Now, that doesn’t mean you have to be super fit and able to scramble up a mountain in mid-summer heat without breaking sweat!

All trips bring their own challenges and require higher or lower fitness levels depending on the terrain, weather and distances covered. But even the most moderate trips will be more enjoyable if you have a decent level of fitness.

Here are a few tips for getting fit in advance of your next walking holiday.

Walk!

Sounds obvious, right? But the truth is that many of us don’t walk nearly enough in our day-to-day lives, especially if we have desk jobs. Whilst it’s great to get out into the countryside for a proper walk, busy lives often make this difficult.

But there are ways you can fit some walking into your everyday: walk to work, or the kids to school, if it’s not too far; take the stairs in shops, office buildings and stations instead of lifts and escalators; get off the bus or train a stop early and walk the rest of the way; try and get out for a walk at lunchtime, especially if you have a desk job. Even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes, the exercise and fresh air will do you good.

When you’re out walking, try and wear the shoes or boots that you intend to wear for your trip as much as you can.

Build your muscle strength

The amount of strength you’ll need in your leg muscles depends on the type of trip you’re preparing for. If you’re heading to the Alps for the Tour du Mont Blanc or the Alpine Pass Route, or a challenging UK walk like the Pennine Way, you need to prepared for plenty of ascents and descents, so strengthening your legs is vital.

You could hit the weights at the gym, but if that’s not your scene, try some simple exercises at home. Place your back against a wall and bend your legs as if you’re sitting on an invisible chair. Hold the position for as long as you can, and gradually increase the time you can keep it going. It’s great for the quads (the muscles on the front of your thighs), which is what you use when you’re ascending or walking up steps.

There are plenty of traditional, simple exercises like this you can do at home without the need for any equipment or weights – such as squats. 

Increase your cardiovascular fitness

This relates to the first point about walking. Whilst the muscle exercises give you the strength to walk without getting aches, your cardiovascular fitness is what gives you the ability to exercise for long periods of time without getting breathless. Walking, running, cycling and swimming are all great for this – the more you can do the better, even if you’re booked onto a fairly moderate trip. Stopping to enjoy the view from time to time is great, but you don’t want to be doing it every 5 minutes!

Motivation to get fit for your walking holiday

If you’re someone who enjoys a walking holiday, it probably means you’re a fairly motivated person, otherwise you’d spend your holiday lying on a beach! But we can all lack motivation sometimes, especially if the weather’s bad and going outside doesn’t seem like the best idea.

Set yourself goals – if you’re walking, cycling or swimming, try to increase your distance each time you head out, or if you’re restricted to a particular distance, try and beat your time each time you tackle it. Listen to some music whilst you’re exercising - or a podcast, audio book etc. This can really make the time fly.

At the end of the day, it’s not about putting yourself under pressure and doing anything you don’t enjoy. You’re going on holiday after all, not running a marathon!

But it is important to properly prepare for your trip – and if you have any questions about how challenging a tour is, you can give us a call and ask us, as well as reading the information on our website about the fitness level required for each trip.

The Alpine Pass Route (APR) – now fully waymarked as Swiss Via Alpina 1 (VA1) – is a hiking trail of over 350km across Switzerland. It crosses high mountain passes through the eastern Alps, the Bernese Oberland and the Vaudoise.

Lesley Williams, Cicerone Marketing Director and guidebook author, describes this relatively quiet walking trail for us. 
 

Imagine spending three weeks in the mountains traversing the Swiss Alps, with a central highlight of the Bernese Alps crowned with glaciers and summer snows, either side of which are mountains, valleys and lakes rarely visited by anyone but the alpine trekker. In the valleys, villages that are still centred around cheesemaking provide simple accommodation and high above, farms and alpine huts offer refreshments amid the sound of cowbells.

This may sound like a tourist brochure, but the reality of the Alpine Pass Route (Swiss Via Alpina 1) is just that – many days where you rarely see another person, although there are also days, particularly in the Bernese Alps, where you become something of an object of interest among the tourists thronging the railway platform at Kleine Scheideg!

"A break in the cloud and a shaft of afternoon sun revealed our first view of the mighty Wetterhorn when we walked the Alpine Pass Route."

