Weekend walks

A walking holiday, also referred to as a hiking or a trekking holiday, refers to a trip that consists of walking and experiencing unique destinations. Walking holidays are suited for all age groups and experience levels, with a range of holiday types from moderate point to point walking, to mountainous circular trails.

When you take a walking tour, you get to explore beautiful landscapes, visit villages and towns, and experience the authentic side of well-known locations. It's the perfect way to escape the everyday and discover a destination at your own pace.

Whether you take a self-guided walking holiday in the UK or have your sights set on a longer walking tour in Europe, you'll find that this is a very special way to spend your time.

First, pick a grade and a style of walking (hotel to hotel, centred, or with your own guide). Then think about your preferences in terms of country, scenery, style and standard of accommodation. You can ask our experts to suggest a shortlist or use the holiday search function.

We try to vary each day’s route, but you’ll no doubt fall into a pattern, perhaps setting off at 9am after familiarising yourself with the route on the map while you enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

You can pause as often as you like to admire the views, the flowers or the birds – there’s no rush. Linger over your picnic at a panoramic spot, then continue on your way, arriving at your next hotel some time in the mid to late afternoon, with time to freshen up and explore the village before a dinner of delicious regional cuisine.

First, pick a grade and a style of walking (hotel to hotel, centred, or with your own guide). Then think about your preferences in terms of country, scenery, style and standard of accommodation. You can ask our experts to suggest a shortlist, or use the holiday search facility.

Most of our walking holidays are suitable for older children who walk regularly and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved in the chosen holiday. Please note, however, that family rooms for more than 2 or 3 people are uncommon at many of the smaller hotels.

What you choose will depend on your preferences and your budget. The accommodation varies from destination to destination and, to some extent, from holiday to holiday.

Some feature only 4-star hotels, others take advantage of special accommodation unique to the area, such as the masserie (ancient farmsteads) of Puglia in Italy or the converted fishermen's cottages of northern Norway. Many offer a mix of accommodation, including agriturismos (working farms) and high-quality hotels.

Holiday pages usually either state the cumulative ascent/descent for each day, or feature elevation charts which show the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved. Pay attention to the scale of the chart, as this varies.

The descriptions of the walking routes on the holiday pages usually make it clear if walks are suitable for vertigo sufferers, but if you need more detailed advice, please contact us and we’ll arrange for you to speak with someone who has walked the routes.

Often you follow waymarked trails, but even where not, we provide very detailed route notes, which are checked on a regular basis, and a map (usually 1:25,000, but sometimes 1:50,000).

In addition, for all but a handful of holidays, we’ll send you a link to the GPX tracks for your route which you can download onto a GPS device or a smartphone with the relevant app. This gives you added reassurance, but is by no means essential; if you prefer to solely use the route notes and maps, that’s entirely up to you.

As well as guiding you from A to B, the step-by-step route notes provide information about the places of interest you pass. If there’s a worthwhile detour, we point this out too, and even suggest picnic spots.

We aim to take care of every detail, so things rarely go wrong. If they do, the hoteliers – many of whom have worked with us for years – are able to solve most problems, but for added peace of mind we provide a 24-hour emergency line.

It depends on the holiday. If you would prefer not to, choose a hotel-to-hotel walking holiday that features two nights at each hotel, or a centred walking holiday on which you stay at just one hotel and can decide each day whether to walk, sightsee or rest.

What you should pack for your walking holiday depends on where in Europe you are visiting. Our arrangements generally allow for one large item (15-20kg) and one small item (up to 10kg) per person.

On most Swiss holidays, there's a limit of one piece of luggage per person.

Generally, you'll need:
• Walking boots or shoes, depending on the terrain and your personal preference
• A compass
• A water bottle
• Waterproofs
• Walking poles and a GPS device are useful, but not essential.

Clothing-wise, you should pack for all eventualities, remembering that it is often cooler at altitude and in the evening:

Coastal & low-lying regions
You'll be able to walk in shorts and a t-shirt for much of the season, but we'd still recommend taking a pair of lightweight walking trousers – or, better still, trousers that convert into shorts – so you have the option of covering up your legs to prevent them from scratches from undergrowth.

As regards footwear, don't feel you have to wear walking boots just because it's a walking holiday. If you have chosen an easier grading on good paths, a walking shoe will be sufficient. Finally, a wide-brimmed hat will protect you from the sun.

Mountains & Northern Europe The best advice for mountainous and northern regions is to take a good choice of layers. If you pack a variety of t-shirts, long-sleeve, lightweight tops, plus a fleece or two, you'll have the flexibility to adapt to the weather. Convertible walking trousers are a great option for your lower half. Fast-wicking fabrics are best, as they wick away sweat and are easy to wash and dry if needed.

For your feet, we recommend walking boots, as these provide ankle support over rough terrain and keep your feet drier if it rains.

General tips for all destinations
Wherever you choose, be prepared for all eventualities. Even if you're heading to southern Europe in the height of summer, pack a fleece in case it's unseasonably cool. Similarly, if you're heading to the mountains, be sure to take a t-shirt in case it's warmer than you're expecting.

Wherever you go, don't forget a good waterproof coat, a pair of waterproof trousers and some sun cream! Our final piece of advice relates to footwear: if you have bought new walking boots or shoes, break them in before your trip to avoid blisters.