Earn and burn calories on some great foodie walks

Summer trekking for foodies – with On Foot Holidays

Earn and burn calories on great foodie treks…

The basic premise of On Foot Holidays’ carefully-selected walking destinations is this: having undertaken a day’s great hiking and convinced yourself that this was an incredibly impressive achievement, you undo some of the good work by gorging on delicious nosh (and wine) each evening.

As with all elements of On Foot Holidays’ trips, the food is strongly focused towards local offerings: traditional delicacies, cultural variations, recipes passed down the generations and interesting regional dishes.

On Foot Holidays has selected some of the best walking trips for foodies this summer. You’re guaranteed a tan (whilst exercising, eating delicious food and enjoying local wines) and yet, due to the slightly higher altitudes, the temperatures are cooler for enjoyable walking – a perfect combination for a summer trip.  Here’s On Foot Holidays’ pick of the best:

Slovenia

Guests on this walking adventure stay on working farms and enjoy Slovenian delicacies. While most walking companies concentrate on Slovenia’s Julian Alps, this trip takes travellers via the little-known Karst, a less vertiginous and tourist-free area of vineyards, woods, villages, caves and rivers. Try the local prsut (cured ham), which tastes wonderful with the region’s full-bodied red teran wine. Other culinary delights include hearty rabbit stew and delectable honey ice cream. The walk concludes in the lively Italian seaport of Trieste. Six nights’ B&B cost from £655 pp (two sharing), including four picnics and two evening meals. Graded easy – medium.

Sabine Hills, Italy

Set 40 miles north of Rome, in the province of Lazio – and yet almost unknown to non-Italians – the Sabine Hills offer classically green ridges, scenic high pastures, fortified villages and ruined abbeys. Every guesthouse offers excellent home cooking as standard, and the wholesome, simple local style is perfect for tired trekkers. Juicy olives, olive oil and breads are prominent, as you’d expect, while tasting menus come packed with prosciutto. The trip concludes with a day exploring Rome. Six nights’ B&B cost from £770 pp (two sharing), including two picnics and three evening meals. Graded medium.

Catalonia, Spain

In and around rural Catalonia’s La Garrotxa Natural Park, a renowned local volcanic style of cuisine dominates kitchen offerings.  It stars potatoes, chestnuts, wild mushrooms, buckwheat, beans and boar; hearty fare, supported by salads and truffles.  Drink the native cava as an apéritif, but go easy on ratafia, the local herbal liqueur, which packs a punch. Starting from the preserved medieval town of Besalú, this trip takes in the gentle dormant volcanic cones, rugged plateaux and tranquil meadows of the region and includes a climb up to Santa Maria del Mont, a tiny and staggeringly-remote mountain church. Six nights’ B&B cost from £910 pp (two sharing), including five picnics and four evening meals. Graded medium.

And here’s a foodie trip for early Autumn…

Mallorca

Uncovering the little-known, wild and remote side of Mallorca, this scenic trail encompasses the sophisticated capital of Palma, plus the lofty peaks and deep valleys of the majestic, UNESCO-listed Tramuntana mountain range. There’s wonderful cuisine along the way, too, such as the Mallorcan version of paella. This trip is a little too hot for the summer months, however, so is best enjoyed in September and October. Eight nights’ B&B cost from £980 pp (two sharing). Departures all year (excluding July and August). Graded medium.

Luggage is transferred ahead of walkers to the next night’s stop. Local back-up assistance is available when required. Detailed maps and instructions are provided for every trip. Flights/travel to destinations is excluded.

For further information, for expert advice from someone who’s walked the route, and to book, call On Foot Holidays on 01722 322 652 (www.onfootholidays.co.uk).