As the name implies, The Swiss Via Alpina 1 route involves crossing sixteen Alpine passes, and showcases some of the country's most breathtaking mountain landscapes. The route is not suitable for first time alpine trekkers, but best undertaken by those with some experience of Alpine trekking: it amasses over 20,000m of ascent and involves some steep and occasionally exposed sections, mainly on the three high passes – the Sefinenfurke (2612m), the Hohturli (2778m) and the Bunderschrinde (2385m). The entire route can be completed in 2-3 weeks, although it is also possible to walk shorter sections; alternatively postbus, cable-car and rail connections could be used to allow for a tighter schedule if time is limited, and may be recommended in order to avoid one or two sections of walking through urban areas and busy roadside paths.

The Swiss alpine route officially begins in Lichtenstein, a week later reaching Engelberg, starting point of the Walkers' Britain itinerary. Engelberg is a thriving town with an impressive 12th Century monastery situated on the eastern border of Switzerland. From here you spend three or four days wandering through mellow alpine landscapes largely ignored by tourists. The passes are generally of a steady gradient, however there is nothing mellow about the views – as you see alp upon alp stretching far into the distance. From the Bernese Oberland, the landscape changes as the mountains become higher and the impact of tourism becomes more evident. When I did a late summer trek a few years ago researching the new edition of the Cicerone guidebook, the weather was unsettled and on one day we realised we had only taken three photographs, and very poor ones at that!

Over the next two days however, the skies and moisture gradually cleared. High on the new Via Alpina route hugging the crest of a grassy ridge, views down to the valley below were mainly shrouded in cloud. But a break in the cloud and a shaft of afternoon sun revealed our first view of the mighty Wetterhorn; its great bulk and snowy peak seemed unimaginably high.

"The following day we crested the Grosse Scheidegg to walk beneath the ‘giants’ of the Bernese Oberland – Wetterhorn, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in perfect clarity against a vivid blue sky,” says Cicerone's Lesley Williams.

These giant mountains remain in view for several days as you follow the route through the beautiful, but busy Bernese Oberland, leaving the crowds, trains and cable cars behind as you scale two huge passes on the way to Kandersteg. 

The final few days of the trek to the west of Adelboden again revert gradually to more verdant lower mountain scenery, although some days of necessity are quite long. Although the official Via Alpine route takes walkers to Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), Walkers' Britain finishes the hike in Lauenen (short bus ride to Saanen) to allow for a two-week itinerary. 

The Cicerone guidebook on the Alpine Pass Route contains a wealth of practical advice and information on local points of interest and is written by Kev Reynolds. The trail is one of the great Alpine routes and embraces much of the best scenery Switzerland has to offer. 

For more information on walking the Alpine Pass Route with Walkers' Britain, have a look at the 14-day self guided The Alpine Pass Route or the shorter 8-day self guided Highlights of the Alpine Pass Route.

For more information and booking requests, contact our team of travel experts by phone or email.

The Walker's Haute Route (High Route) between the Mont Blanc and Matterhorn starts in Chamonix in France and then quickly crosses the border to Switzerland to end after about 200km (124 miles) in Zermatt. Walking this route typically includes traversing high passes such as the Col de Torrent (2918m), the Col de Sorebois (2896m) and the Augsbordpass (2893m). Although the Walker's Haute Route is a popular hiking trail, you will find that compared to many other areas in Switzerland, most of the paths are little trodden.  

To plan your self guided or guided walking holiday along the Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, use this handy guide. And if you're totally convinced that this is the travel destination of your dreams, do have a look at our range of fully supported, high-quality walking holidays along Switzerland's Haute Route. 

Best Time Of Year For Hiking The Haute Route

Due to the nature of the high passes where snow can hang around until quite late, there is quite a narrow season to hike the trails. Generally, late July through to mid-September is a good time for walking the Haute Route. The lower valleys see warmer temperatures and beautiful spring flowers much earlier, while the snow hangs around typically above 2600 metres until at least mid-July.  

May and September are drier than June, July and August and the Valais area averages 10-25°C during this period and the monthly rainfall is approx 50mm. Compared to about 150mm in neighbouring Bern canton. However at the high passes, temperatures can drop to freezing with wind-chill even in the summer making layering up a good idea. 

Highlights Of The Haute Route Hike

Mountain Vistas

The mountain vistas you will get while hiking the Walker's Haute Route are continuously changing, although Mount Collon, the Weisshorn and Dent Blanche dominate the scenery. Once in Zermatt, there are also views to the Breithorn, Taschhorn, Liskamm, Monte Rosa, and The Matterhorn.

Arolla

A tiny quiet mountain village where we start our self guided walking tour below Mount Collon. There are just a couple of small shops and then our traditional hotel with creaky wooden floors and the most beautiful terrace with geraniums. Look out for hummingbird hawk-moths here.  

