Explore Corsica's spectacular mountain villages by rail
Take the ferry from Nice to Bastia, then hop on the train to the mountain village of Bocognano where Exodus organises guided day walks. An eight-day trip costs from £549pp, including food, accommodation and a guide (exodus.co.uk). Train from London to Nice costs from £109pp return (raileurope.co.uk, 0844 848 4070). Ferry from Nice to Bastia (return from Ajaccio) costs from €32 and takes 3-5 hours (corsicaferries.com).
Ride the wild west of Ireland on horseback
Saddle up at a farmhouse near Sligo, where a week's B&B costs from £650pp, including horses and guide, pictured (equineadventures.co.uk, 0845 130 6981). By train and ferry from the UK from £25 single (sailrail.co.uk, 0845 075 5755). Car hire at Dublin port from £129 a week (00 353 625 3103, dooleycarrentals.com).
Discover the Couserans region of the French Pyrenees on a self-guided walking itinerary
A seven-day trip costs £615pp, including B&B, packed lunches, a handbook of local walks and maps, and hire car from Toulouse (uplandescapes.com, 01367 851111). Train from London to Toulouse from £109pp return (raileurope.co.uk, 0844 848 4070).
Sea kayak and walk the Heritage Coastal Path on the Gower, Wales
In the cosy grandeur of the Parc le Breos hotel (01792 371 636, parc-le-breos.co.uk), a Welsh breakfast will set you up for a day of riding, walking or kayaking. From £43pp per night.
Cycle round the lakes and volcanoes of the Garrotxa in northern Catalonia
£895 per person, including seven nights' B&B, four dinners, cycling maps, and luggage transfers between hotels (inntravel.co.uk, 01653 617906). Train from London to Girona costs from £162pp return, including a bed on the sleeper from Paris (raileurope.co.uk, 0844 848 4070).
Take the family to Sardinia
Travel by train to Marseille then by overnight ferry. Stay at Keycamp's Baia Blu Tortuga, half a mile from the beach. Eight nights in a self-catering villa costs from £203 for two adults and two children (keycamp.co.uk, 0844 406 0319). Train from London costs £406 return for a family (raileurope.co.uk, 0844 848 4070) and overnight ferry in a cabin from Marseilles to Port Torres from £409.68 return (sncm.fr).
Join an island-hopping whiskey and gastro tour in Scotland
You'll be picked up in a 16-seat mini-coach from Edinburgh and taken to Arran for the first night before crossing by ferry to the islands of Islay, Mull and Sky. The trip costs £349pp for eight days, including transport and a tour leader, but not accommodation (rabbies.com, 0131-226 3133).
Take the kids to the YHA's new eco hostel in the National Forest
Walks and cycle trails through the forest leave from the front door. Conkers adventure park is nearby (visitconkers.com). A bed costs £14.95 per adult, £11.50 for children (yha.org.uk, 0870 770 6141).
Learn how to track whales and dolphins in the Mediterranean
After meeting at Almería on the southern Spanish coast, you'll live on a traditional sail boat for 12 days. The trip costs from £1,250pp, including all meals, accommodation and training (earthwatchexpeditions.org). Train from London to Madrid costs from £162pp (raileurope.co.uk, 0844 848 4070), train from Madrid to Almería costs from €98 return (renfe.es).
Take a bike on the ferry from Newcastle to Bergen and cycle the Norwegian fjords
A week's guided cycling costs from £1,375, including accommodation, most meals and vehicle support (skedaddle.co.uk, 0191-265 1110). Overnight ferry from Newcastle to Bergen in a cabin costs from £231, bike costs £5 each way (dfds.co.uk, 0871 522 9955).