FIVE

GORGEOUS
SHORT
HIKES IN
EUROPE
 LADDER OF KOTOR,
MONTENEGRO
The Ladder of Kotor is what remains of a historic cross-
country route that connected the Unesco-listed town of Kotor
with the former royal capital, Cetinje. The “ladder” (a steep
zigzagging path) starts from a height of 940 metres and offers
spectacular views of Kotor bay.

The hike
Starting from the Krstac pass, near the village of Njeguši, the
trail drops down onto an old military road with more than 70
hairpin bends, passing through the village ruins of Spiljari and
the captivating chapel of St Ivan. Continue down towards the
beautiful Venetian fortress of San Giovanni and finish the hike
on a stairway leading to the centre of Kotor.
 Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye
The Fairy Pools are a group of clear blue waterfalls cascading over dark grey rocks, with the
magical Cuillin mountains as an impressive backdrop.
The hike
Park at the Fairy Pools car park outside Glenbrittle and the trail begins off the side of the road.
Within 20 minutes, you’ll see a stepping stone river crossing that leads to the gateway of Fairy
Pools. If you are feeling brave enough, take your swimwear and go for a dip. This is an out-and-
back trail; you choose when to turn back.
 Pico do Arieiro Trail, Madeira

This trail links the two highest peaks in Madeira, Pico

Ruivo (1,861 metres) and Pico do Arieiro (1,817 metres),
traversing part of the central mountain massif.

The hike
Start at the top of Pico do Arieiro and follow the mountain
crest through tunnels and along narrow pathways. From
the path you can peer down at the volcano crater valley
and enjoy wildflowers in myriad colours, especially in
spring. The hike’s finale is an unforgettable panoramic
view of the entire island at Pico Ruivo, before taking the
footpath down to Achada do Teixeira.
 Lake Bohinj circular, Slovenia

Just an hour’s drive from Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, Lake Bohinj is the country’s largest glacier
lake, situated inside Triglav national park and surrounded by the grandeur of the Julian Alps.

The hike
Starting and finishing at the lakeside village of Ribcev Laz, the trail leads past a handful of secluded
beaches and on to Slap Savica, a majestic waterfall and source of the nearby Sava river. From the path
there are plenty of magnificent views of the lake, with the surrounding mountains mirrored in it.
 The Flysch route, Spain
In the Basque region of northern Spain, the
Flysch route is a coastal hike through a
geological marvel made up of unique, natural
rock formations dating back over 50 million
years.

The hike
Starting at the chapel of San Telmo in the
town of Zumaia, the path descends towards
the spellbinding rocky coastline then climbs
up into a picture-postcard farming landscape
before a gentle drop on to Sakoneta beach.
Here you can see the strange Flysch rock
formations close up, enjoy a swim and admire
the enthralling cliffs at sea level before
continuing to the finishing point at Deba. It’s
no wonder the Game of Thrones crew chose
this as a location: it’s a real journey through
time.