Spain's outdoor landscape is more varied than most European countries. The Picos de Europa — a limestone massif in Asturias that rises from the Atlantic coast to 2,648 metres within 40 kilometres — delivers the Cares Gorge trail, 12 kilometres of footpath carved into a sheer cliff face above a turquoise river, which is one of the great easy day hikes in Europe. The Pyrenean ridge carries a 800-kilometre GR11 trail from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean across Spain's northern border. The Andalusian interior holds the Sierra Nevada National Park with Spain's highest peak (Mulhacén, 3,479 metres) above a Mediterranean olive and vine landscape at its feet. The Doñana wetlands in the Guadalquivir delta are Europe's most important wetland bird habitat — the Spanish imperial eagle, Iberian lynx, and hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl concentrate here in a national park that is still largely boardwalk-accessible wilderness. Then the hidden gems start showing up. No rush.