No electricity, no toilet, no running water – heaven! Celebrating 60 years of the Mountain Bothies Association

They may be the most basic form of shelter imaginable, but for the author of The Book of the Bothy they embody the magic of staying in the wild, even on a wet weekend in the Lake District

Balkan bounty: the little-known corner of Greece now ripe for walkers and nature tourism

Mountains, butterflies, bears and pelicans are among the natural wonders in the stunning Prespa lakes region, which straddles three countries

Alpine adventures: fairytale hiking in the hidden French Alps

Little known Queyras natural park promises blue-green lakes, mountain views, pretty villages and plenty of cheese – but almost no crowds

‘Reconnect with yourself and nature’: yoga and pristine scenery in Montenegro

Most visitors stick to the coast, leaving the wild interior to hikers, cyclists and fans of mindfulness

‘A delightful slice of unhurried life’: readers’ favourite European islands

Lesser-known isles, from a quieter alternative to Capri, to a gem in the heart of Helsinki and the smallest of Ireland’s Aran Islands

Lookout, Devon! Our overnight stay in a 1940s observation post

A clifftop bunkhouse built for the RAF during the second world war is perfect for a kid-friendly escape – with great views, sea swims, hiking and otter spotting

The valleys of the Dolomites: exploring Italy’s new network of wild trails

The Via delle Valli is a series of 50 trails aiming to tempt mountain-lovers away from the region’s hotspots and towards lesser-charted country

Light at the end of the tunnels: classic rail routes through the Alps reopen

After serious floods and landslides, some of the great trans-Alpine routes have reopened – with new services added – offering unforgettable train journeys from Austria to the Adriatic

In search of the UK’s finest mountain view: walking in Northern Ireland’s Mournes

Exploring the magical landscape that inspired Narnia and stars as a location in Game of Thrones – just an hour outside of Belfast

Industrial revelation: a walk through England’s Great Northern Coalfield

History comes to life on a hike through the woods and wagonways of County Durham, which takes in mining, trains, an award-winning museum – and corned beef and potato pie

‘If you love adventure but not tourists’: readers’ favourite wild places in Europe

Readers revel in extraordinary landscapes from black sand deserts in Iceland to haunting forests in Poland, spotting wolves, bears and honey buzzards along the way

‘The railway that got the world on track’: a walk through 200 years of history in County Durham

A new trail follows the 26-mile route of the world’s first passenger train journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway

Summer in Europe’s lakes and mountains: 15 of the best holidays

With cooler air, fewer crowds and lower prices, the mountains make a great alternative to the coast

‘On a peak under a blue sky’: the joy of summer in Europe’s mountains

Our writer recalls his favourite mountain experiences, from hard-won views to splendid isolation and the comforts of simple refuges

‘Framed by jagged peaks, it felt like stepping into a dream’: readers’ favourite mountain trips in Europe

From the Alpujarras to the Dolomites, our tipsters hike, camp and devour hearty mountain food in some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery• Send us a tip on European wilderness – the best wins a £200 holiday voucher