The days are finally feeling longer and spring cleaning urges are kicking in. By taking a walking holiday in March, you are undertaking a mental spring cleaning, decluttering your head and taking positive steps towards a natural way of living. In our list of best walking holidays in March, you’ll find a spring mix of saunters including island idylls, early pilgrimages and Italian classics. So, throw off that winter duvet, embrace a bit of March madness and treat yourself to a spring break.
Whales, wildflowers and walking in the Azores
Not only do walkers like to explore the Azores in March, some of the world’s colossal cetaceans do too. It’s a magnet for marine greats, in fact, with blue whales honing in on their habitat from March to mid-May. Sperm whales are here all year round, however. As the archipelago benefits from the warmth of the Gulf Stream, temperatures rarely dip under 14C throughout the year, even though rain is unpredictable, and be prepared for windy weather too. The Azorean landscapes are as enticing as the seascapes, however, with hikes to volcanic craters, caldeiras hot springs, ancient coastal trails and secret waterfalls. In March, there are also plenty of purple periwinkle flowers, pink Azorean bellflowers and Bermuda buttercups coming into bloom, along with many others. For more information, see our blog, Walking in the Azores.
Spring walking holidays on the Ruta del Cister, Catalonia
Catalonia starts to really shine from about March onwards, and the wildflowers wangle their way out of hibernation along its coastal and mountain trails too. Temperatures can get as high as 15C in March, increasing by a couple of degrees every month. One of our March favourites, and worth getting in before the Easter crowds, is walking on the Ruta del Cister, where you take in the region’s monasteries over seven days, in a landscape of exquisite and ecclesiastical beauties. This sacred circular route connects the monasteries of Poblet, Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creus, starting and ending in Montblanc. With no shortage of vineyards and wine villages en route. The walking holiday is also accessible by train from Barcelona and you can either time it to align with Easter, or get in before the worshipful walkers.
Which trek is best in March in the Balearics?
Our walking holidays in both Menorca and Mallorca are open for booking in March, and both are Balearic beauties. However, we’re opting for Menorca for the purposes of this blog, particularly towards the end of the month. Because unlike Mallorca, Easter and the buildup to it is not a biggie on Menorca, and you’ll have the island’s Camí de Cavalls all to yourself. Apart from the bevy of birdlife that the island is famous for, so ensure to bring your binoculars.
The Camí is a 185km trail that encircles the island’s coast, and was built in the 14th century by King James II and his occupying forces, to give access for his knights and horses to protect the island. Dipping down to bay after bay, where the water is already around 15C, March is a month to saunter, splash, repeat. But don’t expect every bar to be open. Just the special local ones. For more information, see our blogs, Walking Menorca’s Camí de Cavalls, and Should I go to Mallorca or Menorca?
Can you hike in Italy in March?
We have around thirty walking holidays open for booking in Italy in March, especially in the south of Italy where temperatures can already be in the high teens at this time of year. However, we’re singling out our love for Liguria at this time of year. Because if you want to eke out every moment of these longer days, one of the country’s crowning glories, Cinque Terre National Park is a March marvel.
Hiking the Cinque Terre is one of the best coastal walking tours in Italy, exploring five vertiginous villages in the month before influencers and bussed-in daytrippers arrive. Go for a five day Cinque Terre walking holiday of its highlights, or just give into the gorgeousness of it all on an eight day walking holiday not only of the five villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Rio Maggiore, but also Portofino and Porto Venere. Read more in our guide, Walking in Cinque Terre National Park.
Hiking in March in Malta is mega
This archipelago, just south of Italy, has both quirky cultural heritage and quality natural heritage. Given that it has swapped hands between the Phoenicians, Romans and Byzantines, the Catholic Order of Malta, the French and British, there’s a lot going on here historically and architecturally. It’s now a republic, a member state of the EU and a small rambling haven. As well as the main island of Malta, it also has an extra natural jewel in its crown – the island of Gozo, with a Maltese maze of ancient trails, sea caves and the red sands of Ramla beach. This walking holiday takes you to both islands where spring temperatures are a respectable 12-18C. So although March can sometimes feel a bit meh, it won’t do if you add Malta and the Med into the mix.
Which trek is best in March in England?
It may still have some muddy patches in March, but Hadrian’s Wall Path is unlikely to have any mobbed ones, as it only starts to see a handful of visitors on the via from mid-March. Hike the trail from east to west, starting in Newcastle on the North Sea and completing this iconic Roman ramble of 135km in Solway on the Irish Sea. You can walk the whole thing in eight days, with your luggage transferred for you, staying at three star hotels and guesthouses along the way, where a warm welcome always awaits. If you don’t fancy doing the whole thing this early in the year, you could always opt for Hadrian’s highlights over six days, or even five days. For more information, see our team member Gregor’s top tips on hiking Hadrian’s Wall, who also walked it in March.
Where to go hiking in March in Greece
You can see all of our March Greek walking holidays here, but we find springtime in the Saronic Islands particularly tempting. Made up of seven main islands, the Argo-Saronic archipelago, to give it its full name, has superb hiking havens. We combine the two main islands of Hydra and Poros into one walking holiday, as they are both strikingly different, while also simply striking. They are open for walkers from mid-March, and you will feel spring in the air in Poros’ forests and Hydra’s more mountainous pine groves, that stretch down to its myriad bays. The average temperatures are 13C but it has been known to be as high as 24C.
Walking the Camino de Santiago in March
There are two excellent yet completely contrasting reasons to embark on one of our Camino de Santiago holidays in March. Depending on the timing of Easter, you can choose to trek early and enjoy a peaceful journey with fewer pilgrims. Alternatively, you can fully embrace pilgrim camaraderie by timing your arrival for Easter Sunday. By starting the 16-day full Camino Primitivo (also known as the Original Camino) in March, you can complete the path in time to join fellow travellers celebrating this special day together.
Another wonderful option is the final 100km stretch of the Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago, which is just long enough to qualify you for the Compostela Certificate. This journey through Galicia offers a deeply soulful entry into spring, and you can tailor it to your preferred pace over 12, seven or eight days. In addition, if you just don’t like this month, and you have time, taking on a full Camino Frances, Primitivo or Portugues is the best way to escape it altogether in a mindful and insightful way.
We hope this has given you a few ideas for embracing a few late winter walking adventures. To learn about other places to go walking in March, from the Sahara to the sierras, click here, and do not hesitate to contact us for more information. You may also enjoy reading our blog, Best coastal walking holidays, Do you need hiking poles for walking holidays? And Our five best hikes in Catalonia.
The Azores: Walking on Pico and Faial Islands
Hadrian’s Wall Path Relaxed
The Azores: Walking on São Miguel Island
The Azores: Walking on Pico Island, São Jorge and Faial
Walking in Malta and Gozo
Walking in the Saronic Islands: Poros and Hydra
Hiking the Cinque Terre
Walking in Liguria: Cinque Terre, Portofino and Porto Venere
Hadrian’s Wall Highlights
Hadrian’s Wall Challenge
Walking Hadrian’s Wall Path
