Top Tips for Planning Your Walking Holiday
Just You Holiday Director, Min, shares with us her top tips for making the most out of your walking holiday with us.
1. Choose a walk with varied scenery.
It’s important to choose a walk that has more than just rolling hills or spectacular lakes. Yes, they’re beautiful to look at but after a while, it can become a case of “seen one, seen them all”. Instead, choose a walk where there’s more variety to the landmarks, such as our Lake District and Hadrian’s Wall trip. Not only will you take in the incredible natural scenery, you’ll also pass by the home of William Wordsworth and walk along Hadrian’s Wall.
2. Plan the right walk for you
Everyone’s different, and everyone has different abilities. If you’re a walking beginner, choose a shorter walk – you can build up to longer walks with experience. Remember, you’re on holiday, you don’t want to overdo it and not enjoy the experience.
Our Just You walks are perfect for this, because all our walks can be shortened to suit you. If you wish to skip a part of the walk, we’ll arrange to meet you somewhere later. We have a coach that stays with us for the whole day, so there’s plenty of flexibility.
3. Always bring a packed lunch
Walking is hungry work, and you don’t want to find yourself halfway through the day and lacking energy. While our walks do have designated stopping points where we can have a sit down and grab a bite to eat, we also always provide a packed lunch, just in case.
4. Pick a qualified guide
You don’t want to be worrying about who’s got the map and which way is north on your walking holiday. If you’ve got a qualified guide with you they can oversee that, plus they’re on hand to answer any questions you might have. We have Holiday Directors on all our walking holidays, but we also have an expert guide with us on all the walks too.
5. Wear the right footwear
It might sound obvious, but you need a good pair of walking boots on any walking holiday, even if we’re not climbing up big hills. The most important advice to remember is to break them in before your holiday! Guests will often arrive for their first walking holiday, enthusiastic to get started with their brand-new boots, but these can start to rub if they’re not worn in. It can make for a less than fantastic experience, and we want it to be the best.
6. Wear the right clothing
In the same vein, you need to wear the right clothes. Think layers, that way you can take off or put on what you need depending on the weather. Always bring your waterproofs, it might be lashing it down around you but if you’re snug in your coat then the walk is just as much fun as in bright sunshine.
7. Wear sun cream and sunglasses
Talking of sunshine, always pack your SPF and sunglasses. It might not seem like the weather to get a tan, but where we’re outside for hours it’s important to protect yourself from the elements.
8. Bring your walking poles
These might not be for everyone, but if you have them, bring them with you. Often guests come without, and although we always bring a few spares, you’re always better off using your own.
9. Don’t forget your camera
Again, this might sound obvious but we experience such incredible scenery on our walks, that you’ll want to capture every moment!