Walking the High Tatras

At just 25km across, the High Tatras - which stretch along the border between Slovakia and Poland - is one of the smallest mountain ranges in Europe, but also among the most beautiful, says Mark Piesing in the Independent. On the Slovakian side, Poprad is an ideal base from which to explore this landscape, with plenty of good restaurants and pensions to choose from in the 13th-century suburb of Spisska Sobata. From here, it's just 20 minutes to the national park. The mountains are famed for the severity of their terrain, with jagged peaks rising to 2,655m, but they offer plenty of spectacular routes to walkers of all abilities. Arriving at Popradske Pleso - one of 100 lakes in the Slovakian area alone - you'll find yourself walking through wildflowers beside water so clear you can see the fish through the reflections of the surrounding peaks. Mountain Paradise (0845 602 5872) offers seven days' guided walking, including accommodation and flights, starting at £350.

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