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Walking & cycling holidays in Europe

A Canvas holiday is all about the great outdoors. And one of the best ways to explore the wonderful scenery that Europe has to offer is under your own steam. Take off on two wheels, or pull on your walking boots and hike along hidden trails. Here we highlight some of our favourite locations, ideal for walking and cycling holidays.

Walking holidays
A Canvas holiday is perfect for keen walkers – all the freedom of campsite life with some of Europe’s most stunning scenery right at your feet. From a challenging hike in the French Alps to a gentle stroll around the Italian Lakes, you can find walking routes to suit every fitness level.

The French Alps, France
The French Alps is an area of snow-capped peaks, dense forests, alpine meadows, waterfalls and sparkling turquoise lakes. This stunning region has four national parks which add to its appeal as one of the best walking areas in France. Thousands of kilometres of well-signposted and maintained paths allow you access to almost every meadow, valley and glacier in the region. Walkers of all ages and fitness levels will find something here to suit them – from relaxing valley trails amongst the woodland to more demanding treks in the peaks.

A stay at La Ferme de la Serraz, located just over a mile from the banks of Lake Annecy, puts you in the centre of this walkers’ heaven. In the nearby area you will find demanding mountain hikes along with easier walks on the wooded Semnoz mountains, where you will be rewarded with panoramic lake views. Also popular in the area are the guided history tours in the resort town of Annecy.

o A 7 night stay at La Ferme de la Serraz from 2 May in a Maxi tent is £290 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

The Jura, France
The Jura, rich in woodland, wildlife, lakes and cascading waterfalls is the little known jewel of France. Lying to the north west of the Alps, this region offers spectacular views, magical forests and majestic mountains - making it a paradise for walking and hiking.

Hiking in the area is one of the best ways to take in the scenery and there are easy trails as well as routes for more adventurous hikers. The Haut Jura is a regional park which offers glaciated lakes, flower-filled meadows and upland ridges. This richly diverse landscape is home to lynx, stags, kestrels, hawks and wild flowers such as the giant orchid. Close to our campsites on the banks of Lac de Chalain, the Hérisson valley is worth discovery, where a marked path through the forest passes a breathtaking collection of 31 waterfalls in a four kilometre stretch.

o A 7 night stay at Domaine de Chalain from 3 June in a Maxi tent is £373 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

The Black Forest, Germany
The Black Forest in south western Germany is an area of extensive forests, impressive landscapes, rock formations, deep canyons, serene lakes, gushing rivers, beautiful meadows and peaceful pastures. This beautiful region is especially popular with walkers and cyclists. Well-signposted trails criss-cross the region, allowing walkers to access areas and take in views often inaccessible by car.
The trails range from short, easy day routes to relatively strenuous long-distance hikes. The regions’ way-marked paths are traffic free and surfaced, making it generally easy underfoot. The best time to explore the area is early or late summer, where you avoid the heat of peak summer. In these seasons, you will be able to enjoy beautiful flora including gentians, orchids and the delicate autumn crocus, along with edible treats such as raspberries, blackberries and mushrooms. The wild forests are home to red deer, fallow deer, wild boar and rarer species including wood grouse and lynx.

o A 7 night stay at Campingplatz Kinzigtal from 2 May in a Maxi tent is £208 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

Lake Garda, Italy
Lake Garda is an area of breathtaking natural beauty, offering a variety of stunning scenery and a wealth of art, architecture and culture. To the south of the lake there are low rolling hills contrasting with its northern towering mountains.

There are a myriad of spectacular places to go for a hike here. The mountains in the north offer magnificent views over the lake with lots of different routes of varying difficulty. Monte Baldo, on the east of Lake Garda, is around 6,000ft high and affords unforgettable views of the lake, the Po Valley and the Dolomites from the wild flower meadows at its peak. For those who enjoy a more leisurely walk, there are many lakeside paths and promenades as well as historic towns worthy of exploration.

o A 7 night stay at Camping Eden from 2 June in a Maxi tent is £352 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

Cycling holidays
Whatever terrain you prefer, cyclists are spoilt for choice with Canvas. Our Côte d’Azur sites are ideal for mountain bikers, or if you prefer more leisurely adventures, our sites in the Loire Valley offer gentle cycling on a wonderful network of marked cycle routes.

