Valle Verzasca, hydroelectric dam, Switzerland by Martin Abegglen

The Best Place to Go…Bungee Jumping

In Valle Verzasca, in the Italian region of Switzerland, you can jump from the famous hydroelectric dam where the James Bond film Goldeneye was filmed. The dam stands at a whopping 220 m. If you wish to match the daring-do of Mr. Bond, you’ll need to make an advance reservation, have a medical evaluation and fit the proper height and weight requirements.

The Best Place to Go…Paragliding

France is home to the highest number of paragliding sites in the world. Perhaps the most thrill-inducing is the site on top of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. Other good places include Annecy and Treh.

Alternatively, you can also paraglide over the castle in Neuschwanstein, Germany. This flight provides stunning views of the iconic castle, set against the backdrop of beautiful green scenery.

Mont Blanc paragliding by Yves Jusot

The Best Place to Go…Mountaineering

The sport of mountaineering was born on the slopes of the Matterhorn in Switzerland, a snow-covered crag of rock stretching up into the sky. To successfully complete this 9-hour climb, you’ll need to be in good physical condition, have reliable gear for climbing and also the funds to hire a guide. You’ll also need to find a reputable tour operator to make sure you have a safe climb.

The Best Place to Go…Skydiving

Skydiving can be a rather pricy sport, but for the bargain price of 205 euros, you can jump from 15,000 feet over the orange trees in Seville, Spain. Other great places to dive include the mountainous regions of Interlaken, Switzerland and Le Marche, Italy.

The Best Place to Go…White-Water Rafting

If you’re looking for Class V waves, then the Noce River in the Italian Dolomites is the place to go. You can also try your hand at kayaking on these fantastic waves. Just make sure you go with a guide if it’s your first time.

White-Water Rafting by Ian Armstrong

The Best Place to Go…Cliff-Diving

Also known as “tombstoning” because many unfortunate participants have found their way to a tombstone earlier than expected, the best places to try it in Europe are the cliffs near Santorini, Greece. Afterwards, join the partygoers on the beach for a well-earned cocktail.

If you attempt any of these death-defying activities, just make sure you are going with a reputable tour operator and that you have the necessary training. You don’t want to have to hire a head injury solicitor at the end of your trip.

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Asinara National Park is not your usual holiday destination, but a place worth visiting while you are in Sardegna. Known as Devil’s Island, it was used as a high security prison during the 1970s as well as during World War I. It has a large variety of habitats and is the home of the Albino Donkey.

The island of Asinara from Falcon Cape, Sardinia by enrico_sirola

Archipelago di La Maddalena National Park has 180 km of coastline and is a protected geo-marine area made up of a group of islands. It is between Sardegna and Corsica in the Bocche di Bonifacio area. A Dolphin Research Center is in the park that is interesting for both adults and children.

The Gennargentu National Park is on the east coast of Sardegna and has the beautiful Gusana Lake. The wildlife in the park includes the Sardinian Wildcat, marten, weasel, edible and garden dormouse, Sardinian Fox, the Griffon vulture and several different species of eagles and falcons. The highest mountain in Sardegna, Punta La Marmora, is also in the park.

There are 7,000 prehistoric fortresses called nuraghi around the island built by prehistoric people. Sun holidays will direct visitors to Nuraghe Losa and the Giants’ Grave in Dorgali. These huge structures were built during the Bronze Age. There are 321 large tombs made from huge, uncut slaps of rock. There was an obelisk near the entrance and each has a characteristic rectangular plan. There are three main types of tombs.

Nuraghe Losa, Sardinia, Iitaly by Jack Aubrey

About a thousand years after the nuraghi people, in 1000 BC, the Phoenicians built the city of Tharras on the northern cape of the Bay of Oristano. Today, it is an archaeological site. It was mentioned by Ptolemy and was the most importa   nt place on the island. The city was abandoned in the 10th century after being used by the Phoenicians, Punics and Romans. It is an open air museum and the most interesting structures remaining are the tophet, the bath installations and the temple foundations as well as the area where there were houses and artisan workshops.

Italy has some of the best places in Europe for enjoying a hot summer day out in the sun, with most of the budget airlines flying there now it’s a perfect destination for late bookings

James is a writer based in Soho, London who loves camping/travelling around Europe.

