A Force of Nature
“Your feet will bring you to where your heart is”
Irish proverb
Words by Gemma Watson
IRELAND
Wild beauty, folklore and legendary hospitality join forces on this island in the North Atlantic Ocean. There’s nothing quite like the epicness of Ireland’s great outdoors, where million‑years-old natural wonders are wrapped by a border of crashing waves, making a compelling backdrop for hikers, cyclists and adventure-seekers of all kinds.
Feel worlds away on a grand journey along the Wild Atlantic Way, the longest defined coastal route at 2,500 kilometres long. From the edge of County Donegal in the north (where some of the world’s greatest surfers perfect their skills in untamed waters), to County Cork in the south, drive, walk, cycle or take to the seas to experience Ireland in all its breathtaking glory.
Step out onto the Unesco World Heritage Site of Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, where over 40,000 hexagonal‑shaped basalt columns meet the land’s edge. Legend says these were once the stepping stones of giants journeying to Scotland. Other spectacular sites along the Causeway Coast include the Gobbins Cliff Path; the Carrick‑a-Rede rope bridge, suspended 100 feet above the Atlantic; and the West Lighthouse on Rathlin Island, an annual breeding ground for thousands of puffins.
Travel south of Belfast in County Down to discover the stunning landscape of the Mourne Mountains, the inspiration for CS Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, as well as the filming location for Westeros in Game of Thrones. Venture farther south still and you’ll come upon Glendalough, the ‘valley of the two lakes’, and monastic site in County Wicklow, now famed for its spiritual beauty.
After a day out in the great elements, hear tales sung in fire‑lit pubs, while sipping on a local Irish tipple.
LANZAROTE
An otherworldly island 80 miles off the northwestern coast of Africa, Lanzarote is a striking destination where rugged, volcanic landscapes and golden beaches meet azure waters. So important is its natural environment that it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1993.
In the south of Lanzarote lies Timanfaya National Park, home to the fire mountains. Formed from a series of eruptions from a bygone century, this spectacular and multicoloured terrain now covers a quarter of the island. Volcanic activity continues to this day; visit El Diabo restaurant run by Lanzarote-born César Manrique to sample local dishes grilled naturally by the volcanic heat.
Manrique’s conservation and celebration of the island can be discovered through the Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism (CACT). Los Jameos del Agua is one such space that is now home to a cave auditorium and underground swimming pool. From here, you can also visit the underground lava tunnel and caves of Cueva de los Verdes, leading from the crater to the sea and beyond, to ‘The Tunnel of Atlantis’.
From the small coastal village of Órzola, take a ferry to La Graciosa, one of the islands within the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park, and now the eighth Canary Island. A protected area for marine birds, it is one of the least-visited and unspoiled islands, with no paved roads.
Every October, in what is now an island tradition, open‑water swimmers will cross the 2.6-kilometre strait of El Rio between Lanzarote and La Graciosa. Indeed, this island is truly a training ground for world-class athletes, with the World Surfing Championship, Quemao Class and Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote all featured in the major sporting calendar.
SLOVENIA
Between the Alps, the Pannonian Plain, the mysterious Karst and the Mediterranean Sea lies small but mighty Slovenia. With over two-thirds of its land covered with forests, nature parks and protected areas, Slovenia is the green heart of Europe and, unsurprisingly, a haven for nature enthusiasts.
From the Triglav National Park, witness the immense peaks of the Julian Alps and its highest mountain, Triglav. For long-distance hikers traversing the 270-kilometre circular Juliana Trail, or even the 750-kilometre Alpe Adria Trail from Austria to Italy, this section is a scenic wonderful.
This national park is also the source of the Soča River, where watersport seekers can find adventures in its many gorges, canyons and fast-flowing waters. It’s also the home of the country’s largest lake, Lake Bohinj, as well as the iconic and photogenically reflective Lake Bled, which is fed by natural, thermal springs and enjoys a mild climate. No trip here is complete without taking the traditional pletna boat to Bled Island, the only island in Slovenia, to make a wish.
The wealth of water is one of the many draws of Slovenia. There are over 27,000 kilometres of rivers, lakes, streams and mesmerising waterfalls. The country is also one of the finest sources of water in the world. Its mineral-rich qualities not only mean that tap water of the highest quality is afforded to all, but that the special properties are said to have a positive effect on health and wellbeing. One such example is the spring at Rogaška Slatina, which for over 8,000 years has produced Donat Mg, a water with a high magnesium content that helps with digestion problems.
GREECE
Greece is a land of legends and treasures. Boasting the longest coastline in Europe - bordering the Ionian, Mediterranean and Aegean seas - it beckons travellers to its sun-drenched shores, balmy waters and scattered islands.
But it’s not just these picture-postcard destinations that make Greece a natural wonder. Travel to the west of mainland Greece for Epirus and the mountains of Pindus to discover the Dragon Lakes and the ‘Greek Grand Canyon’ of Vikos; keen kayakers can journey the impressive Voidomatis which runs through the gorge, or ride the challenging River Aoos for a real adrenaline rush.
To the far east lies lesser-travelled Thrace, the home of mythical Orpheus and an adventurer’s paradise with its wild beauty, including the Rhodopi Mountains, Nestos River and Dadia Forest.
For those that enjoy the slopes, neighbouring Macedonia is a ski lovers’ paradise, with nine resorts, though relatively unexplored. There’s also Mount Parnassus in central Greece, the dreamy mountain backdrop of Arachova village.
On the border between Thessaly and Macedonia stands Mount Olympus, a calling for the devoted hiker. To rest and restore, the spa town of Edipsos on the island of Evia is home to thermal springs rich in magnesium, calcium and iron.
Across the country in the Peloponnese region is the motherland of the Olympic Games in the ‘Valley of the Gods’. Here, rocky and rugged landscapes meet some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, including Elafonisos Simos which was once the battlefield of Athenians and Spartans.