The Dordogne, France
Imagine a region of cliff-lined rivers cutting through fields of sunflowers, oak and walnut woods, and peaceful roads winding through tiny mediaeval villages. Combine this with a rich prehistoric heritage and superb cuisine – the Dordogne really does have it all.

The area is extremely popular with cyclists, who make use of the quiet, unexplored back roads and tracks as well as the car-free ‘Piste Cyclable’ which runs south-east from Sarlat to the river Dordogne. The several off-shoots of the path allows you to tailor your journey’s length. The region offers pleasant, relaxed cycling with long views of rolling hills, fortified towns and cliff-top castles. There are plenty of companies in the area that hire out bicycles, mountain-bikes, children’s bicycles, children’s seats and even tandems. All the Canvas Holidays campsites in the Dordogne also offer bike hire.

Wheel your way around the Dordogne using one of the three Canvas campsites as your base.

o A 7 night stay at Camping le Granges from 2 May in a Maxi tent is £202 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

Brittany, France
Located in the north western corner of France, Brittany has a diverse landscape, with a rugged northern coastline, sophisticated beach resorts in the south and beautiful islands to explore. The region is one of the most distinctive and beautiful in France, with a unique character and an intriguing history. Bordered by the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, it is gently warmed by the Gulf Stream, giving it a very mile climate – perfect for cyclists.

Whether you are a touring cyclist or a mountain biker there is something here for you. There are several cycling paths and mountain bike routes crossing forests, woods and along lakesides. Away from the main roads, there is a cycle network consisting of 'velo-routes' that link various towns and departments in the region – allowing easy exploration of the rich flora, fauna and historic heritage. Cyclists can also make use of traffic-free lanes known as 'voies vertes', which follow the routes of canal towpaths, river valleys and disused railway lines.

o A 7 night stay at Camping le Châtelet from 2 June in a Maxi tent is £372 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

Côte d’Azur, France
The Côte d’Azur is the Mediterranean coastline of the south eastern corner of France. Known as the Riviera, this is a diverse region of uninterrupted stretches of golden beaches and sheltered coves, interspersed with traditional fishing villages and cosmopolitan resorts as well as tranquil hilltop villages.

Cycling in the Côte d’Azur awards you the chance to ride some of the most scenic, challenging and cycle friendly mountain roads in the world. Avid cyclists will love the challenging cycling which lies behind the Riviera with varied terrain including impressive mountain climbs, gorges, plateaus and spectacular waterfalls. For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, the coastal roads through pretty resorts give you the chance to admire the stunning azure blue waters and soak up the Mediterranean sunshine.

o A 7 night stay at Domaine des Naïades from 2 May in a Classic mobile home is £287 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

The Loire Valley, France
When people think of cycling in France their minds turn almost automatically to the Loire Valley. Discover a lush green land of gently undulating countryside with rich vineyards, interspersed with charming towns and magnificent fairytale châteaux. The region is ideally suited for cycling, offering a wonderful variety of history and culture which is easily toured by bike on cycle paths, tracks and quiet roads.

An impressive network of 800km of cycle tracks knows as ‘La Loire à Vélo’ run for the most part alongside the Loire River, stretching out westwards to the Atlantic Coast. The signed trails are designed for cyclists of all levels and are made up of quiet country roads and purpose built tracks.

o A 7 night stay at Château des Marais from 30 May in a Maxi tent is £287 including Dover/Calais crossing (price as at 25/11/11).

For more information or to book a camping holiday with Canvas Holidays, visit www.canvasholidays.co.uk/wtd