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Brecon Beacons, Wales, UK by Nigel Swales

This region of the UK has an abundance of beautiful countryside, stunning coastal paths and soft, sandy beaches. There are also many interesting castles and historical sites waiting to be explored.  South Wales has long been a popular choice for families on holiday in the UK. There are many great holiday caravan parks and campsites to choose from in the region and they are always popular places during the summer months.

Reasons to Take a Family Holiday in South Wales

Why do so many families come to South Wales every year for a getaway? There are many reasons why this part of the world is so popular with families on holiday. Here are some of the reasons why South Wales is such a great family getaway destination:

• Amroth Castle is located in South Wales. This unique and beautiful historical 18th century house was constructed on the site of an original Norman fortress and makes a very interesting and educational day trip for kids of all ages.

• South Wales has many opportunities for active holidays, such as hiking, swimming and more. If you have kids who love to explore the outdoors they will have a great time here.

• South Wales does not have a high crime rate, so it is a very safe place to bring your children on a holiday.

• As it is only a short drive or train ride away from anywhere else in Britain, you will not have to take a plane to get to your holiday destination which saves you time and money. Also, sometimes flying with young children can be stressful so staying in South Wales will let you avoid this.

• This region is home to the Brecon Beacons national park which covers a third of the area and contains the highest mountain south of Snowdonia; Pen y Fan. This is a beautiful place to show your children the wonders of nature and take some impressive family photographs.

• With so many holiday caravan parks and camping sites in South Wales, there is a lot of selection and your family will be sure to find somewhere that suits your needs and budget. Camping can be a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel as well as being a fun and memorable holiday experience.

• All of the national museums within Wales are free to visit and great fun for families. Your kids might enjoy visiting the National Museum in Cardiff, the National Waterfront Museum or the National Roman Legion Museum.

• Cardiff, Swansea and Newport offer a good selection of high quality restaurants so that your family will have plenty of choice when it comes to where to eat.

• Every summer plenty of family-friendly festivals take place in South Wales, such as the Cardiff Festival. These events include live music, food, entertainment and children’s activities and are great fun for kids of all ages.

• The big sandy beaches of the West Shore are the ideal place for a classic British seaside experience. Your kids will love making sandcastles and swimming while you relax in the sunshine.

These are just a few of the reasons why South Wales is such a popular destination for family getaway. Why not consider booking a trip this summer with your kids?

South Wales is an ideal place to take the family on a holiday and here are the reasons why so many people love Kiln Park Camping.

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Photo by skiserradaestrela.com

Ski Serra da Estrela is a small ski resort in Portugal. It is located in the central part of the country in the mountains of Serra da Estrela, at an altitude of 1851 – 1988 metres above sea level. Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain in Portugal’s mainland and does not have any highest summit, but instead of that it is a plateau, known as Torre (Tower), measuring 1,993 meters. However the highest point of Portugal is situated on the island of Pico in the Azores and it is called Mount Pico (2,351 metres). The entire Serra da Estrela mountain range belongs to Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela.

On the highest point of Serra da Estrela is the radar station, the old observatory, and 7 m high monument in order to reach an altitude of 2000 meters. At the top you can also find a store, where you can buy mainly cheese and ham (prosciutto).

Below the mountains, on the east, is a great city of Guarda, on the south is the ski town of Covilha with an information centre of the natural park. The best starting point for hiking is the village of Manteigas situated in the middle of Natural Park.

Ski Serra da Estrela has 9 pistes with a total length of 7.7 km. There is 1 black, 4 red, 2 blue and 2 green slopes. Transportation is provided by 4 lifts and a chair lift with a total carrying capacity of 2000 persons per hour. The ski area of Serra da Estrela has also a snowpark.

The skiing season starts here usually in December and lasts to April. One-day ski-pass in high season costs €25 and €15 off-season. You can also find here a restaurant, 2 bars, ski school and ski rental services. Among favorite after-snow activities are snowshoeing, sledding and snowmobile riding.

