Winter Walks

Madeira remains walkable through winter, with routes following levadas through laurel forest, steep-sided valleys and cultivated hillsides.

The island’s subtropical climate makes it one of the more dependable winter choices in the programme, though mountain weather can still be changeable. Some paths are narrow or exposed, so this is not simply an easy sunshine escape.

Tenerife’s volcanic interior gives winter walking a very different character from the island’s coastal resorts. The route crosses lava fields, pine forest and the high ground around Teide National Park.

Temperatures are generally milder than in northern Europe, but altitude matters. Conditions around Mount Teide can be much cooler than at the coast, and the terrain remains rocky and demanding in places.

This route combines the wooded hills and palaces of Sintra with open walking along the Atlantic coast towards Cascais.

Winter brings cooler air and fewer visitors to the busier sites, making the climbs around Sintra more comfortable. Coastal sections can be exposed in unsettled weather, but the mix of forest, historic estates and sea views gives the walk plenty of variety.

The Rota Vicentina follows Portugal’s south-west coast through fishing villages, sandy stretches and high paths above the Atlantic.

From February, cooler temperatures suit the exposed walking better than the heat of summer, and the route is generally quieter. The terrain includes loose sand and repeated climbs and descents, so progress can feel slower than the mileage suggests.

Mallorca’s walking season begins in February, when the mountain villages and paths are quieter and the strongest summer heat is still months away.

The route combines limestone hills, old stone paths and coastal views around the Serra de Tramuntana. Almond blossom may add seasonal colour in late winter, although timing varies from year to year and should not be presented as guaranteed.