There are 6 of us. Want a self-guided walk, easy to moderate in May in Europe. Dordogne was perfect last year, we easily arranged things ourself. We've done: Amalfi, Cinque Terra, Luberon, Pyrennes, Sicily. This year we want something new. Thanks for your help!

I will definitely recommend the Grazalema region in Southern Spain (Andalucia). May is a gorgeous time of the year to enjoy this area; a hiking route that could take you from some gorgeous White Villages on the Ronda Mountains. This route is very diversified; green pasture, meadows, some mountain paths in the Grazalema National Park (a designated UNESCO biosphere). The White Villages/towns are peppered throughout the route and they will give you a sense of been back during Moorish occupation time. They will also provide with lodging opportunities. Strongly, strongly advice you to consider this route. Have fun!!!

P.S. On my List of Retirement Projects is to study, explore, and document the flora on the Grazalema National Park. Can't wait!!!

You might want to consider England (or anywhere in the UK for that matter)

There are many wonderful long distance paths all over the country. Around the coast of Cornwall, through the Cotswolds, in the Peak District - just everywhere.

oh - meant to include this link

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/INFO/paths/

there was a recent good trip report by a couple walking the Cotswolds that might interest you.

Germany has a program called "Wandern ohne Gepack" where you walk inn to inn and the luggage is transported for you. Check the german national (or regional) tourist offfice

May in the Costwolds region tends to ne on the rainy side....beware.

&quot;<i>May in the Costwolds region tends to ne on the rainy side....beware</i>&quot;

Of course the weather is variable - but May is certainly not a &quot;rainy&quot; time in the Cotswolds.

Try the West Highland Way. Wonderful scenery (and the people are OK too)

http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/

We've also done several self-guided walking trips in Europe: Cotswolds, Alsace, England Coast-to-Coast, Berner Oberland in Switzerland, and Kerry Way in Ireland. We love hiking in England, even when there's a bit of rain and there are many options for self-guided trips and easy availability of accommodations. We hope to do a major walk on the Southwest Coastal Path sometime soon.

I thought our week in Alsace was fabulous-- a very different area of France than what you've already seen. Check out my trip report here: http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=373

Kathy

May in the Cotswolds isn't necessarily any rainier than any other time of the year, and why does it matter anyway? The countryside's typically at its greenest and best.

The Grazalema area can be splendid in May, and I'd strongly recommend it. BUT it's essential to go prepared. We found weather changing in mid May, during a 500 ft altitude increase, from modest dampness to hail and temperatures only a few degrees above freezing. Being idiots, we'd not dressed for those temperatures, and were in serious trouble before we got back to our luggage.

This isn't an argument against Grazalema, but a repetition of the universal advice about walking practically anywhere in Europe's hills in the spring: weather's changeable.