Six of the best long-distance European trails to walk in summer From a less-crowded camino and the Slovenian Alps to a stunning river trail and Ireland’s remote Beara peninsula Distance up to 74 milesDuration 3-9 days Continue reading… Go to Source Author: Sarah Baxter

Trekking through a living mountain culture: Spain’s Picos de Europa A landscape of forbidding peaks west of Bilbao plays host to an improbable world full of wild flowers, animals and resilient cheesemakers Halfway across the first glacial depression, I leave the footpath to stand on a snow patch, disturbing a spider that runs off across the frozen […]

Chic and cheerful: 15 hotels for affordable European glamour From a waterfront palace in Greece to a nonna’s house in Italy, these stylish boutique hotels offer character and comfort at a budget-friendly price Continue reading… Go to Source Author: Fiona Kerr

On the road with the kids: a family driving holiday in Spain and France Can a long road trip work with children? I set out to relive a classic journey from Bilbao to Saint-Malo I did in my freewheeling 20s The moment came on about day four. A cloud-like mist was drenching our faces, hair and […]

A family holiday on the hoof: donkey trekking in the Spanish Pyrenees A week-long mountain trek with two young children felt like an ambitious undertaking – but they loved every minute It’s said the 19th-century Parisian flâneur, intent on not rushing past the beauties of the street, would take a tortoise on a lead to […]

Eight of the best secluded and affordable places to stay in Andalucía, Spain From B&Bs and cabins to fincas and family hotels, these rural boltholes make ideal bases for exploring the region’s mountains, trails and historic towns and villages For centuries, outsiders have been lured to the radiant hills and valleys of Andalucía, not least […]

‘It feels like an independent republic’: Madrid’s new arty barrio of Carabanchel This traditional neighbourhood ‘across the river’ is where the city’s creatives are heading as the centre heats up Madrid’s current boomtown dynamics are driving the city centre way upmarket, pushing the average punter to outer barrios in search of cheaper rent. As seen […]

My search for the perfect bodega in Madrid Good wine, cheap tapas, ramshackle decor and a sense of history are the key ingredients of these Madrileño institutions. I went on a bar crawl to find my favourite The first hurdle to overcome when searching for the Spanish capital’s top bodegas is the correct interpretation of […]

Time-travelling in Cantabria: from the stone age to Sartre via the ‘prettiest town in Spain’ On the north coast of Spain you can see some of the world’s oldest art, explore a stunning medieval village, then watch surfers ride Atlantic swells Exploring the area west of Santander feels like being in a time machine. Within […]

‘We are not like the rest of Andalucía’: the rugged charms of Almería, Spain’s desert city While Málaga battles overtourism down the coast, this ‘forgotten’ working port city revels in its outsider status Perched high on the battlements of Almería’s 10th-century Alcazaba, looking over the mosaic of flat roofs tumbling down to the sea, I’m […]