By travelling car-free we became fully immersed in the area’s quieter attractions, with cosy stays and great food throughoutPulling a wheelie case along the stone streets of Bath, I feel I may as well be wearing a sign reading “tourist on a mini-break”. But when we check in to the Roseate Villa – a 15-minute trundle from the station – and the man who...

Tell us about a favourite place for a snowy holiday – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays breakNothing beats the magic of a winter holiday in the mountains. Whether you’re skiing or snowboarding in the Alps, husky-sledding through frozen forests in Scandinavia, snowshoeing in Poland’s Tatra mountains, or simply soaking up the snowy splendour...

Only a few miles but a world away from overcrowded Snowdon, the quieter paths and rugged slopes of the Rhinogydd offer a walk on the region’s wildest mountainAs soon as I stepped within the stone circle of Cerrig Arthur, the strange noise began. It came from the far side of the valley – a long, hoarse scream. Then it became louder, growing into an ear-splitting...

The lakeside resort of Zell am See is big on outdoor fun, hearty food and stunning viewsWe could feel the carefree spirit in the crisp air the moment we stepped off the train at Zell am See. It’s in the town’s DNA. Pleasure seekers have been coming to this lake and mountain resort in search of clean air, crystal waters and Alpine adventures ever since...

Stockholm’s archipelago is a joy in summer but harder to get around at other times as ferries reduce their services. But that could change with the launch of a new trail linking 21 islandsOn this windless autumn Saturday, the landscape is curiously hushed. Occasionally, a tiny chorus of coal tits gathers to chat in the pines above my head, but otherwise...

The Via de la Plata is one of Spain’s toughest pilgrim routes, weaving through a landscape of isolated steppes and fortress cities in the country’s least-known regionScorching sunlight glinted through the windows as the bartender slid a frosted glass of Cruzcampo across the aluminium bar. “Ocho meses de invierno, cuatro de infierno,” he sighed with...