My guest blogger Steven Smith lives in Glasgow and reckons that Scotland is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. In winter, however, he hankers after a trip that is a little warmer and includes some outdoors activities. Following inspiration from the Falcon Holidays’ Passport Challenge, Steven is looking towards the Mediterranean.

Walking in Spain

Did you know that Spain is one of the best places in Europe for hiking holidays? Offering a mix of scenic, historical and challenging walks, the terrain in Spain is ideal for beginners, intermediate walkers and professionals alike.

The Way of Saint James offers walkers a more cultural walk, while the more adventurous and experienced climber can opt for the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range in central Spain, which is just 50 kilometres from Madrid, and is home to the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Park, a popular place for climbers and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Walking in Greece

Pelion, on the Greek mainland peninsula, comes highly recommended by many outdoor enthusiasts thanks to the picturesque mountain trails through untouched hamlets, sleepy fishing villages and stone-paved paths. Self-guided walks offer the option to push yourself by choosing a more difficult route, or take it easy and unwind by exploring the many unspoilt beaches and visit the nearby beach resort of Agios Ioannis.

Walking in Turkey

From rock climbing in Antalya to the Kaçkar Range near the Black Sea, Turkey gives walking and climbing enthusiasts a real taste of the Mediterranean outdoor lifestyle. The walking trail system in Turkey is renowned for being very welcoming and inclusive, so single walkers can join an exciting walking group very easily, which takes some of the hard work out of planning a walking holiday in the country. Meanwhile, more experienced climbers can head to Mt. Erciyes in Central Anatolia for a more challenging climb.

Walking in the Mediterranean gives outdoor enthusiasts the chance to experience the best walks and peaks in the region, and Falcon Holidays’ passport challenge allows users to take part in a fun online game whilst giving them the chance to win money towards their next holiday, so why not join in and see what peaks you could climb in 2014?

Steven Smith is a restless travel blogger who loves to explore the most exotic parts of the world on a shoestring.

Images by adrigu, Klearchos Kapoutsis and Andrea Schieber used under creative commons licence.