Places in the countryside in Europe

The Eastfjords, although not quite as dramatic as their western cousins, are the real highlight of eastern Iceland. Easily accessible and not particularly far from the Ring Road by 2WD, they nevertheless feel remote and isolated. Despite plenty of modern facilities, the small fishing villages that dot the coastline appear to be much as they once was, and life moves at a slower pace here than on the rest of the island. This is the home of the elves, a good place to see puffins, and one of Iceland’s premier hiking areas. Sea kayaking is another popular visitor activity here, and if you ask nicely you may be able to join one of the local fishing boats as they head out into the North Atlantic.

For an "end of the world" feeling, head to Djupavik at the Reykjarfjörður fjord in the Northwest of Iceland. You can still see the closed-down herring factory that was once the pulse of the village. The treeless Strandir coastline at the Arctic Sea is covered with driftwood from Siberia, which is not really around the corner!
About one hour drive North from Djupavik, just a few kilometers from literally the end of the road, you get to Krossness. On the beach they have an outdoor hot pool. What can be better than watching the sun set over the Arctic Sea from inside a hot pool on the beach?

This scenic ramp can be seen on post cards and in guidebooks. It leads down to a small pier from where sheep are sailed over to the neighbouring islands for grazing. Unfortunately, it's mostly tourists who use the ramp these days, but the setting is still spectacular.

Valentia Island can be visited as a side trip while driving the Ring of Kerry. From the old fishing (and pirate) village of Portmagee on the mainland, a bridge leads over to the island. From there the only main road traverse the island up to the main town of Knight's Town, which is a very quiet place in off season. There are some very nice vistas around the island, but the biggest sight on Valentia are the Tetrapod tracks (dinosaur footprints) on northern shore, which are believed to be more than 350 million years old.

Le Cinque Terre quite literally means the five lands in Italian and you will see why when you view this beautiful and bold coastline. The villages that make up the Cinque Terre are nestled into the steep cliff faces of the coast and offer some of the most amazing views and food within the Ligurian region. Travelling to the Cinque Terre has been made easy by regular trains departing from nearby La Spezia, most visitors opting to ride the train to the most northern village of Monterosso and hike the trail to the most southern village of Riomaggiore. The hike will take around 4 to 5 hours including a mouth watering lunch stop but there is also plenty of B&B's which cater for all price ranges if you should want to stretch out your stay on this stunning coastline. Best times to go are the months leading up to and after the European summer when you will find less traffic and more favourable temperatures but be careful not to go in the wet season when mudslides can occur. Don't forget to wear a good pair of walking shoes!

Back in the early 20th century, Kemeri was famous as a luxury resort town with health baths and sanatoriums. Today it's in oblivion, shrunken to a partly abandoned village - and a fascinating place. Traditional Latvian wooden houses and elegant churches stand in stark contrast to the sad debris of the heydays. An ongoing project try to resurrect the main hotel, but it has been stalled. It's such a bewildering sight to see all the crumbling buildings, one worse than the other, and then realise that people still live next door. Luckily, the network of scenic walking paths are also still here, leading over small bridges, passing tarnish pavilions and through the woods and bogs of Kemeri National Park. Though this is not recommended, some of the abandoned buildings are fully accessible and can turn into an adventure themselves.

According to statistics, Moldova ranks as one of the least visited places on Earth. This may be due, in part, to the fact that the country lacks any significant tourism sites. But one thing is for sure, if you ask any local what you should see in the country, it is almost guaranteed the first answer will be Orheiul Vechi. A short drive north of the country's capital, and slightly outside the town of Orhei, an old monastery stands on the edge of a cliffside perched over an ancient winding river. The monastery complex, the Church of the Ascension of St. Mary, is the first thing that visitors will notice. However, it is the descent into the darkness of the underground monastery that is the real draw. Luckily, for those with a bit of claustrophobia, fresh air and lovely views over the fertile valley are never too far away. Remember not to visit on a weekend or holiday, unless you like being squished in with pretty much half of the population of picnickers from the city!

The tiny island of Sommarøy is located about an hour drive from Tromsø (bridges all the way). It's locally known for its white sandy beaches and turquoise water. The mesmerized color is normally something you find in an atoll in the South Pacific, but the water temperature will quickly remind you that you are north of the Arctic Circle.

Valsøya is a small island along Route E39. There isn’t much to do here, but its position is enviable – fjord views in every direction – and there is enough to justify a stop-over if driving through. Good fishing from the shore, perfect BBQ spots and a nice place to go for a stroll or pitch a tent.

A trip to the countryside in Romania is a wonderful confirmation of ones prejudice that Romania is a country stuck in the Middle Ages. Here, people do plough with ox and the roads are mainly used by horse carts, but then you see a Mercedes in the driveway to a small traditionally decorated farmhouse. But it is great to see the real Romania - just wander around, pop your head in at the local store, visit the local church, and catch a ride with whomever passes by.