Ten gentle strolls through Europe

Easy routes, epic views… and a glass of wine at the end. If you’re looking for a hiking holiday without the aches and pains, just follow in Sarah Baxter’s footsteps

Walking, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. There’s the sense of freedom, fresh air and forward motion; the big views and little surprises; how good a chilled post-walk pinot grigio tastes. And none of these things – none of them – requires you to trek until you are broken each day.

“Soft hiking” is still hiking. Covering shorter, easier routes at a gentle pace, you’ll still reap the slowly unfurled, richly inhaled, otherwise unreachable benefits that only exploring on foot can bring. In fact, arguably you reap them more fully than the hardcore trekker, who blasts through the miles, no time to stop and stare. There’s an exquisite pleasure in sleeping in late, lingering over a hearty breakfast, setting off on a gentle ramble, passing through superb scenery, stopping wherever and whenever you please, knowing that a comfortable inn and a good glass of wine awaits.

You don’t have to thrash yourself in order to get the most out of a hike. As long as you get the basics right. And the first thing is to decide what you actually like. If you’re going to spend a concentrated amount of time exploring one area, make it an area that truly appeals. You have decided to do some strolling, yes, but what else gives you joy? Sea air and wild swimming? Forests full of birds? Pottering through cobbled villages? Traversing heady wine country (with plenty of open cellar doors)? Ensure that you are walking where you are interested, so that walking isn’t the only reward.

Also, hiking doesn’t have to leave you with aching limbs. The breadth and diversity of trails – especially across Europe – is immense. So, look for the routes that will suit you best: short trails, soft surfaces, rest days and trains, boats and funiculars that can help ease the effort.

Luggage? You don’t want to worry about that. If you decide to opt for a hotel-to-hotel walking trip, choose one where your large bags are taken on ahead, allowing you to travel light – just a daypack with the essentials: waterproof, water bottle, gourmet picnic.

Yes, gourmet – why not? This is a holiday and there’s no need to rough it. There are trips that combine the best of everything, on which you can spend days ambling through historic gorgeousness, snacking on fine local fare and finishing up in former palaces or fivestar spa hotels with a Michelin-starred feast. Soft hiking, I love thee indeed.