You might think Scandinavia would be the obvious choice for an active European coolcation, but a new ranking suggests the Alps could be just as tempting.
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As this summer winds down following months of record-breaking temperatures, new research shows that searches for coolcations have risen 74% year-on-year, and that 65% of holidaymakers now saying they'd rather avoid travelling during the hottest time of year.
Those who do opt to holiday in the peak summer months are often travelling to spots where they can beat the heat.
The research, from SportsCover Direct, has ranked Europe’s best destinations for an active coolcation, looking at everything from summer temperatures and humidity to hiking and cycling trails and scoring them out of 100.
France’s Mont Blanc region took first place with a 73.7 index score, while the Alps claimed four spots in the top 10, beating many of the Nordic destinations more traditionally associated with cooler summer escapes.
Austrian Tyrol was in fifth place, followed by Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria and Switzerland's Valais in eighth and ninth spots respectively.
That’s little surprise considering that google searches for "Alpine summer" are up 222% worldwide year-on-year, thanks in part to its excellent trail access and accessibility.
French Alpine resort town Chamonix, which sits at the base of Mont Blanc, alone has 217 hiking and cycling trails per 100km², which makes it one of the densest networks of all the destinations analysed.
Austrian Tyrol was found to have a similarly strong trail density, with 178 trails per 100km².
Active coolcations: Where else should you travel to?
It’s not all bad news for Scandinavia, though.
Sweden's Åre and Jämtland Mountains in second place, with a score of 65.1, and Norway's Lofoten Islands came in seventh.
Despite their famously dramatic scenery, the islands fell down on accessibility, as it’s rather tricky to reach them in their location above the Arctic Circle.
Humidity is also a consideration in the Nordics, as they run much more humid than their Alpine counterparts. For instance, Lofoten averaged 82% humidity in August, while Mont Blanc and Valais run at 74%, which means that similar temperatures feel less comfortable in reality.
The UK and Ireland also have three entries in the top 10, and boast very pleasant temperatures, even in high season.
The Scottish Highlands ranked third overall, with Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales taking fourth place and Connemara in Ireland ranked in 10th.
The Scottish Highlands and Snowdonia especially benefit from a rare – and desirable – combination of comfortable temperatures, dense trail networks and excellent accessibility.
In August, temperatures in the Highlands are an average temperature of just 13.6C, and they also boast 211 hiking and cycling trails per 100km².
Snowdonia has even more trails, with 28 per 100km², a figure which rivals the Alps' best connected hubs.
The top 10 destinations for an active coolcation
- Mont Blanc Region, France – 73.7
- Åre & Jämtland Mountains, Sweden – 65.1
- Scottish Highlands, Scotland – 60.9
- Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Wales – 58.0
- Austrian Tyrol – 57.6
- French Pyrenees, France – 53.9
- Lofoten Islands, Norway – 53.1
- Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria – 51.1
- Valais, Switzerland – 49.0
- Connemara, Ireland – 47.2