My favourite day hikes around the world

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Distance 15.6km Descent 1474m Time 5:02 Average Speed 3.1km/h

In order to do this trail which is probably in my top three ever walks you need to have booked Phantom Ranch down at the Colorado river. I entered a lottery one year prior where I indicated days in a particular month would work for me to stay. There is something very special about leaving the rim and descending into the canyon. Only a small percentage of people get to see the canyon floor and stay overnight who visit the canyon but it is very worth it. The walk is all downhill but a word of warning, the temperature change between the rim and the floor is extreme and the heat comes after you have walked for 5 hours. There is no water at all and you need to bring a lot. The path is very good with no real exposure issues. When you reach the Colorado there is a place to have a quick dip and then its under a Km to camp.

Distance 23.5km Ascent 1347m Time 6:24 Average Speed 3.67km/h

This route is a lot better to take out than the South Kaibab Trail because its not so steep. It is a lot longer and given the heat at the bottom an early start is needed. There is water stops on this trail. Its tough going and the last couple of hours you will meet a lot of people who venture down from the rim. Many not dressed appropriately. Crazy stuff. It was tough going for my kids and they did not talk to me for a few days afterwards. But this two day hike in and out of the canyon is a must do for people who hiking is a big part of their lives.

Distance 5.5km Ascent 345m Descent 345m Time 2:05 Average Speed 2.63km/h

I have done this hike 3 times as its only on hours drive from San Diego. I include it not only for that its a beautiful walk but you can have a really special family day and night there. There is a campsite with basic wooden huts (you need to bring your own sleeping bags) at the base of the walk. The path is easy to follow and good for young kids with a wonderful 360 vista. After climbing the peak head into Julian which is like something from the wild west with old wooden fronts restaurant and good tourist shops. After bbqing on an open fire you can watch the amazing stars at night. The next morning there is a great American diner at Lake Cuyamaca where you can eat a hearty American breakfast. Sometimes its not just the walk but its the whole package the walk brings and this overnight stay and hike has everything for everybody.

Distance 8.4km Ascent 72m Descent 205m Time 1:45 Average Speed 4.78km/h

I started this hike where we were staying but it can be easily tackled from the beautiful St Cyprien a wonderful part of the Dordogne. It is a walk that needs to be done very early in the morning because of what lies at the end. The  walk is over rolling hills down barely used old roads you get the feeling you are somewhere that has been walked for 1000s of years. At the end is the wonderful Grotte de Font de Gaume which are caves with paintings going back 15,000 years. It is very well preserved and only lets in a small amount of people each day. So you need to be early and queue hence you need to do the hike at dawn. But it is wonderful.

Distance 13.4km Ascent 763m Descent 763m Time 3:10 Average Speed 4.24km/h

There is something lovely about having no real expectation of a walk knowing it will be nice but thinking it maybe hyped too much. But I have got to say this was wonderful. One very important thing you need to leave very early as we were coming back to camp it was like a queue to a Disney ride to climb up the side of the waterfall. We headed out really early and were basically alone as we walked a very good path up the side of a fast flowing river and then under the spray of the waterfall. Great picture opportunity as you reach the top of the falls. You then loop around higher with further great views before you descend on part of the PCT and the famous John Muir Trail.

Distance 9.9km Ascent 515m Descent 515m Time 3:10 Average Speed 3.13km/h

Another great walk with a beautiful beach to cool down in after your walk. You start by walking along the beach and then head inland along a road and just at the end of the road there is a house and just left of the gate is a very steep climb that opens up into some wonderful views as seen in the picture above. Go early in the morning if there in summer as the way down has little cover. The beach where you start and end is a perfect place to spend the day

Distance 4.3km Ascent 259m Descent 259m Time 2:07 Average Speed2.02km/h

My time is very slow for a reason. I include this short hike for a reason. It leads to a wonderful deserted beach on Majorca's North/East coast. There is nobody there early in the morning. We were there in the time of Covid so maybe that's not the case normally but if you go early enough you should be alone. Its pretty straight forward with good cover. You can park anywhere as you come into the national park it just depends how far you want to drive. As you reach the water line on the hike you need to navigate some rocks to reach the beach. All fine but you need good hiking shoes and not flipflops. There is no development on the beach so if you plan to make a day of it you need to carry everything with you.