On 16 December 1780, English naturalist Gilbert White wrote in his diary:

'A plant of missel-toe grows on a bough of the medlar: it abounds on my hedges on the maple. The air is full of Insects. Turkies strut & gobble. Many young lambs at the Priory.'

Here's a seasonal treat - the chance to win a genuine, rich Christmas pudding, made the traditional way with delicious vine fruit and mixed peel.

Click here to enter.

Let France put the Spring in your step

France in the springtime makes everyone's heart leap with gladness. And there's nothing more likely to put a true 'spring' in your step than our two early season walks in Provence and the Loire.

In May we discover the brilliant colors of the wild landscape of Provence; purple lavender, lime-green fresh vine leaves and deep red cherries. We inhale the fragrance of the herbs of the Luberon, wild thyme, marjoram and sage, crushed underfoot as we follow age-old paths through fields, vineyards and olive groves, stopping to sample the wares of a traditional wine grower.

France's most fabled river is our companion for the Loire Walk in June through the historic garden of France.  Crossing undulating countryside and fertile riverbanks, we encounter a royal abbey, privately owned châteaux, vineyards and orchards, underground passageways and troglodyte caves. We dine on traditional local produce, sample the sparkling and still wines of Saumur, play locals at the ancient game of boules de fort and enjoy a delightful dinner on board a traditional river barge as we watch the sun slowly set. 

Czech adventures

Our Vienna to Prague Walk won National Geographic Traveler's 50 Best Tours of 2013 award. On this Walk and its sister, Prague to Dresden, you can discover the modern spirit of the new Czech Republic against the historic landscape of one of Europe's oldest countries. 

The Czech landscape is one of rural villages rich in folklore and tradition, wooded hills, rare flowers and tranquil lakes. We marvel at Baroque architecture and meander through majestic landscaped parkland.

On the Vienna to Prague Walk we explore the unspoilt town of Ceský Krumlov and sample the beer in one of Europe's oldest breweries.

On Prague to Dresden we meet in beautiful Prague and head out into an unspoiled landscape of picture postcard villages with old, timber-framed houses and painted wooden churches. Dramatic mountain landscapes frame amazing views and we take advantage of trams and narrow gauge railways to help us climb some of the steeper inclines.

Our route takes us deep into the heart of Saxon 'Switzerland', a wilderness area of great beauty with wild forests, sandstone plateaus and rocky gorges. It's one of the last untouched areas of natural forest in Europe and is home to a range of rare animal and bird species such as otters and eagle owls.

Watch Walk Leader Jana talking about this amazing area on our new video.

Sweet Sicily, warmed by golden sunshine

Two of our first Walks for 2014 are in Sicily, where spring comes early.

For Eastern Sicily we walk in sight of the sea almost every day. We hike Mount Etna's smoldering flanks, stroll the shorefront in Siracusa, once a capital of Classical antiquity, and enjoy spectacular birdlife and coastal walking in the Vendicari Nature Reserve.

In Western Sicily we visit the ruins of Greek temples and the best-preserved archaeological site of Agrigento. We follow timeless paths to the mountaintop town of Erice and along the coastal paths of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, so remote that packhorses are used to carry the supplies for maintaining the paths. We take a local ferry to explore and have lunch on the island of Mozia, once a Phoenician colony and walk along the lagoon through the saltpans guarded by the old windmills.

Special offer! Book both April Walks back-to-back and we will include full ground transportation between Walks and a night in magical Cefalu.