BLAZING A TRAIL

Ditch the car in favour of a bike, train or even your own two feet, says Sarah Marshall

There’s something satisfying about reaching a destination under your own steam, powered only by physical fitness and enthusiasm. Then there’s the environmental aspect to consider. With sustainability rapidly becoming a priority for travellers, one of the easiest ways to reduce our carbon footprints is to switch from planes to trains or ditch cars in favour of buses or

bikes. Many countries have invested heavily in public transport systems over the past few years. Norway, for example, has an excellent fleet of electric-fuelled public ferries.

If you want to swap motors for muscle-power on your next holiday, here are a few options for seeing parts of Europe car-free.

PEDAL THROUGH ENGLAND

Cycling in the UK can be a gamble at any time of year. But even though sunshine is never guaranteed, golden landscapes are certainly in store this autumn. Starting along the Oxford Canal, this gentle cycling tour continues through the villages of the southern Cotswolds, including Minster Lovell with its Cotswold stone and thatched cottages on the River Windrush, the medieval town of

Burford and Bibury – described by William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England”. Finish in Bath, home to the historic

Roman baths.

How: Headwater (headwater.com; 01606 369 416) offers an eight-night self-guided Oxford to Bath Cycle from £1,679 per person (two sharing) including accommodation with breakfast, bike hire, GPS route maps and navigation app, and services of a local representative.

FREE-WHEELING IN ESTONIA

A predominantly flat country with over 6,500 kilometres of trails – the majority of which are off-road – Estonia is ideal for cyclists. For those wanting to cross the

THE VARIED LANDSCAPE AND DRAMATIC SCENERY OF MENORCA MAKE IT A PRIME HIKING DESTINATION

country by bike, the 981km EuroVelo 10 starts near the Latvian border in the south and passes through Pärnu, Tallinn, Lahemaa, the oldest national park in Estonia, and ends at the Russian border.

For a shorter ride, try the 18km circular route around Kihnu island, a former seal hunting and fishing island, where the women take care of the preservation of the island’s cultural heritage while the men are out fishing.

How: Exodus Travel (exodus.co.uk; 020 3993 7598) offers an 11-day Cycle the Baltics trip from £1,549 per person (two sharing), including accommodation with breakfast, cycle hire and a tour leader throughout. For more information visit visitestonia.com/discovercyclingroutes

STUNNING SCENERY: See some of Europe’s most beautiful views with a hiking holiday at Mont Blanc.

The train route from Paris to Geneva will take you across the spectacular Cize-Bolozon viaduct over the Ain gorge.

Estonia is ideal for cyclists, who can enjoy a stop-off in the capital,Tallinn.

Blue skies for hikers in Menorca.