Overall rating: ★★★★★

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ - Scree and a bit of scrambling on the ridge. A full day out

​Start point: Arinsal

Distance: 14km

Elevation: 1,340m

Time: Approx. 9 hours

Gear needed: standard hiking gear

Need to know: Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons

Whilst the Alps get most of the attention in the European mountain scene, there’s an equally beautiful and dramatic range on the other side of France. The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain, stretching from the Mediterranean in the east to the Atlantic in the west. Nestled amongst these jagged peaks is Andorra, an ancient and tiny landlocked country that often gets forgotten about. If it does come up in conversation, it’s usually for the tax-free shopping or the skiing.

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ - No technical difficulty but steep at times (I wasn't the most fit when we climbed this, which might have skewed my rating - Ros didn't struggle)

Start point: Sendero de Montana Blanca

Distance: 9.5km (one way)

Elevation: 1,350m

Time: Approx. 5 hours

Gear Needed: Standard hiking gear

Restrictions: Permit needed

Pico del Teide, or Teide for short, rises magnificently out of the Atlantic Ocean on the island of Tenerife. At 3,718m, it is probably one of the highest peaks in Europe that can be climbed with no real technical difficulty. It also happens to be the highest mountain in Spain (though subject to debate). On our second trip to the Canary Islands, an excuse to get some winter sun, we decided to get up super early to try to beat the sun to the summit.