Walking

If you are a dedicated walker, you are in for a treat. There are tens of thousands of miles of recognized trails in Europe, especially in the main mountain ranges of the Alps and Pyrenees, and in Britain and Ireland. In the United States and Canada, long-distance walking usually means hiking through the wilderness and camping. In Europe, on the other hand, it can simply mean walking on a trail from cabin to cabin, or hostel to hostel, without the need for tent, groundsheet, sleeping pad, stove, and so on. In England you can easily hike from pub to pub over some truly beautiful farmland and end up gaining weight after walking eight hours a day. I’m sorry to say I’ve managed to do just that.

If you plan to do a walking trip, the first step is to write or call the tourist information offices listed in Basics #3 and request specific information on walking and hiking trails. Don’t be surprised if you get more information than you can handle, particularly from Switzerland. Good maps are absolutely essential if you plan this sort of trip. It may not be as tricky as hiking in Alaska, but getting lost on the moors of England or in the mountains of France, Switzerland, or Italy, can be dangerous, especially considering the weather. After you arrive, excellent maps, some designed specifically for the walker, are available in most countries in Western Europe. If the local tourist office can’t supply you with them, they can send you to someone who can. Invest in some even if you only plan a short hike.

WARNING: If you are planning on hiking in the woods of Eastern or Central Europe, see the health warning on tick encephalitis in Chapter 9, “In sickness and in health.”