1 . Britain is arguably the great walking nation. About two-thirds of us already head out to stretch our legs once a week. The following festivals offer a wealth of organized walks, but walkers should register in advance.

Prestatyn and Clwydian Range festival

Visitors to Wales tend to move west, to either the well-worn tracks of Snowdonia or the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. There are 25 walks packed into the three days, with various options available, including a half-mile Roman-themed adventure, an eight-mile walk exploring the life of 18th-century Welsh naturalist and travel writer Thomas Pennant and a 21-mile Offa’s Dyke challenge. All walks are free.

Denbighshire, Wales, 19-21 May

Otley walking festival

This local festival has grown from humble origins in 2000 into a busy schedule of 50 short-distance walks and events celebrating the lives and landscapes of Wharfedale in West Yorkshire. One might enjoy the Five Pubs Walk, Walking With Wine, Four More Pubs or Lost Pubs of Otley. All walks are free, though there is sometimes a small charge for transport.

Otley, West Yorkshire, 24 June-3 July

Dartmoor offroading walking festival

Dartmoor delights (使高兴) walkers because, while tracks are there to be followed, the lack of wire and other barriers, and the relatively small number of farm buildings on the higher ground, create a sensation of freedom. The six free wheelchair walks, starting daily at 11am, explore Dartmoor’s industrial history, bronze age valuables and Victorian railway builders.

Devon, 27 August-2 September

Gower walking festival

With more superb walking options inside a single landscape than perhaps anywhere else, the Gower peninsula (半岛) sometimes feels as if it’s all coast. The further information for this nine-day festival, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Wales Coast Path (WCP), has yet to be finalized. Half of the walks offered during the festival will be on the coastal path, £10 adults, over-sixes £6.

Glamorgan, 2-10 September

5 . From hawk hikes to private sleepovers at the zoo, there is a great selection of animal-related experiences available to groups. Here are some top options to get closer to various wonderful wildlife.

Chester Zoo

The newest attractions here are the Madagascar Lemur Walkthrough experience, which gives visitors the opportunity to walk alongside ring-tailed and red-ruffed lemurs, and the interactive American Wetland Aviary, which is home to birds like scarlet ibises and flamingos. Group rates are available for parties of 15 or more and there are various catering options, including sit-down meals at the restaurant at the heart of the zoo.

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Until September 2022, it is offering groups of up to 60 the opportunity to experience a private Nature Night, on which they’ll get to explore the zoo privately after the public has left, take part in activities like quizzes, camp overnight, and get up early for a private tour along the green trail before it reopens to the public again.

West Midland Safari Park

The latest attraction at the park is the new African Walking Trail. Opened in May, the trail features three viewpoints that allow visitors to see the park’s African animals on foot. There’s also a four-mile drive-through safari area with red panda, penguin and lorikeet areas. Groups of ten plus, arriving in the same vehicle, can save more than 40%.

Knowsley Safari Park

The five-mile safari drive through the site takes you past free-roaming lions, rhinos and more than 100cheeky baboons. There’s a foot safari area, where the highlight is the Amur Tiger Trail with transparent walled viewing areas where you can get nose-to-nose with 450-pound tigers. Groups of 15 people and more, arriving in one vehicle, qualify for special ticket rates.

7 . When it comes to hiking, Greece has something for every kind of walker. The mainland boasts (拥有)well-maintained routes, while on the country’s islands you’ll find ancient paths dating back to Byzantine times connecting sleepy villages with beautiful sandy coves (小海湾). Here’s our pick of Greece’s best hikes.

16 kilometers(10 miles), 4 hours

Hiking the 16-kilometer Samaria Gorge is considered one of Crete’s must-do experiences, which is why you’ll rarely be without company. Nevertheless, there’s an undeniable raw beauty to Samaria, where vertical (垂直的) walls soar up to 500 meters and are just 3.5 meters apart at the narrowest point (150 meters at the broadest).

The hike begins at 1,230 meters at Xyloskalo just south of Omalos and ends in the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. It’s especially scenic in April and May, when wildflowers brighten the route.

8 kilometers(5 miles), 3 to 4 hours

The summit of Mt Ohi (Profitis Ilias; 1,398 m), lesser-visited Evia’s third-highest peak, is crowned by mysterious ancient dragon houses: 7th century BC architecture, made from rocks weighing several tons. From Myli, it’s an 8-kilometer hike to the summit (three to four hours).

It’s possible to stay overnight at the 1,000-meter-high refuge then hike up Mt Ohi to catch the sunrise(30 minutes), which makes for a magical experience. Contact South Evia Tours or Evia Adventure Tours for details.

14 kilometers (9 miles), 3 to 4 hours

This 14-kilometer downhill hike follows a centuries-old pathway from historic Delphi to the ancient port of Kirra, just east of modern Itea on the southern coast of mainland Greece.

The hike starts from the E4 long-distance starting point 100 meters east of the Hotel Acropole. Skirting the village of Crissa, it goes to the gulf (海湾) through Greece’s largest olive garden. After your three-to-four-hour hike, and lunch or a swim, you can return to Delphi by bus (around 2 euros).

5 kilometers(3 miles), 2 hours

An easy, enjoyable 5-kilometer(two-hour)round-trip hike escapes Lindos to reach the so-called Tomb of Kleobolus. Starting alongside Car Park 1 above the main beach, the route ends at a rocky hill topped by a circular tomb actually built during the 2nd century BC, long after Kleobolus ruled Rhodes.

Yours,

Li Hua