Lac Bleu & Lac de Moiry

Lac Bleu is a tiny gem of a lake with crystal blue green waters reflecting the mountains around it while Lac Moiry is an impressive barraged lake. It has a pale blue colour from suspended glacial fragments and stretches back to the ice falls of the Moiry Glacier.

Grimentz

The mountain town of Grimentz is famed for its pedestrianised main street with beautiful wooden chalets, geranium filled balconies, and fountains involving wood carved models. On our Haute Route Hike, make time to utilise the free cable cars up to the mountain.

Hotel Weisshorn 

Alone on the valley side with views of Dent Blanche, Rhone Valley and the Wildstrubel, this Victorian hotel is a cosy place where you can relax on the terrace. The hotel has its own hydroelectric and self-heating plant. 

Food And Drink While Walking The Haute Route

Swiss food tends to be wholesome and hearty. It is big on meat cuts, potatoes and vegetables, and sometimes comes with unusual flavours such as from chard or fennel. Cheeses play a big part of the cuisine along the Walker's Haute Route and it is worth taking a slab of ‘Alpen Käse’ into the hills for picnics. The cheese can sometimes be found at farms in the mountains. Legend has it that raclette was invented by a Valaisian by the name of Léon. One cold day, he simply heated up a piece of cheese on the fire instead of eating it cold. This is how the typical Valaisian raclette came about. There is also a good selection of Valaisian wines to be found on the Haute Route. Quite a number of the hotels that we stay at in the mountains and valleys will have an extensive selection. The wines are produced in the valleys and villages leading out of the mountains to the Rhone.  

Other Reasons For Walking The Haute Route

Visit Zermatt's Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis with features on the history of climbing Matterhorn, it is a fantastic museum to have a wander around in. The splendid town of Grimentz has been offering free use of its cable cars for guests holding local hotel cards. The cable cars can take you to save 500 metres ascent and descent if you wanted to climb Roc d’Orzival. A second cable car takes you up to just under the peak of Sorebois from where you get great views over to Lac de Moiry. 

How To Get To And From The Haute Route

Ideally you fly into Geneva Airport for our self guided walk along the Walker's Haute Route. You then take a train to Sion (2 hours) where you change onto a postbus up to Arolla (1 hour 20 mins). Sometimes this includes a change at Les Hauderes. When you're planning to join our guided walk starting in Le Tour, we advise to also fly into Geneva and from there take a bus to Chamonix for an onward bus to Le Tour (aprox. 2 hours 30 mins). 

Leaving Zermatt: ideally take the train to Geneva Airport and change at Visp (4 hours).

More Information On Walking The Haute Route

As the Haute Route offers such fantastic opportunities for walking in Switzerland, we were given a page of resident guide John’s diary that he wrote when hiking the Haute Route. If you like to learn more about what a walking day on the Haute Route can look like, we certainly recommend to have a look. Especially in the summer, the Swiss Alps offer attractive walking weather.

Have you seen our social media travel quiz about walking holidays in the UK & Europe? On this page you will find the answers to the most recent topics on Where Are We and Spot the Hiker. 

Spot the Hiker

Did you manage to spot the two separate couples that are hiking the rugged interior of Madeira here?  

There’s something very calming about walking beside a lake. The stillness of the water, and the views to the hills or mountains rising up from the far side of the lake can give a wonderful sense of space. And whether in the UK or Europe, lakeside towns and villages are often some of the most picturesque you’ll come across.

Choose from a number of walks that include significant stretches of beautiful lakeside walking – here are a few of our team's favourites.

Lake Como Rambling

The Italian lakes are stunning – beautiful blue ribbons of water carving their way through majestic mountains, with classic coastal towns and villas dotted along the shores. Lake Como is one of the most famous, and has been a popular destination since the days of the Romans. As well as ancient Roman villas, the lake boasts grand hotels built for wealthy European and American tourists during the Victorian era.

Start in Como and embark on several walks that take you to some of the most attractive towns and villages on the lake’s shores, offering plenty of opportunities to drink in the magnificent views and sample the delicious food and wine.

Find out more about Lake Como Rambling.

The Cumbria Way

Undoubtedly the best way to enjoy Cumbria’s breath-taking natural beauty and refreshingly clear air is at a leisurely pace walking the Cumbria Way.

This tour provides an excellent introduction to the charms of English Lakeland, England’s most mountainous area, and one if its most beautiful regions. Walking is unquestionably the best way to see this celebrated landscape, hailed over the years by the likes of poets, authors and painters. Wordsworth, Tennyson, Arthur Ramson, Beatrix Potter and Wainwright have all left their mark. 

Starting in Ulverston and finishing in Keswick, the walk takes in views of Lakes Coniston and Derwentwater, as well as Langdale and Borrowdale, two of the area’s prettiest valleys.

Find out more about walking along lake shores on the Cumbria Way.

Austrian Lake District & Dachstein Alps

Welcome to beautiful Upper Austria in the hinterland of Mozart’s city of Salzburg. The beauty of the area embraced by the Dachstein Mountains and the Hallstatter See is truly inspirational. There are people who claim that once you have walked here you will have experienced the best ‘typical’ alpine hiking in Europe. 

After a few days in the mountains you’ll descend to the waters of Lake Hallstatt, and the ancient, picture-perfect lakeside town of Hallstatt. From here you’ll be able to explore the fascinating local area, and swim in the lake if the weather is warm enough.

Find out more about walking in Austria's Lake District.

The Wicklow Way

The Wicklow Way is Ireland's oldest waymarked trail, pioneered by a famous hill walker, J.B Malone over 40 years ago and reveals some of Irelands finest views - Powerscourt Waterfall, Luggala, Loch Dan, Glenmalure and historical Glendalough. 

The Wicklow Way explores unspoilt trails, remote scenery, lakes, glacial valleys, forests and gentle farmland – before finishing in the famous city of Dublin. Along the way, you’ll pass through the spectacular Glendalough valley, with views of the two lakes that sit at the bottom of the valley. 

Choose from 7-day and 9-day versions of the Wicklow Way, or the 5-day Wicklow Way taster.

The Great Glen Way

Loch Ness hardly needs an introduction – Scotland’s second largest loch stretches for 23 miles along the Great Glen, which links Fort William in the south to Inverness in the north, and contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.

Whilst walking the great Glen Way, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Loch Ness, as well the other lochs, and the majestic surrounding mountains, including, of course, Ben Nevis itself, the UK’s highest peak. Along the way, you’ll be treated by famous Scottish hospitality, and traditional food.

Read more about walking the Great Glen Way.

The Fjordland

Not technically lakes, the Fjords are great coastal grooves, gouged out by retreating glaciers from the last ice-age. What they definitely are though, is spectacular – providing a breath-taking walking experience that will live with you forever. There are a wide range of walks to take in the highlands, which lead you right up onto the glaciers edge; it is even possible to go out onto the ice to take an excursion. There are also the lusher walks down into the pastoral settings of the Flam and Aurland Valleys. These are furnished with forests, farmsteads, cascades and churches.

You’ll also visit Sognefjord, the longest fjord in the world.

Find out more about walking in the Fjordland.

Lochs and Bens

One of our self-guided cycling holidays, this trip takes you through the heart of the Scottish Highlands, which have long been a favoured destination for cyclists and walkers keen to experience the mountain peaks, shimmering lochs and pretty glens. Along the way, you’ll visit beautiful lochs Tay and Earn, as well as the River Tay and the peaceful lochside towns of Kenmore, Lochearnhead and Killin.

En route there are opportunities to take a forest walk or visit one of the many castles and ancient monuments to be found along the way.

Find out more about cycling the Lochs and Bens.

If you've been looking for a saunter along some of the UK's and Europe's most stunning lakes yourself, but are unsure where to head next, our team of travel experts can assist you with your travel plans. From choosing the best lakes for your walking holiday to making all your trip arrangements and 24/7 support while you're actually travelling.

Wicklow Way photo credits: Magdalena Smolnicka

‘Merry Bloody Christmas’ is the title of the 2022 Christmas special of All Creatures Great and Small. It’s the last episode of Season 3 of the famous TV series about vet James Herriot. 

The show is based on the memoirs that the veterinarian wrote about his decades spent working and living in the Yorkshire Dales, treating all kinds of animals.   
The Christmas special of All Creatures Great and Small will premiere in the UK on Channel 5 at 9pm on Friday 23rd December.  

When: Friday 23 December 2022, 9pm

Where: Channel 5 (alternatives & international viewers for All Creatures Great & Small)

Why watch: It’s a period drama that is full of humor and adventures. It gives a fantastic insight in what live in rural England was like 90 years ago and of course showcases the stunning Yorkshire Dales. 

Fans of the James Herriot TV series can head to the stunning Yorkshire Dales and walk our James Herriot Way tour that is just 6 days, or four days of actual walking. On top of that the Yorkshire Dales shine as well on the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast walks. 

*American viewers will have to wait a little longer as Series 3 will start airing in January with the Christmas special due Sunday 19th February. In the USA All Creatures Great and Small shows on PBS. 

It's not too late to book your last-minute Christmas holiday in Europe. These walking holiday destinations are still available and offer some welcome winter sun to the active traveller. Take your pick, hit the book-now button and we'll look after all your Christmas holiday arrangements for this year. You'll be finding yourself enjoying some last-minute European winter sun before you can blink your eyes.

Winter Walking in Cyprus

Enjoy the best of Cyprus' stunning Akamas Peninsula during the cooler months.

> Book this last-minute Christmas holiday in Cyprus now.

Madeira Island Walking

Follow the iconic levadas to discover the dramatic and rugged mountain scenery on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

> Book this last-minute Christmas holiday in Portugal now.

Smugglers Trails of the Sierra de Aracena

Sierra de Aracena Natural Park in Spain offers stunning walking year round. Follow paths through historic white villages & Moorish forts and hike along old Smugglers' Trails surrounded by oak, elm and chestnut forests.

> Book this last-minute Christmas holiday in Spain now.

Camino Invierno

Walk the 'Winter Way' as an alternative Camino walking route to the busier trails leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

> Book this last-minute Christmas holiday in Spain now.

Rota Vicentina - the Fisherman's  Trail

Traverse the Atlantic coastline of Portugal to reveal a landscape of deserted beaches, fishing villages and dramatic cliffs.

> Book this last-minute Christmas holiday in Portugal now.

Cycling in Sardinia

Cycle along the spectacular southwest coast of Sardinia to discover Phoenician ruins and beautiful white sandy beaches.

> Book this last-minute Christmas holiday in Italy now.

Got questions about planning your last-minute Christmas holiday in Europe? The team at Walkers' Britain is here to assist you with your walking holiday arrangements for Christmas on weekdays. Contact us or request a callback at your convenient time.

The festive season has started with plenty of different celebrations around Europe. Here are five festivals you can join this December or January in Slovenia, Rome, Germany, Tyrol, and Andalucía.  

1. Three Kings Parade | Andalucia, Spain

Thousands of spectators come to witness the arrival the three wise Kings Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar dressed in traditional costumes. 

2. Nativity Scene | Postojna Cave, Slovenia

The Live Nativity Scene in the Postojna Cave in Slovenia, about 1 hour drive from Trieste, is a unique performance. The caves are an attraction on its own already, but when the biblical scenes come to life they're even more rewarding. Fantasy stalactite forms, the inventive play of light, harmonious music and singing in a very acoustic environment together create an almost surreal Christmas atmosphere. At the cave's entrance a Christmas market takes place. If you want to experience the nativity scene, it's best to make a booking in advance. Shows run every half hour from 1-3pm. 

Travel to Trieste with Walkers' Britain >> See trips

 

3. Krampustag | Eastern Tyrol, Salzburg & Bavaria, Austria

Perhaps less suitable for younger children, in Austria on the 5th of December the Krampustag is celebrated. Young men dress like demons: wearing fearsome masks made out of wood, fur robes, tails and use branches as weapons to chase away bad spirits. The processions organised are known as Perchtenläufe and are truly spectacular to watch. The Perchtenläufe originally take place only four nights a year, on December 21 and 24 and New Year's Eve and January 5. Good places to observe this festival are Gastein, Altenmarkt, St. Johann and Bischofshofen in Salzburg, Henndorf and other places in Eastern Tyrol and Bavaria.  

When: 21 December - 5 January

Travel to Tyrol & Bavaria with Walkers' Britain >> See trips

 

4. Christmas market | Stuttgart, Germany

One of the best places to go for a typical German Christmas market is Stuttgart. It is said to have one of the most beautiful markets in Europe and has a very nostalgic feel to it. The market is set up in and around the Old Palace on the Renaissance inner courtyard in mid-late November each year. There are over 280 wooden Christmas stalls, which sell a range of Christmas items and gifts. Obviously there's also plenty of German snacks and drinks available, try for example roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, Swabian specialities and mulled wine (gluhwein). 

When: 23 November - 23 December
Travel to Germany with Walkers' Britain >> See trips

 

5. Fireworks | Rome, Italy

For those of you who are in Rome over the holiday period, make sure to be part of the New Year's Eve celebrations in town. Prepare for lots of fireworks after the midnight countdown. It's especially spectacular with the backdrop of some of the world's most impressive monuments like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna, and San Marco square. Prepare for lots of noise as well; people throw old pots, pans and furniture out of their windows to 'let go of unhappiness and prepare Rome for a happier future'.  

When: 31 December

Travel to Italy with Walkers' Britain >> See trips

 

Image of Three Kings in Spain, copyright of ©Europe Video Productions | Image of Postojna Cave, copyright of ©Shadowgate Postojna Cave | Image of Perchtenlauf, copyright of ©riegersburg.com | Image of fireworks in Rome, copyright of ©neigesdantan

La Gomera (Canary Islands) is a year-round destination for walkers. Average temperatures range between 19-28°C°/ 66-82°F and overall the sun shines throughout the year. These weather conditions give you great flexibility to plan your walking holiday at a time that suits you best. Read on for more insight into the weather of La Gomera.

Year-round holiday destination

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago situated off the northwest coast of Africa and La Gomera is the second-smallest of them all. Beyond the popular beaches of the other islands, the natural beauty and amiable climate of exotic La Gomera makes it an ideal year-round destination for walking holidays. 

Because La Gomera is oceanic (it emerged from the Atlantic Ocean as the result of volcanic activity), there is a diverse flora, high in endemic species. The mild climate has only added to this. When walking in La Gomera you’ll find an enormous variety in vegetation ranging from palms to evergreen trees in the laurel forests to cacti, succulents and aromatic shrubs such as agave. There is also an impressive range of tropical and citrus fruit cultivated at the island, fantastic for the foodie walker.  

Winter in La Gomera

Even during the winter months, La Gomera gets 9 hours of sunshine daily, with the average day temperature close to 22°C/ 72°F. January & February are the ‘coldest’ months during which average temperatures are 17-19°C/ 63-66°F.

Rain on the Canary Island is restricted to a only few days during the winter months, eg. the wettest month is February with 13mm of rain over 2 days. Note that in the instances it does rain, it can be intense. 

If you want to visit Mt Teide as a tailormade extension, avoid travelling in early January as snowfall at this time can lead to the peak being closed and road access becomes impossible.

So why not treat yourself to a few days in the sun to help ease your way through the rest of winter?

Spring in La Gomera

The very best time to see flowers in La Gomera is February, March & April, so early spring. Average temperatures during spring are 18-21°C/ 64-70°F. The Canaries offer so much to the active traveller – a perfect climate, stunning scenery, delicious food and fascinating history.

Summer in La Gomera

It can be too warm to walk in August with average temperatures raising to 28°C/ 82°F and that's why we won't offer this trip then. But the rest of the summer, the temperatures in La Gomera are pleasant with July averaging 25°C/ 77°F. Most of the year, you will need to protect yourselves from the sun.

Autumn / Fall in La Gomera

Not much more to say about travelling to La Gomera in autumn than that average temperatures are an extraordinary pleasant 21-24°C/ 70-75°F. It’s a time of year when the water temperatures are at their warmest, so great if you like to go snorkelling, relaxing by the beach, or kayaking. 

Whatever time of year, we can always dream of the clement southern European sunshine that is so prevalent on La Gomera. The BBC Weather website is a good source if you would like to know today's or forecasted temperatures in La Gomera.

Other things to consider about the weather in La Gomera

• You should remember that because La Gomera varies in altitude, higher in the mountain villages it can be considerably cooler and on the coast a lot warmer than the average temperatures given.
• La Gomera is a former volcanic island and many of the hiking trails have been scraped into the rocks over the years. There is no scrambling, but certain sections are very steep often with rocky steps and black basalt sections, which in places can be slippery.
• When hiking in the native laurel forest, it can feel humid. This is because the Laurisilva produces its own localised humidity.
• At altitude the effects of temperature are ameliorated but then the sun and the UV index is very strong. So, protect yourself well. 

Year-round walking holidays in La Gomera

Southern Trails of La Gomera

This 8-day trip is based on the sunny south side of La Gomera, with shorter walking days so you can take full advantage of the other activities this amazing island has to offer. You will get a mixture of varied walks. 

Exploring La Gomera, 8-11 Days

This circular walk takes you around almost the entire island, allowing you to experience the amazing diversity of landscapes on offer. The 8-day version is slightly shorter and skips the village of Hermigua, idyllically set in the middle of a ravine, which is covered in both sides by countless terraces. Hermigua is included in the 11-day Exploring La Gomera holiday.