Tired of following tracks through the Dutch dune landscape and looking for a new walking challenge this year? Poland offers spectacular views, unspoiled nature and an extensive network of trails to suit every hiker, no matter how experienced you are.

Professional hiker Shanna Bussink, better known as Rayu, has hiked all over Europe and is no stranger to Poland’s extensive trail network, having completed two of the country’s longest routes over the past couple of years.

The country’s great variety of scenery, its birds, plants and animals, and its well-signposted trails make it a great location for the hike, she says, no matter how experienced you are.

Rayu’s first long distance walk in Poland was the Main Beskid Trail which runs to 500 kilometres, from the Czech and Ukrainian borders, taking in six mountain areas and four national parks.

Wonderful views

“You can do 10 to 15 kilometres a day perfectly easily,” she says. “If you are fit, you like wildlife and forests and spectacular views over mountains, then this is definitely worth doing.”

The trail involves a lot of ups and downs, although nothing higher than 1,700 metres, and can easily be broken into a series of shorter walks.

There are also plenty of huts for those who want to avoid camping, and carrying their gear, and in places where there are fewer options, there is always a village close by where you can find somewhere to stay.

Brown bears

Wildlife too abounds in this area of southern Poland but some species remain elusive.

“I’ve seen tracks and signs of bear but I’ve never seen one,” she says. “And if you do see one, it will probably walk away from you. We have the European brown bear over here and it is very different to the American black bear or grizzlies. You need to remember they are not very interested in humans. They’d rather be eating berries.”

During your hike you may also come across abandoned villages and other testaments to Poland’s rich history. ‘There is so much history and culture to discover,” she says. “If you are really into culture, then take more time with your hike. But if nature is your thing, there is so much to enjoy.”

Forests

Rayu started out hiking Dutch trails with her mother before turning a hobby into a career. Now her job is helping people prepare for hikes further afield and get the most out of their trips.

“My first question is always ‘what do you hope to get out of your hike?’,” she says. “For example, I love forest, but there are some people who feel uncomfortable in forests. If you are not a forest person, the Beskid trail is not for you.”

There are plenty of other options for hikers in Poland and the country has 15,000 kilometres of marked hiking routes to suit all ages and levels of fitness.

Alternative trails

The second longest hiking route is the Sudeten trail, which runs to 440 kilometres, from Góry Izerskie in the west to the Opawskie mountains in the east. It includes high waterfalls, the Złoty Stok gold mine and Srebrna Góra fortifications and a rich network of small hotels and pensions to stay in.

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But you can also follow a 350 kilometre route along Poland’s coast or take a thematic route (think archeology or literature) in the region of Świętokrzyskie. Autumn, when the leaves turn golden, is a particularly popular time to visit.

“Poland is closer to the Netherlands than you might think,” says Rayu. “You can get here by train and if you fly, you can be out on the hills in the afternoon of your arrival.”

Find out more about hiking in Poland here or visit the team at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from February 16 to 18 where a packed programme has been lined up. Contact Rayu for hiking advice via her website. She will also be talking about her Polish adventures at the Jaarbeurs on Saturday.