The Vegabaño Refuge, Picos de Europa, Spain
Posted by mattdoughty
It's a hostel for hiker and climbers near Soto de Sajambre in the Picos de Europa. You can only get there by foot - it's about an hour from the nearest village. Right in the heart of the Picos de Europa National Park with has some of the most stunning views of the surrounding mountains. It's set beside some mountain pastures and in between centuries old beech and oak woodland. The facilities are simple - shared dormitories and probably best to take your own food but definitely worth it as the views are out of this world.

For the location check out this link on Goolge maps
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GR10 footpath from Hendaye to Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
Posted by nickcouldry
I've fallen in love with the Pyrenees mountains since starting to walk the GR10 long-distance path from the Atlantic to the Med four years ago.

From the rolling Basque hills in the west up into the Haute Pyrenees, there are some absolutely stunning views along this trail.

You can do the lot in one go (500 miles) if you have the time, or do as I'm doing and do a little bit each year: I'm hoping to dip my toe in the Mediterranean in 2010.

Alternatively, pick one of the many towns near the route as a base and discover some of the circular walks.

You'll get to see some views that you'd never see from a car.

Find out more about walking the GR10 by clicking here
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Walking in the Sibillini mountains, Italy
Posted by VinniForno

Le Marche's hills roll in from the Adriatic and reach the Sibillini mountains. A national park has been created to protect this awesome high section of the Appenines and its flora and fauna which includes wolves, golden eagles, wild boar and porcupines.
In Spring the area is carpeted in a rainbow of wild flowers. In summer you can swim or eat at tavernas round the shore of a lake; walk through cool gorges that dissect the mountains; and cycle or walk the paths that cross the ridges at 2,000m.
There are an abundance of fascinating medieval hill towns with museums and great ristorante serving up great value meals.
A great base for the area is Sarnano; which has 20 ristorante, a ski resort nearby, a variety of bars and stunning views.

Sarnano is in Macerata region of Le Marche and can be reached via Ancona and Pescara airports.
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Castro Laboriero, Portugal
Posted by TimNewton

This is Wolf County - one of the few remaining areas in Portugal and indeed in Europe! We spent four days based in Castro Laboriero exploring the national park, high, rocky and rugged with wild horses and the remnants of traditional peasant agriculture. We had a sunset/moonlight guided walk through a high plateau with leading wolf conservationists and journalists Pedro and Anabela Alarcão (www.ecotura.com), extensive views of wild horses, Hen Harriers and other birds of prey, a Wild Cat, neolithic rock carvings, and as for the wolves - plenty of excremental evidence but that was all!

Far North of Portugal up against the Spanish-Galician boarder, Eastern part of the Alto-Minho. From Oporto, travel Northwards up the coast to Viana Do Castelo, take the A27 then N 203 East.
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Join the DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association), Norway
Posted by sunwitch

According to their website, the DNT is Norway's largest outdoor activities organisation. Their work includes maintaining a fantastic network of marked hiking trails and running 144 mountain lodges, linked by these (and other trails).

We have just returned from a week hiking in Jontunheimen and cannot praise the DNT highly enough. I have never seen such an organisation so successful at making the wilderness accessible with minimal disturbance to the natural environment.

The trails are well-marked and maintained and where we used trails not maintained by the DNT, staff were nevertheless able to advise on them. The level of service at the fully staffed lodges we used was extraordinary and not too expensive (by Norwegian standards!). And how good is it to come off a mountain, knowing that a comfortable bed, three course meal, hot showers, and effective drying room are waiting for you? The DNT prides itself in never turning anyone away.

We were walking as a family with two under twelves, so didn't undertake any really major climbs, but the DNT also organises tours of the high peaks etc.

All the activities we undertook, we could have done as non-members, but joining the DNT meant serious discounts on accommodation costs as well as the ability to secure beds when the lodges were nearly full. If you are venturing deeper into the mountains and staying at unstaffed lodges, I think you need to be a member to get a key to the lodges.

www.turistforeningen.no/english/
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Monti dei Setti Fratelli, Sardinia
Posted by johnsannaee

Less than an hour by bus or car from Cagliari and Sardinia's celebrated coastline, the Monti dei Setti Fratelli show a completely different side to this beautiful Mediterranean island.

Lush, forested slopes laced with a network of footpaths afford stunning views over scenes straight out of rainforest documentaries. There are walks and hikes for all abilities, and ample shade prevents the threat of heat exhaustion. A refreshing break from sunbathing.

Monti dei Setti Fratelli National Park, between Cagliari and Muravera in south-eastern Sardinia.
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Walking in the Torridon area, Scotland
Posted by Webyork

Torridon is one of the most dramatic areas on Scotland's west coast. The mountains here are not the rolling ridges seen elsewhere in Britain - these are completely separate and individual, gaunt, bare and incredibly steep and imposing peaks. The first time I arrived to camp, a herd of red deer swam across the deep river. The landscape is so otherworldly that I wouldn't have been suprised if dinosaurs came roaming round the corner. What a place.

At the foot of the glen is Loch Torridon, a great fjord, where the landscape is softened by ancient pinewoods.

This website has walking routes and accommodation options.
www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/
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Lochbuie, Isle of Mull, Scotland
Posted by RoytheBoy

Lochbuie is the wilder side of the island, at the other end from the bright houses and fairytale location of Tobermory. A memorable walk up and over the hills, included narrowly avoiding a couple of basking adders, and we ended up skinny dipping in Loch Scridian and watching an otter playing on the shore.

Afterwards, we supped long and late in the unreconstructed, but utterly brilliant Craignure Inn.

www.craignure-inn.co.uk/
Tel: 01680 812305
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Snowdonia - off the beaten track, Wales
Posted by Welshlyn

No trip to North Wales can be complete without ascending a peak. As walking up Snowdon in summer feels more like driving on the M25, try one of the Carneddau. On clear days you'll be rewarded with stunning views across the Menai Straits.

YHA, toilets and limited parking at the head of Llyn Ogwen, or take the green option with a Sherpa bus from Bangor.

Find out more about the Carneddau here
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Walking Ingleborough and Twistleton Scars, England
Posted by santobugito

A great walk with everything: country lanes, steep ascents, fantastic views from the top of the Ingleborough, a pub for lunch halfway, and a spectacular finale over Twistleton Scars and down the waterfall walks.

30 miles from Skipton on A65 towards M6, park at Ingelton
www.daleswalks.co.uk