‘The only way is up’: cycling Norway’s mountainous ‘Milky Way’

The Mjølkevegen was once used to bring milk from high pastures to the towns below. Now cyclists are discovering the road’s breathtaking panoramas of peaks and lakes, dotted with cosy inns

‘I came to the Highlands to give something back to the hills’: a volunteering trip in Scotland

I found two days of hard graft – repairing hiking paths with a conservation trust in stunningly remote Wester Ross – a surprisingly rewarding experience

Transylvania beyond the spooky castles: a family adventure in Romania’s mountains

Forget the vampire tales – the Eastern Carpathians deliver dramatic peaks, roaming bears and deep solitude

Share a tip on a city break in Europe

Tell us about your favourite break in a less obvious European city – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break

Away with the ferries: exploring Switzerland’s forgotten lake district by boat

The Jura and Three Lakes region is often overlooked by visitors, but on a lake-hopping adventure I discovered its gentle beauty as well as great food and wine

20 of the best cabins, campsites and hotels in Europe’s mountains, lakes and forests

From a 500-year-old inn in the Italian Dolomites to a log cabin in Finland’s lake district, these boltholes offer a tranquil getaway

‘It’s one huge adventure playground’: readers’ best summer trips in the lakes and mountains of Europe

From the Alpine meadows of Bavaria to a pristine lake in Italy and the pilgrim routes of the Pyrenees, here are some of your favourite discoveries.

‘Living proof damaged landscapes can recover’: exploring a vast restored forest in southern Sweden

Söderåsen national park is one of Europe’s largest protected broadleaf woods, offering wild swimming, spectacular hiking trails and an inspiring story of regeneration

Katendrecht: Rotterdam’s sailors’ quarter reinvented as cultural hub

The regeneration of historic warehouses has transformed this former red-light district into one of the port city’s most vibrant areas

In the footsteps of the Victorians on the Isle of Man

Steam trains, horse-drawn trams and glorious coastal paths are all part of the adventure on a new self-guided walking tour of the island

Tell us about your favourite lesser-known European island

Share a travel tip on an island escape – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break

A slow, boozy bus tour of Hungary’s secret vineyards

The spa town of Balatonfüred is a bucolic gem for sailors, hikers … and wine lovers. A new hop-on, hop-off bus tour offers a chance to get a taste of its little-known wineries

‘I lose all sense of time in the hypnotic flow’: five writers on their favourite British rivers

From the source to the sea, our writers share their favourite ways to immerse themselves in nature by paddleboarding, canoeing, camping, walking and fishing

‘I haven’t felt this present for months’: sail back in time on a Thames barge in Essex

You don’t have to be a sailor to cruise the estuaries of Essex on this historic craft. The skipper will show you the ropes – or just sit back and enjoy the ride

How to explore Britain and Ireland’s most beautiful rivers on foot, bike or boat: readers’ travel tips

Our rivers may be running low at the moment, but they still offer an abundance of adventure and nature to explore. Here are your favourites, from the Tees to the Shannon