Our Best Walking Holidays to Escape the Crowds

Our best walking holidays to escape the crowds

One of the greatest joys of travelling is discovering – really discovering – a new destination for yourself. The scenery. The culture. The food.

If you’re looking for quiet holiday destinations in Europe and the UK, an Inntravel holiday helps you escape the crowds and holiday in a way that positively affects the local community – as well as giving you plenty of relaxation time.

Walking holidays are a fantastic option for those looking to explore off-the-beaten-track. Not only does walking open up a variety of enchanting landscapes inaccessible to other modes of transport, we've designd ours to also offer an insight into local culture.

Below, we share how we use our decades of experience and local knowledge to create itineraries in destinations away from the tourist trails – with our top picks for a quiet getaway.
 

Why an Inntravel walking holiday helps you escape the crowds

Whether you’re looking for glorious walks along forgotten coastlines, gentle forest strolls through enchanting woodland, or challenging summits with views for miles, exploring on your own two feet unveils wonders.

But there’s more to a walking holiday than – well – walking. When travelling, you really want to get to know the destination, its culture, its food and its people.

At Inntravel, we use our local knowledge to offer a glimpse into the heart and soul of lesser-known destinations. We seek out independently owned accommodation – from lovingly restored village houses in Portugal’s Peneda-Gerês National Park to boutique hideaways in Slovenia’s Logar Valley – and can recommend quiet trails, local restaurants and unknown but unforgettable places to visit on your rest days.

 

Escape the crowds: 3 perfect walking holidays for quiet adventures

Ready to escape the crowds? These are three of our favourite quiet holiday destinations across the UK and Europe.

Italy's Secret Apennine Mountains

The Apennines stretch from Liguria to Umbria and offer some of Italy’s best walking. As you hike from hotel to hotel, you’ll explore majestic woodlands of oak, beech and chestnut, take in sweeping views from the peaks and enjoy warm, genuine hospitality – and unforgettable Italian cuisine – from your local hosts.

> Walk this way

Scottish Highlands & Cairngorms National Park

Explore Perthshire on this hotel-to-hotel walking holiday that offers the best of both worlds – the famously beautiful Scottish Highlands and their unique cultural heritage, whilst escaping the crowds on quiet walking routes that showcase the area’s heather-clad peaks and rolling lowland pastures in their finest possible light.

> Walk this way

Wonders of Western Sicily

Trace thousands of years of history as you walk through some of Sicily’s most picturesque landscapes. Romans, Normans and Moors have made this land their home throughout the centuries, and you can still see their impact on the landscape and culture of the island.

> Walk this way

What to expect on Inntravel's walking holidays

Accommodation

Our walking holidays offer a range of quality accommodation. From family-owned guest houses to four-star boutique hotels, we hand pick our accommodation for comfortable lodgings, fantastic amenities, and great food.

Where possible, we opt for independent accommodation that prioritises supporting the surrounding community. From traditional hospitality to locally-sourced and home-grown ingredients, these offer a real glimpse into the culture of your destination.

Food and drink

One significant advantage of venturing away from the crowds is that you get to sample some of your destination’s specialities at their most authentic. Our walks in the Catalan Pyrenees come complete with classic regional cuisine, which includes trout from the mountain streams, delicious cured meats, and robust wines from the coastal plains below. Travel to the Canaries’ quieter destinations with us, meanwhile, and you’ll be treated to a host of local tastes – from the intriguingly named papas arrugadas (‘wrinkly potatoes’) to gofio (Canarian flour), a key ingredient in many Canarian desserts.

For meals included in your holiday, we’ll ensure you’re getting a true taste of local food culture – whether that’s at your hotel or guesthouse, or at a well-regarded restaurant close to your accommodation.

For meals that aren’t included, we’re always happy to offer a tip or two about where to find the best food.

Support

When you book with Inntravel, we take care of everything so that you can focus on really getting the most out of your walking holiday.

We provide detailed route notes for each walk on your itinerary, book any advance transport you need and – on hotel-to-hotel walking itineraries – transport your luggage from door to door. All you need each day is a rucksack with space for layers, water and snacks.

You’ll also have the security of a 24/7 customer service line whilst you’re on holiday.

 

Preparing for your Inntravel walking holiday

What should I pack?

Your exact packing list will depend on a few things, like where you’re travelling to, what the weather is like there and how long you’re going for.

This isn’t a completely comprehensive list, but gives you a good idea of what you’ll need for seven days’ walking.

Shoes: 1 pair walking boots and 1 pair evening shoes
Tops: 3 base layers, 2 mid layers, 1 sweater (that also works for evening), 2 evening shirts/tops
Trousers: 2 walking pairs and 1 or 2 evening pairs
Outer layers: 1 jacket and 1 set of waterproofs
Accessories: hat, gloves, scarf or neck gaiter, sunglasses, rucksack, walking poles, GPS device or compass

Need more detail on the type of clothes to pack? Here's our comprehensive guide to packing for a walking holiday.

How fit do I need to be?

This really depends on how fit you already are, and the difficulty of the walking holiday you’d like to book.

Our range of off-the-beaten-track holidays offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for shorter, more relaxed walks or challenging hotel-to-hotel hikes filled with long days of walking and exhilarating climbs.

Our grading scale allows you to get an accurate idea of what each of our walking holidays would demand of you, fitness and experience wise.

Here's a guide to our walking grades and what they mean.

If your walking holiday fits with your current fitness level, it’s likely you won’t need to train extensively. Keep doing what you’re doing – and remember, it’s always good to get some movement in before an activity holiday of any kind to reduce the risk of injury.

If you want to book a walking holiday that’s a step up from your level of fitness, allow yourself plenty of time to train before departure. This will help ensure you keep safe and injury free, and that you’ll be able to enjoy your holiday to the max.
 


 

Escape the Crowds - Frequently Asked Questions

Can a walking holiday really take me away from the tourist crowds?

A walking holiday is one of the best ways to escape the crowds! Our holidays are designed to take you off the beaten track to lesser known locations, perfect for getting to know the local culture and losing yourself on captivating, quiet trails with astounding scenery.

Are Inntravel’s walking holidays suitable for beginners?

Absolutely – you don’t need to be an expert hiker to enjoy our off-the-beaten-track walking holidays. Our range of holidays offers something for every walker – from gentle, entry-level holidays that allow you to explore at a relaxed pace to longer, more challenging routes.

What kind of places will I stay during an Inntravel walking holiday?

We offer a range of accommodation types on our holidays, from cosy, traditional guesthouses to luxurious boutique hotels. Each option has been handpicked to provide a great night’s sleep and immerse you in the local culture – some also offer pool and spa access to relax those muscles after days exploring.

What kind of destinations are available for walking holidays away from the crowds?

If you’re looking for quiet holiday destinations in Europe or the UK, you’re not short of options. We offer a range of holidays to secluded destinations, such as Italy’s secret Apennines Mountains, the tranquil hills of  Perthshire or some of the overlooked routes along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Wherever you go on an Inntravel holiday, you can expect unforgettable scenery, unique insights into local culture and undisturbed walking trails.

What kind of support can I expect during my walking holiday?

We provide detailed notes for all walking routes on your holiday, and will take care of luggage transfers if you’re switching accommodation. We also offer a 24/7 support line, so if something hasn’t gone quite to plan or you have any questions at all, there’s a friendly voice waiting to help at the end of the phone.