Sand, rocks and trees - what more could you need? The forest of Fontainbleau provides low rock climbing for adults and children, sand for babies and toddlers, shade and sun for all, and a peaceful environ. In autumn an excellent spot for mushroom picking.

Fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and hire a car. The town of Fontainbleau is south of Paris, allowing day trips to Paris on rainy days.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

For an authentic rural Swedish getaway drive one hour east of Gothenburg and stay at this charming forest cottage with views over the local lake. Use this as a base to explore the very pleasant local area including the local town of Ulricehamn on the shores of Asunden lake. The cottage is well equipped with facilities but can still be the perfect getaway. We particularly enjoyed looking for chantarelle mushrooms in the surrounding forest.

www.swedishretreat.co.uk

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The forest of Marselisskoven is right next to the city and can be reached from the centre of town within 10 minutes.

In the summer, stick a coin in one of the city bicycles and off you go (or catch a bus). There is a wonderful sandy beach all along the forest and in the forest itself there is a park with deer, a camping site, several great restaurants and a view over the sea to kill for.

Just before the forest you pass the royal family's summer residence, Marselisborg Slot. When the Queen is in Aarhus, you can watch the change of guards every day at noon. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful memorial park which is perfect for a picnic or a barbecue. When the Queen is not in residence, it is even possible to walk around the castle's own gardens.

Just south of the city centre. Walkable distance on a nice day.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Between the villages of Coniston and Hawkshead, this sculpture forest is home to more than 70 treasures hidden in the woodland. There are several walking/cycling routes which snake through the trees and allow for arty pit stops and beautiful views over Coniston Water.

www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5k2b6b

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The southwest coast of Galicia has hundreds of beaches. From long and sandy beaches to smaller scale. What they have in common is the amazing landscape of the rías (inlets).

Going by car you can see how the rías go along the coast until they open to the infinite sea, there are also some small islands where many green forests grow.

At the end of the Ría de Vigo we can see Cíes Islands and at the end of the Ría de Pontevedra we can see Ons Island. They have beaches dressed with white sand and clear waters, placed behind green forest hills. That is a mixture of forest and sandy beaches.

www.riasbaixas.org

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The department of the Alpes Maritimes is in the south east corner of France and boasts such famous names as Nice, Antibes and Cannes. These names conjure up images of glitz, beaches and everything synonymous with the Riviera jet set, bikinis and painted toe nails. However did you know that just an hour and a half inland, life is very different, a landscape of quiet forests and deep gorges? So near but yet so far from the busy coastal strip, the rural way of life still prevails, eggs and goats’ cheese are sold direct from the farm, roads are single track and you are very likely to meet a flock of transhumance sheep coming the other way.

There is an impressive network of paths for walking (including the GR4 and GR510), whose gentle gradients date back to the time when all forms of commerce passed along these remote paths on the back of a donkey. The paths are well sign posted, free of litter, well maintained, they take you through abandoned olive groves, across Napoleonic bridges, to hamlets that roads have yet to reach, lavender and thyme grow wild everywhere and it is rare to meet another soul. The area is made up of many folded ridges giving wonderful ridge walks too with views south to the Mediterranean or north to the jagged peaks of the Mercantour National park.

The area is heavily wooded so there are lots of forestry tracks to explore by foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. Roads such as the one linking St Auban and Aiglun are narrow and wind through stunningly precipitous scenery, ideal for cyclists, with excellent surfaces, very little traffic and a good sprinkling of cols. The roads circumnavigate the abundant gorges which have made the area a base for canyoning and rock climbing. You can don a wetsuit and helmet and follow your guide down one of the numerous canyons, abseiling and crossing wire bridges, jumping into pools several metres below you.

The Alpes Maritimes boasts 300 sunny days per year but if you do fancy a day indoors why not go round one of the many show caves that this limestone area has to offer, or if you want more of an adrenaline rush there is the world's first ever under ground via ferrata and a forest of adventure where you can literally go on a tree top walk and slide down a 470m zip wire.

If you are not scared of heights, there is plenty of opportunity to try paragliding at one of the many flying schools or take a tandem ride to get the best view of the area. This rural corner of the Alpes Maritimes is littered with time forgotten villages, where narrow streets disappear off between closely huddled old stone houses, wandering around these quiet little streets it is so difficult to believe that the busy Mediterranean coast is only just down the road. The area has many wonderful little restaurants and auberges, serving real French food to a clientele that is by and large local.

If you would like to know more about the Alpes Maritimes inland from the busy Cote d’Azur have a look at the website www.pottyplace.com. The site has been written by a Scottish couple who live in the Alpes Maritimes.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Rent bikes at the shop opposite the indoor swimming pool and ride on the cycle tracks all
through the forest that runs parallel to the beach for miles.

Turn inwards and have coffee and cakes at the Soldier's Cottage (Soldat's Hus) in the middle of the forest, avoiding the real life soldiers doing their military service.

There is also a campsite in the forest, but now this is dominated by mobile homes, with few real tents - but good for kids and full camp shops
that sell buckets and spades, and the long red and yellow liquorice I loved as a kid.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I spent a highly enjoyable two weeks cycling in Sweden this year. Starting in Gothenburg, I rode up around the edge of Lake Vanern, via the Gota Canal to Lake Vattern, down to the coast and back up again.
The countryside is perfect for cycling; rolling and studded with beautiful lakes.
Swedish campsites are also some of the best I've been to. They are clean, have good facilities and are generally no more than £8-£10 a night (and yes, you can camp anywhere in Sweden, but a hot shower is always nice).
Highly recommended for any cyclists out there.

My route: www.flickr.com/photos/toretz/172556356/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Sardinia is mostly famous for its beaches, but it also offers mountains and forests of stunning beauty. The best way to explore Sardinia's hidden gems is by mountain bike.

Just by looking at the map you will realise how wild Sardinia is: you can cycle for hours or days without meeting anybody. Some of the mountains, although not very high, are very tough, ideal if you want a challenge. In any case, you are never too far from the sea, but you will be very far from crowds, cars, etc.

The weather is ideal for cycling: it is never too cold or wet, although it might be too hot in July and August.

One of my favourite places to cycle is the vast forest around Monte Arcosu, west of Cagliari, where there is a WWF reserve protecting, among others, Sardinian deers.

If you want to organise a trip, you can try Ichnusa Bike (www.ichnusabike.it): they will provide assistance for every aspect of your trip (from bike hiring to accommodation).

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Even with a city as beautiful as Prague, it's sometimes nice to get out for a while. On the north-west border of the city is the spectacular Divoká Šárka, where you can wander through forests and gaze at spectacular rock formations surrounded by streams, waterfalls and lakes.

At the north-west terminus of the number 26 tram. Map at: tinyurl.com/2byaf4

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

There's a fairly wild and impressive area of forest with well-tended walkways south of Kaiserslautern. If you walk on Bremerstrasse past the Stadium towards Bremerhof, you'll be able to join some very interesting, signposted forest walks immediately.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends