Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Outdoor Europe
    Outdoor Europe
    Outdoor Europe
    Ebook584 pages3 hours

    Outdoor Europe

    By DK

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Enjoy Europe's most incredible outdoor adventures.

    Kayaking past tumbling waterfalls in Croatia and spotting endangered bison in Poland, hiking through mountainous Montenegro and gazing upwards at fiery giants in Spain -there's nothing quite like being in the great outdoors. Covering over 150 different activities, Outdoor Europe will have you itching to get back to nature.

    Bursting with beautiful images, this inspirational book rounds up Europe's most incredible outdoor experiences, covering everything from birdwatching and forest bathing to scuba diving and wild swimming. Each activity has its own mini chapter, containing an introduction on the activity itself followed by several suggestions for the best places across Europe to do the activity.

    Get to grips with nature, by discovering:

    - A beautifully designed gift book that showcases Europe's most incredible outdoor experiences.
    - Covers over 200 different outdoor adventures, from stargazing to wild swimming.
    - 50 main entries each focusing on a specific activity.
    - 3-4 smaller follow-on entries will showcase other great places in Europe to do the same activity
    - Stunning photography throughout.
    - Inspirational guide for anyone planning their own European outdoor adventure.

    Throughout the book, the places you'll explore are vividly brought to life thanks to information on each landscape's unique history, culture, seasons, and flora and fauna. Features both laid-back, relaxing activities and epic adventures, making this title perfect both for those who already love getting outside and want more inspiration, and for those planning their first foray into the outdoors.

    We've also included top tips on the best time to go, what to pack and photography, as well as suggestions for things to spot along the way. Whether you're already expert at exploring wild places or are planning your first foray, this book is packed with ideas for immersing yourself in the great outdoors. It's ideal for armchair travelers who want to experience intrepid adventures from the comfort of home and learn more about Europe's great outdoors.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDK Travel
    Release dateNov 16, 2021
    ISBN9780744055351
    Outdoor Europe

    Read more from Dk

    Related to Outdoor Europe

    Related ebooks

    Europe Travel For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • UNLIMITED

      You only LIVE ONCE

      Apr 23, 2023

      You only LIVE ONCE
      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Lazy Day On The Lake

      Jun 3, 2021

      Lazy Day On The Lake
      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Clear Your Head

      Apr 7, 2022

      Clear Your Head
      14 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Bucket List Bounty

      Jan 27, 2024

      Bucket List Bounty
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      New Year, New Walks!

      Nov 16, 2022

      New Year, New Walks!
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Outback To Ocean

      May 9, 2024

      Outback To Ocean
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Wild Is Calling In British Columbia

      Nov 4, 2021

      The Wild Is Calling In British Columbia
      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      West Coast Wandering

      Jan 1, 2019

      West Coast Wandering
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Wild Is Calling In British Columbia

      Oct 7, 2021

      The Wild Is Calling In British Columbia
      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Wildlife Walks

      Sep 13, 2022

      Wildlife Walks
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Take A Hike

      May 27, 2022

      Take A Hike
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The (new) Australia

      Dec 29, 2021

      The (new) Australia
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      A Checklist Of The Essentials

      Feb 16, 2022

      A Checklist Of The Essentials
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Warm Wet And Wild

      May 2, 2019

      Warm Wet And Wild
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Red Centre Essentials Checklist

      Feb 2, 2022

      Red Centre Essentials Checklist
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Don’t Dream It, Walk It!

      Oct 18, 2021

      Don’t Dream It, Walk It!
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Amazing Oz

      Oct 26, 2023

      Amazing Oz
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Grand Escape

      Sep 13, 2023

      The Grand Escape
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      A Walk In The Park

      Aug 8, 2021

      A Walk In The Park
      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Outback Odysseys

      Jun 6, 2018

      Outback Odysseys
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Travel Edit

      Apr 30, 2020

      The Travel Edit
      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      What’s SUP, Australia?

      Mar 28, 2024

      What’s SUP, Australia?
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Freshwater Swims For Families

      Jul 27, 2023

      Freshwater Swims For Families
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Re-wilding In The Southwest

      Aug 15, 2024

      Re-wilding In The Southwest
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The 2022 It List

      Jun 22, 2022

      The 2022 It List
      12 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Re-wilding In The Southwest

      Jun 12, 2019

      Re-wilding In The Southwest
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Katherine Gorge

      Jun 10, 2024

      Katherine Gorge
      10 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Go Wild In Florida

      Aug 3, 2021

      Go Wild In Florida
      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Outdoor Europe

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Outdoor Europe - DK

      g Contents

      Walking

      Putting one foot in front of the other—most of us do it without even thinking—but going for a walk is something different, bringing a sense of adventure to the everyday. That’s not to say it needs to be difficult—you don’t have to scale a mountain or sport special gear for a walk to be meaningful. The simple act of traveling by foot is a reward in itself, no matter how short the distance or how gentle the terrain.

      Walking | CONTENTS

      PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK, CROATIA

      WATERFALL TRAIL, SWITZERLAND

      CAMØNOEN TRAIL, DENMARK

      MULLERTHAL TRAIL, LUXEMBOURG

      MAWDDACH TRAIL, WALES

      g  Walkingg Contents

      PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK, CROATIA

      Immerse yourself in the verdant beauty of an ancient ecosystem, where wooden paths and footbridges lead past flowing freshwater at every turn.

      DK

      A wooden boardwalk leading past pools and waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park

      Plitvice Lakes National Park, on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula, is a spectacular oasis of 16 lakes linked by endlessly cas­cading waterfalls. Each season here brings something different: lush greenery in spring and summer, fiery color in fall, and a frozen wonderland in winter.

      Formed over thousands of years by the constant flow of water, Plitvice was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Today, eight circular walking routes weave through the park, ranging from 2 miles (3.5 km) to 11 miles (18 km) in length. Winding boardwalks and foot­bridges lead you across natural dams formed by sediment, taking you within splashing distance of the falls.

      DK

      Strolling through the forest on a wooden boardwalk

      All of the trails can be completed in a day, but they vary considerably in terms of difficulty. The shortest and easiest route is Program A, which—despite its prosaic name—offers a greatest-hits tour of the lower lakes. Highlights here include Veliki Slap, the park’s biggest waterfall, and the Kozjaka Bridge, a picturesque wooden platform that snakes across a series of emerald pools.

      DK

      The Kozjaka Bridge surrounded by turquoise water and green foliage

      As you slowly meander through the dense woodland that surrounds the lakes, water tumbles out of the cliff-edge foliage, filling the air with spray that catches rainbows in the sunlight. Darting minnows leave ripples in the clear pools on either side of the path, while dragonflies rest on sturdy grasses nearby. Many of the lakes are named after those who purportedly fell afoul of the waters and never returned—a bandit chief, a Romany lady, a grandmother, a herd of goats—and it’s easy to believe in such supernatural powers as you’re engulfed in the cascades’ perpetual roar.

      The water may be firmly in control, but fragile life also flourishes in this unique hab­itat. Look care­fully and you might be rewarded with a glimpse of one of the park’s many endangered species, from the delicate, gray wings of the clouded Apollo butterfly to the bright-blue throat of the European green lizard. More than 160 bird species can also be found here, along with more than 1,400 types of plants that make the air feel as fresh as the water—the scent of soft mosses, orchids, plums, and lilies fills your nose as you explore. (A local company has even bottled the aroma of Plitvice into a souvenir perfume for those who can’t bear to leave it behind.) Together, it all combines to create a rich sensory experience that will leave you feeling fully refreshed and invigorated.

      DK

      Looking upward out of Supljara Cave

      DK

      The Legend of Gavanovac Lake

      Plitvice is steeped in ancient legends, such as the tale of Gavanovac Lake. It tells of a kind man called Gavan, who once kept treasure in a castle, away from his enemy the Black Queen. When the Queen sent a spy to find the riches, Gavan’s loyal servant fled with the treasure chest. As he swam across the lake, the box opened and the treasure was lost. It is said that Gavan’s riches are still hiding within its depths.

      DKDK

      Leave No Trace

      Heavy footfall from crowded paths poses one of the biggest threats to the park, with plants being damaged and water contaminated. Visit on either side of the summer when visitor numbers are lower for a more serene experience and to help preserve this delicate ecosystem.

      Spotter’s Guide

      DKDK

      White-Backed Woodpecker

      If you hear loud drumming from the treetops, it’s likely to be a white-backed woodpecker making itself at home in a decaying tree trunk.

      DK

      Alcon Blue Butterfly

      This critically endangered butterfly can be spotted during summers at Plitvice. Despite its name, it’s more of a gray color than blue.

      DK

      Viviparous Lizard

      Known for giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs, these lizards can range in color from yellow and orange to brown and black.

      DK

      Ural Owl

      Plitvice is home to a large population of Ural owls. These gray-brown birds are mostly nocturnal but can be seen in daytime during the summer.

      g  Walkingg Contents

      Waterfall Trail, Switzerland

      Admire dozens of towering waterfalls on a stroll through a spectacular glacial valley.

      At Lauterbrunnen, get up close and personal with the Alps at their finest—towering granite walls, meandering cows, and sleepy, mountain­side villages. There’s no shortage of serious hikes here, but for those with varying levels of stamina and walking ability, the Waterfall Trail to Stechelberg offers a much more mellow option. Wending along the valley floor, it takes you past an astonishing 72 cascades in just 5 miles (8 km). The most impressive display comes halfway along the route at Trümmelbach Falls, where 10 waterfalls have sculpted rock formations and a labyrinth of caves within the mountainside.

      DK

      Looking toward Staubbach Falls, at the edge of Lauterbrunnen village

      g  Walkingg Contents

      CAMØNOEN TRAIL, DENMARK

      Stroll in peaceful solitude around a quiet corner of Denmark.

      Most of Denmark is densely populated, but out on the islands of Møn, Nyord, and Bogø, you can connect with the country at its most wild. Here, you’ll find the Camønoen Trail, a 109-mile (175 km) path dubbed Denmark’s friendliest trail for the welcoming communities it passes through. The total length might sound extreme, but any section can be done as a day walk, with connecting bus stops part of a wider scheme to make the route accessible to all. Taking in fields of yellow rapeseed, sun-dappled forest, and quiet beaches, the mostly flat trail is a haven of tranquility, where the only sounds you’ll hear are the rustling wind and a symphony of birds.

      DK

      Chalk cliffs along a coastal stretch of the Camønoen Trail on the island of Møn

      g  Walkingg Contents

      Mullerthal Trail, Luxembourg

      Take a relaxing walk through Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland.

      As you set off along the Mullerthal Trail, you never know what will pop up around the next bend: erosion-sculpted cliffs beneath blankets of ivy, gurgling streams flowing over moss-covered rocks or the gloomy entrance to a tunnel carved out hundreds of years ago. The full trail is formed of three loops that total 70 miles (112 km), but each is broken down into segments that can be walked in a day. And in this compact country, you’re never far from a village complete with cozy cafés and walker-friendly accommodation, so a stroll through Mullerthal never feels especially strenuous. It’s simply a gentle ramble through the woods.

      DK

      Walking through shady woods on Luxembourg’s Mullerthal Trail

      g  Walkingg Contents

      Mawddach Trail, Wales

      A ramble along this converted rail line reveals a beautiful Welsh landscape.

      Having previously served as a rail track, the Mawddach Trail is about as level a walking route as it gets—great news for walkers and wheelchair users in search of a route with easy access. Following the Mawddach Estuary in southern Snowdonia, the trail winds 9.5 miles (15 km) from the medieval market town of Dolgellau to the seaside port at Barmouth. The scenery here is some of Wales’s best, with the golden sands and cool-blue waters of the estuary backdropped by the forested slopes of the Rhinog Mountains. Much of the estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest known for its birdlife, and you might even spy an osprey as you make your way along the path.

      DK

      Barmouth Viaduct and the River Mawddach at the end of the Mawddach Trail

      g Contents

      Ice Skating

      Feel the fresh winter air brush your face as you glide easily across a frozen body of water. Here, in nature’s snow-dusted playground, there is no rail to reach out for, no circular laps to repeat, and no crowds to be jostled by. Pushing one foot in front of the other, you’ll discover the energizing freedom—and gleeful novelty—of exploring pristine frozen rivers, lakes, canals, and even the sea on razor-sharp, steel-plated blades.

      Ice Skating | CONTENTS

      Lac de Joux, Switzerland

      Lipno Lake, Czech Republic

      Luleå, Sweden

      g  Ice Skatingg Contents

      Lac de Joux, Switzerland

      Uncover an icy winter wonderland as you skate across a frozen lake surrounded by tree-clad slopes.

      Forming a long section of the French-Swiss border, the Jura Mountains are not as high or as steep as their more famous siblings, the Alps, farther south. Thanks to this comparatively gentler terrain, this area is best known for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. But the massif is also the setting for another winter sport: ice skating. Each winter, the area’s beautiful Lac de Joux—nestled at 3,294 ft (1,004 m) in a subalpine valley—freezes, turning from liquid deep blue to hard silver and transforming into the largest natural skating rink in Europe.

      As temperatures plummet from early December, sections of the lake are gradually cordoned off as they become safe to skate upon. By February, the entire 3.5 sq mile (9.5 sq km) surface is usually frozen over, and the whole lake becomes a giant open-air skating rink until April. You can skate from any point on the shoreline, but the traditi­onal villages of L’Abbaye on the south shore or Le Pont on the north are good starting points. Here, there’s a winter wonder­land vibe: open-air stalls sell hot drinks along the lakefront—and sometimes even on the ice—and the surrounding thick forest lends a refreshingly alpine tang to the cold air. Join the throngs of families and friends out on the frozen lake and then, when your legs begin to tire, take a well-earned rest with a vin chaud or chocolat chaud and watch the skaters spin by.

      The beautiful Lac de Joux turns from liquid deep blue to hard silver when it freezes each winter.

      DK

      Ice skaters gliding across the frozen surface of the Lac de Joux

      DK

      Skating in front of the pretty village of Le Pont

      g  Ice Skatingg Contents

      Lipno Lake, Czech Republic

      Go long-distance skating on a body of water so vast it’s gained the moniker the South Bohemian Sea.

      Fed by the Vltava River, Lipno Lake lies in the southwest of the Czech Republic, a stone’s throw from the Austrian border. This long, twisting body of water is usually frozen from December to March, its surface often velvety soft with snow. During this time, a 7-mile (11 km) long ice high­way is cut through the drifts at the south end of the lake, creating a wide, smooth trail that’s perfect for skating. Join in with locals taking their daily spin as you glide along the track, hearing the whoosh of your blades over the sparkling ice. Skating here is relatively easygoing, but if you fancy more of a challenge, try venturing off piste. When conditions are right, it’s possible to skate almost the entire surface of this huge 19 sq mile (50 sq km) lake.

      DK

      Skating along the smooth ice path that winds across the frozen Lipno Lake

      g  Ice Skatingg Contents

      Luleå, Sweden

      Glide across the otherworldly landscape of a frozen sea to explore frosted islands suspended in ice.

      Sitting around 560 miles (900 km) north of Stockholm on Sweden’s east coast, Luleå is a likable modern metropolis and the largest city in Swedish Lapland. It’s here, during the bitter Arctic winter months, that something extraord­inary happens: the sea freezes. As temperatures plummet, fingers of ice begin to creep across the brackish waters surrounding the city, encir­cling the nearby islands and transforming the sea into a pearly white landscape. When the ice is at least 14 in (35 cm) thick, Jan The Iceman Blomqvist and his team leap into action, plowing a 66 ft (20 m) wide, 7-mile (12 km) long isbanan (ice track). The route skirts the city between its north and south harbors and then strikes out to tiny Gråsjälören island in the Bothnian Archipelago.

      From mid-January to the end of March, ice skaters of all ages and abilities—from locals pushing strollers to world-record-holding speed skaters—give the track a whirl. The section hugging the coast around the city center is used as a shortcut, but for a real long-distance adventure, set off in the teeth of the wind across the sea ice toward Gråsjälören. Icebreaker vessels dot the horizon, frozen motionless in the now-solid body of water, and a cluster of white-powdered pines marks the island ahead, offering the promise of shelter. Here, there are wooden cabins where you can buy steaming hot chocolate and warm yourself around a cheery fire.

      DK

      A group of ice skaters racing along Luleå’s gleaming-white ice track

      DK

      Looking out across Luleå’s icy landscape in the glow of Arctic winter light

      DK

      Brackish Waters

      Luleå’s frozen sea is only possible because the waters around the archipelago are fed by freshwater rivers and are largely unaffected by the tide, which makes them brackish—more saline (saltier) than freshwater, but signi­ficantly less saline than the rest of the Baltic Sea. A lower salinity means that the sea can turn to ice more easily, although the freezing point of the water is still lower than that of freshwater.

      DK

      g Contents

      Canoeing

      Sitting or resting on one knee, canoeists use a single-bladed paddle to carve or steer through the water. The activity’s contemplative pace—the typical paddler covers 2.5 mph (4 km/h)—is central to its magic; at this gentle speed, you notice sounds, sights, and smells that are normally missed. Equally key is a canoeist’s sense of connection with water and that rare, low perspective—less bird’s-eye, more beaver’s. Canoes are a great bet for beginners, too, thanks to their open decks and higher sides, which usually make them difficult to capsize.

      Canoeing | CONTENTS

      Lough Erne Canoe Trail, Northern Ireland

      VLTAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC

      TAR ROUTE, FINLAND

      g  Canoeingg Contents

      Lough Erne Canoe Trail, Northern Ireland

      This trail of two halves takes you along the length of Lough Erne, a deep-blue body of water fringed by emerald-green fields.

      Around 90 minutes’ drive west of Belfast, Lough Erne lies to the western edge of County Fermanagh. The 40-mile (64 km) lake is split into two distinct sections: shallower Upper Lough Erne is home to a maze of narrow, winding channels and grassy islets, while further north, the island-dotted Lower Lough Erne is wilder, windier, and much more expan­sive. Linking the two is a snaking stretch of the Erne River, which flows nimbly around the historic island-set town of Enniskillen.

      To explore this slice of rural Ireland, take to the water and follow the Lough Erne Canoe Trail, a 31-mile (50 km) long route that winds from the foot of Upper Lough Erne, near the atmospheric 17th-century ruins of Crom Old Castle, all the way to Muckross in the northeastern corner of the Lower Lough. While you could rattle through this journey in a couple of days, many canoeists take at least four; this slower pace will allow you to explore the forested islands, ancient castles, and historic sights that lie along the way. Happily, access to the lakes is completely free, with no license required.

      DK

      Carved stone head, part of

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1