Beaches, lakes and sea pools: Europe’s best train journeys for a summer break

Summers of languid afternoons splashing in and out of the water are just around the corner.

And one of the best things about holidaying in Europe is you don’t need to fly for scenic beaches and refreshing dips.

Flight-free experts at Byway have curated a series of journeys by train for travellers who want to dive into a more sustainable adventure.

Chlorinated pools can have an annual footprint of 1,400kg CO2, so all these trips take you to dreamy natural swimming spots.

San Sebastián is often dubbed Spain's foodie capital, but it is also one of the country's best-loved surf towns.

La Zurriola Beach hosts top surf events throughout the year. With the reliable Atlantic swell and handful of surf schools, it is a perfect spot even for total beginners.

To get to San Sebastián, take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and then the TGV to Bordeaux. Here, you can stop for the night before continuing on to Hendaye and finally San Sebastián.

The North Norfolk coast is the terminus of the Bittern railway through the watery landscape of the Broads.

Life-guarded beaches at Sheringham and Cromer are ideal for sea swims, with a slew of coffee spots to boost circulation post-dip.

By train from London, you’ll need to change in Norwich before arriving at the coast in Cromer.

Grajsko Kopalisce is a designated public bathing spot on Lake Bled which will be reopening in time for summer. It has four natural pools and thickets of chestnut trees that provide ample shade for lakeside picnics.

With Byway, you can make the trip to Slovenia into a seven night adventure that includes a ride on the EuroNight sleeper from Stuttgart to Bled.

There's an art to joining Bern's thriving urban swim scene. Do as the Bernese do and think less 'swim' and more