 mins) taxi from Montepulciano to Chiusi, then 6 hrs by train to Voghera (change Florence and Milan), then taxi (25 mins) to Montalto Pavese.

Ligurian Hills / Alpes Maritimes: 6 hrs by train from Camogli to La Brigue (change Genoa and Ventimiglia).
Alpes Maritimes / Ligurian Hills: 4 hrs by train from Menton to Voghera (change Ventimiglia).

Northern Portugal

Northern Portugal / Lighthouse Way: short taxi from Pousada to Braga, then 3 hr direct bus to Santiago, then included taxi to first hotel.
Lighthouse Way / Northern Portugal: 2-3 hr bus from Fisterra to Santiago, then 3 hr direct bus from Santiago to Braga, then 1 hr taxi to first hotel.

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Ribeira Sacra

Ribeira Sacra / Galicia – Lighthouse Way: 40 mins by train from Ourense to Santiago de Compostela, then taxi onwards (included) to your chosen start point.
Galicia – Lighthouse Way / Ribeira Sacra: taxi (included) to Santiago de Compostela, then 40 mins by train to Ourense and taxi (included) to first hotel.

Camino Primitivo / Ribeira Sacra: If you have the stamina, the Camino Primitivo route can be followed by our Ribeira Sacra route – 40 mins by train from Santiago de Compostela to Ourense and taxi (included) to your first hotel.

Slovenian Highlands

Slovenian Highlands / Classic Slovenia: Short taxi ride to Lesce-Bled Station, then 1 hr by train to Ljubljana, short walk or taxi to hotel.
Classic Slovenia / Slovenian Highlands: Short walk from hotel to Trieste Station, then 4½ hrs by train to Jesenice (change Sezana), 30 mins by bus or taxi to Kranjska Gora.

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Southern Tuscany

Southern Tuscany / Ligurian Hills: local (30 mins) taxi from Montepulciano to Chiusi, then 6 hrs by train to Voghera (change Florence and Milan), then taxi (25 mins) to Montalto Pavese.
Ligurian Hills / Southern Tuscany: 4½ hrs by train from Camogli to Siena (change Rapallo, Pisa and Empoli).

Southern Tuscany / Amalfi Coast: local taxi (30 mins) from Montepulciano to Chiusi station, then 5 hrs by train to Salerno (change Rome), followed by short walk to port and ferry (35 mins) to Amalfi.
Amalfi Coast / Southern Tuscany: 1¼ hrs by Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples, then 5 hrs by train to Siena (change Florence).

Southern Tuscany / Lake Maggiore: local taxi (30 mins) from Montepulciano to Chiusi, then 6½ hrs by train to Stresa, followed by short ferry journey to Isola dei Pescatori.  Recommended overnight stop: Milan.
Lake Maggiore / Southern Tuscany: Short taxi to Orta-Miasino, then 6 hrs by train to Siena (change Novara, Milan, Florence).  Recommended overnight stop: Florence.

Classic Slovenia / Southern Tuscany: 6½ hrs by train from Trieste to Siena (change Venice Mestre and Florence). Recommended overnight stop: Venice or Florence.

Southern Tuscany / Umbria: local taxi (30 mins) from Montepulciano to Chiusi, then 2-2½ hrs by train to Spoleto (change Orte), short local taxi to hotel.

Umbria

Umbria / Amalfi Coast: local taxi (30 mins) from final hotel to Fara Sabina or Poggio Mirteto, then 3½ hrs by train to Salerno (change Rome, Naples), followed by short walk to port and ferry (35 mins) to Amalfi.
Amalfi Coast / Umbria: 1¼ hrs by Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples, then 3 hrs by train to Spoleto (change Rome).

Southern Tuscany / Umbria: local taxi (30 mins) from Montepulciano to Chiusi, then 2-2½ hrs by train to Spoleto (change Orte), short local taxi to hotel.

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Need more advice or ideas?

Call us on +44 (0)1722 322 652, contact us by email at walks@onfootholidays.co.uk, or use the contact form on our website.

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