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Hiking Trails – the best long-distance trails of Europe is out now!
Publication date: 06 Sep 2024
InspirationTrails
I can’t tell you how proud I am to publish my first book: Hiking Trails – the best long-distance trails of Europe. It’s first published in Dutch and we hope to translate it soon in English 😊. The last few years I’ve had the chance to hike the most beautiful trails in Europe. This book features 18 of the most beautiful long-distance trails in 18 European countries. It features vivid descriptions of the hikes and what walking can do for the mind. I also write about how to prepare, safety, how to hike as sustainably as possible, and tell you more about my belief that long-distance hiking is for everyone. The hikes vary in length and difficulty, this book is for every hiker.
From Norway to Spain and from Scotland to Poland, this book covers some really unique trails that I hope you’ve never heard of and it will inspire you to discover lesser-known trails. Of course, the Tour du Mont Blanc, Alta Via 1 and Kungsleden are the classics, but I believe that there’s so much more out there. Discover Europe at its best on these 18 lesser-known trails in the book.
Happy Trails!
Editor
Elmar Teegelbeckers
Passionate hiker Elmar spends months of his time on the trail. He’s usually on the lookout for hidden gems in one of his favourite countries such as Slovenia, Switzerland and Japan. He founded hiking-trails.com in need for a community and detailed information about the trails. Before this, he worked for the Alpine asscociation in the Netherlands[ (NKBV) but lost his heart to the trails.
Not long ago, Elmar published the book (in Dutch) Hiking Trails – best long-distance trails in Europe. With this book, website and socials, he hopes to inspire and shape an inclusive community for hikers all over world. No matter your speed, experience or level, you can get out there to enjoy the trails and connect with the heartwarming hiking community. Life is so much better outside and he hopes to inspire hikers to take their first, or next, step on the trail.
You can find 18 trails in 18 countries in this book from 75km to 620km and everything in between. From the Arctic Circle to the most southwest point of the European mainland. From easy to difficult, this book is for everyone. Although the book is not really about ranking the best trails. I believe that every last trail has the possibility to be your best trail! Every trail has something special. The book is about slow travel, responsible tourism, the hiking community, trail magic, connecting, disconnecting, happy days, and the hard days. But the most important takeaway: long-distance hiking is for everyone!
My only goal is to inspire you to hike the trails, short or long, easy or difficult, every trail is YOUR camino, your challenge, your hike, your good days, your bad days. Go out there, enjoy and meet the many nice people along the way in the most beautiful settings, become more confident, and have the best time of your life.
Walking a long-distance trail (LAW) is not a competition. It’s not about who has completed the most hikes and certainly not about your speed. In fact, it might even be better if you’re a bit slower. By taking more time, you can enjoy nature longer, make deeper connections with fellow hikers and locals, and maybe even with yourself. You can fully immerse yourself in the trail world. Stick to your own pace and try not to follow that of other hikers; everyone has their own speed. Sometimes you’ll feel great and easily walk 30 km, and sometimes your legs just don’t want to move, and you stop after 10 km. And then there’s always tomorrow. So: hike slow, go far.
Trail Magic
Something you can always count on is trail magic. The concept, which originated in the United States, also applies in Europe. These are the moments when you are pleasantly surprised. It can be something very small: someone giving you a cold drink after a long, hard day. Or, as happened to me once, a stranger offering you a place to sleep when the mountain hut turns out to be closed. Such events give you energy and strength during sometimes tough moments.
Why This Book?
I hope this book inspires you to (re)embark on a long-distance hike. Maybe it’s your first trail, or maybe you’re an experienced hiker looking to push your limits. Either way: discover Europe at its finest on one of these trails.
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