Getting the flavour of…

Norwegian islands by e-bike

With a fast ferry network and a “jawdropping” mountain landscape, Norway’s Helgeland archipelago is a joy to explore by e-bike, says Sam Haddad in The Guardian. Many of its 24,000 or so islands are tiny, but the larger ones have villages of “prettily painted” wooden houses and pleasant places to stay. It’s worth stopping to explore some of the coast on a kayak, and to climb peaks such as Mount Ravnfloget, the notoriously steep summit of which can now be reached by ordinary mortals, via a recently constructed wooden staircase. Sample local delicacies such as cod cheek (“tasty if a little chewy”) and vegalefsa (“a cinnamon pancake-like power snack”), and don’t miss the Vega World Heritage Centre, for a fascinating picture of the islanders’ traditional way of life. For information on bike hire, visit visithelgeland.com.

A birder’s paradise in Spain

It might sound dull to the uninitiated, but with the right people, and in the right place, birdwatching can be bliss. For a beginner’s course, try a guided group trip to the Spanish region of Extremadura with Naturetrek, says Judith Woods in The Sunday Telegraph. Guests stay in a simple but “spotless” guest house near the Monfragüe National Park, a mountainous stretch of the Tajo Valley famous for its migratory birds. Chances are you’ll spot hoopoes, storks, little owls, Spanish imperial eagles and bee-eaters – all without having to leave the guest house grounds. And in the countryside beyond, the air is “saturated” with birdsong – a “balm to the soul”. The schedule tends to be strict – early starts, nine-hour days – but rewarding, and there’s much else to see, including wild boar, butterflies and a “breathtaking” array of orchids. A seven-day trip costs from £1,795 per person, including flights (naturetrek.co.uk).

Lazy summers in the Lot

The Lot – just south of the Dordogne – is idyllic in the early summer, says Dana Facaros in The Times, when orchids fill the meadows and “lipstick-red” poppies line the roads. Stay at the 13th century Château de Mercuès, high on a spur outside the pretty town of Cahors, with its handsome medieval bridge. Eastwards lie the valley’s other “fivestar attractions” – the 29,000-year-old cave paintings of the Grotte du Pech Merle, and the “outrageously picturesque” clifftop village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Westwards, the river coils past “idyllic” beaches and vineyards to Puy-l’Évêque, with its beautiful hanging gardens. Hire a kayak at Douelle or Caix, go on a wine-tasting tour by bike (Velo du Lot will deliver one to your hotel), and sample the local cuisine at the Château de Mercuès and Les Jardins in Parnac.