Here are some of the best places to go walking in the UK, covering everything from architecture to waterfalls and everything in between.

Pen-y-Fan, South Wales, UK / Photo by Ben Gallivan

The Brecon Beacons

Situated in the lower half of Wales, this range of mountains is part of the larger National Park of the same name. They are situated just to the south of the town of Brecon and are hugely popular with walkers. The six peaks range from 2000-3000ft and are easily accessible for less experienced walkers. Paths are also available for those who are looking for more of a challenge. One of the best walks is the ‘Beacons Horseshoe’ which takes in 3 of the peaks and provides some of the most spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Further to the east in the National Park is another great walk at Ystradfellte where you can take in many majestic waterfalls; there are plenty of paths available for those wanting to take a leisurely amble around all of the waterfalls.

London

Many people don’t consider London to be the best place to head out for a walk; too much pollution, too many cars and overcrowded? Well you’d be surprised. London is a great place to set out for the day and see the many sights by foot rather than travelling by the underground. First of all, there is the splendor of the many Royal Parks. Hyde Park and Regents Park are two of the largest and you can while away the hours admiring the greenery and lakes (along with the varied wildlife) and spare yourself from the noise of the traffic. Another place worth visiting is the town of Richmond. There is a charming walk besides the river that takes you to the locks at nearby Teddington, on towards Kingston and beyond.

Angle Tarn, Lake District National Park, UK / Photo by Ben Gallivan

The Lake District

The Lakes, as they are commonly known are situated in the North West of England and have become increasingly popular with walkers and now attracts up to 16 million visitors per year. Don’t let this put you off however; the area is vast and although you may not have the various routes and paths to yourself at any one time, there is a likelihood that you will find yourself with plenty of breathing space when you’re out on the trail. Most of the walks are hilly, as the roads take over the routes around the lakes themselves; there are many guide books on the area inspired by the works of Alfred Wainwright who discovered many of the routes in the mid-20th century.

Ben Gallivan is a keen walker based in Wales, UK. He has been hiking for many years and writes for Appalachian Outdoors who stock all the best walking gear as well as products from great brands such as Life Is Good clothing.

The post Best Walks In The UK – enjoy greenery, lakes and mountains appeared first on Best of European Union.

Dubrovnik, Croatia by hozinja

Traveling for Sports in Europe:

Sports trips are the best way to travel both in groups or traveling alone. Some sports are better attempted in groups while some can even be approached as a single traveler. Kayaking and mountain climbing for example are more of group sports while skiing, snowboarding or windsurfing can even be attempted while traveling alone. Some travelers might even say that traveling alone is the only way to travel.

Always remember that safety comes first:

While trips planned around sports activities are certainly entertaining they can also be quite dangerous. There are two things you need to remember: always buy the best equipment – never get stingy when it comes to safety and buy travel insurance. A good, comprehensive and affordable travel insurance policy is just around the “internet corner”. You simply need to look for sports activities travel insurance quotes and buy the policy online. In two minutes you’re good to go.

One quote seems to get it right all the time, and is especially relevant to sports trips: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. “So with that in mind, here are some of the best places to travel in Europe based on the sport you desire.

Sea Kayaking – Top 3 Destinations:

1. The West Coast of Scotland. The best places for sea kayaking in this area are around the isles of Jura and Islay. There are also sheltered sea lochs that can be very fun to discover while kayaking.

2. Norway. Some of the most impressive sights to be seen while kayaking are of course the Norwegian fjords. Norway also has a large number of smaller island with bright blue waters. Norway is the ideal destination for those that want to combine kayaking with climbing.

3. Croatia. When kayaking on the coast of Croatia you can expect to see many smaller less-populated islands, deserted beaches and steep cliffs sprinkled with pine forests. The historic city of Dubrovnik can also be visited while kayaking.

Sea Kayaking by Chewonki Semester School

Rock Climbing – Top 3 Destinations:

1. Belgium. Freyr Crag is one of the most visited destinations for rock climbing enthusiasts but there are also many more limestone crags that offer similar rewards.

2. Italy. The Dolomites are some of the most impressive walls for rock climbing. Some of these cliffs are as tall as 800 meters. Other rock climbing areas in Italy include: Arco and Finale Ligure on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

3. Romania. The Carpathian Mountains of Romania offer many excellent locations for rock climbing. Some of the most important are situated around Brasov, Cheile Bicazului (Bicazului Gorge) and the Bucegi Mountains.

Rock Climbing by Yannick Gingras

Windsurfing – Top 3 Destinations:

1. Fuerteventura. The long beaches of the Canary Islands provide some of the best waves for windsurfing. The north-east wind coupled with the waves from Atlantic Storms make the Fuartaventura waters some of the best for this sport.

2. Rhodes Island. With smooth waters in the morning and larger waves in the afternoon, the Rhodes Island shoreline is one of the best in Southern Europe for Windsurfing. The season for this sport starts in March and lasts until late November.

3. Sicily – Italy. The one hotspot that attracts many windsurfers to Sicily is Puzziteddu. This small place is located in the south-west side of the island and is best known for its smooth waves, perfect for sailing and windsurfing tricks.

Windsurfing by RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships

These are just some of the sports you can partake in. Obviously there are many more like river rafting or skydiving or even something simple as camping. Europe has many wonderful natural parks and special places designed around these activities.

As always, remember to travel safe and enjoy all your travels.

My name is Chris Smith and traveling is the most important thing to me, this is why i enjoy writing articles about travels and travel insurance.

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