For further information about Serra da Estrela ski resort with actual snow conditions visit official website skiserradaestrela.com.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Sjaak Kempe

Plateau on which the Hautes Fagnes spreads, is located between the Ardennes and the Eifel highlands. It is a part of the Belgian province of Liège as well as the German Länder of Rhineland – Palatinate and North Rhine – Westphalia. Hautes Fagnes National Park covers an area of ​​4100 hectares and such it is the largest nature reserve in Belgium. It consists mostly of moors, heaths and forests that are home to rare animal and plant species typical for cool and humid climate.

Hautes Fagnes National Park became a haven for lynx, wild cats, common grouse, deer, roe deer, wild boars and other animal species. Typical plant species for this area is yellow daffodil, which was used to dye Easter eggs and therefore collected heavily. To avoid devastation, you can now take only a flower per person.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Sjaak Kempe

At the end of the 20th century started to come tourists not only from Belgium but also from other European countries. For this reason, it was necessary to regulate the movement of people especially in the park. In some areas of Hautes Fagnes National Park were established restricted access, while in some others were even banned at all. Today, the visitors can walk only on marked trails, but there are also some places where it is allowed only with a guide.

Many places are closed to the public during the nesting birds, ie from March to late July. Yet even today tourists flooded the park annually. In the summer, come nature lovers, and in winter cross-country skiers. Most visitors come from Belgium, of course, but others come from adjacent areas of the Netherlands and Germany.

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Moldoveanu peak is 2544 m high. There are many hiking trails leading from the villages in the valley to the top of Moldoveanu, but they are mainly very steep. Therefore the most popular trail, however it is longer, leads over the Viştea Mare (2527m), by coming from Podragu, Sambata, or by the Vistea Valley.

From the top of Moldoveanu you can enjoy beautiful views of the Făgăraş Mountains and the valley. Below the peak there is a tourist lodge where you can sleep for free and take the water for the following hike.

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Elba is located between Liguria Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea and is often called as The Pearl of the Tuscan Archipelago.

Elba offers wonderful natural sceneries and beautiful mountains. Sandy beaches are very popular here and many tourists prefer to visit Portoferraio for its National Park activities. The island of Elba is about 150km long and covers the area of 224 km2. The Monte Cappane – the highest mountain on Elba (1019m) is very popular for hiking and it is also called “roof of the Tuscan Archipelago”.

Since Portoferraio has the historical value, many scholars are doing research in the island. About thirty thousand people are living in this island and about eleven thousand persons are staying in Portoferraio city. On Elba you can find lots of monuments.

You can enjoy here the sunbathing, fishing, the pirate ship battle, hiking, visiting Napoleon’s palace (Napoleon was here in exile as governor), or even sitting in pubs and tasting excellent local cuisine.

Regular boat services are available from Piombino. Our tip is to rent a boat and discover the coast of Elba where you can find lots of unknown and empty wonderful beaches.

Tourists visiting Italy should not miss to visit Elba, as we think it is one of few places, which have to be visited, at least once in a life.

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You can hike Climb Mulhacen in a single day from the villages of Capileira or Trevélez, but it is recommended to stay for a night either at the mountain refuge at Poqueira, or in the bare shelter at Caldera to the west.

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Throughout the Pollino National Park flow more than 10 rivers. The highest mountain of the park is the mountain Serra Dolcedorme, which reaches an altitude of 2267m. Other peaks are Monte Pollino (2248 m), Serra del Prete (2181 m), Serra delle Ciavole (2127 m) or Serra di Crispo (2053 m).

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The park include also four nature reserves and rocky complexes, such as Pietra Campauara and Tavola dei Briganti.

Pollino National Park as a whole is one of the most beautiful sceneries in southern Italy. There is a rich plant and animal diversity.

For hiking and cycling you can use lots of marked trails.

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The first ascent to the summit took place in 1855, although it was reportedly done in 1834, when Ján Still (teacher in Catholic school in Nová Lesná) got here.

Gerlachovský štít is accessible by two major routes. The first comes from Velická valley from Sliezský dom (house of Silesia). The trip takes about 4 hours. Another route is recommended for the descent. It leads through Batizovská valley, back to Sliezský dom.

Hiking to Gerlachovský štít is permitted only with a mountain guide, who can be ordered in the Association of Mountain Guides in Slovakia.

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