A self-guided walking holiday is led by you. We provide you with the appropriate map(s), guidebook(s) and/or route notes to enable you to walk the chosen route at your own pace and with the people you choose to walk with. We arrange your accommodation and luggage transfers, but we do not provide a guide or escort on any of our holidays.

How long are your self-guided walking holidays?

From 3 nights to four weeks or more.

When are your Independent Trails available?

You can start a self-guided walking holiday on any date you want. Simply tell us the date you would like to arrive. You start walking the following day after breakfast.

Why should I book with you when I could book the accommodation myself on the internet?

We take great care in selecting your accommodation. We have inspected every hotel, inn, guesthouse or B&B we use to ensure you receive a warm welcome and clean, comfortable accommodation. When you book with us you won't be taking any chances with the standard of your accommodation or find your room taken by somebody else if you arrive late. We also provide town plans or sketch maps showing your accommodation, together with detailed instructions on how to find your accommodation so you don't end up wandering around a strange village or town looking for your hotel or inn at the end of a day’s walking. Also, you won't be without assistance if some unforeseeable illness, injury or mishap prevents you from carrying on to your next overnight stop.

I want to walk a trail not listed on your web site. Will you organise it for me?

We would be delighted to. Simply contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1629 821900, by fax on +44 (0)1629 821901 or by email on info@contours.co.uk with details of the trail you are interested in, how many miles (or km) you want to walk each day and the number of people planning on walking and we will give you a quotation.

I'm travelling on my own, can I go on one of your holidays?

Yes you can. For people travelling on their own there is a single supplement. This is to cover the extra costs of a single room or single occupancy of twin or double rooms; baggage transfers for one rather than two people and for providing a set of maps and a guidebook for one rather than two people.

Can I bring my dog with me?

Yes, with some exceptions. Take a look at our Dog Friendly Walking Holidays page for more information on walking with your dog, or contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1629 821900 by fax on +44 (0)1629 821901 or by email on info@contours.co.uk.

Where can I get more detailed information about a holiday?

Detailed Fact Files on each holiday are available on our web site.

Do you provide maps and a guidebook to the trail?

Yes. The holiday price includes a set of maps with the route marked on and the latest guidebook to the trail. On some of our self-guided walking holidays there are no guidebooks to the trail so we provide detailed route notes instead.

Booking a Holiday

How do I book a holiday?

ONLINE: Go to your selected holiday and click BOOK ONLINE
By Phone: 01629 821900 (from within UK) +44 1629 821900 (from outside UK)
Download our Booking Form and email it to info@contours.co.uk
Download our Booking Form and return by mail to Contours Walking Holidays, Barton House, 21 North End, Wirksworth, DE4 4FG
Download our Booking Form and return by fax to 01629 821901 (+44 1629 821901)

Can I extend my holiday by booking extra nights?

Yes. You can book as many extra nights as you wish. To assist you in choosing where to spend an extra night we have briefly described the places visited along each trail in the tour Fact Files.

Do you offer group discounts?

Yes. Organise a group of three or more friends or family and we will give you a discount. Please contact us by telephone on +44 (0) 1629 821900 or fax on +44 (0) 1629 821901 or by email on info@contours.co.uk for more information. Our group discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, discount or offer.

Can I change the dates of my holiday after I have booked?

Up to 8 weeks before the start date of your walk, it is usually possible to change your starting dates, although we will have to charge an administration fee of £40 per person to cover the considerable amount of work involved in cancelling and then re-booking your accommodation. Requests for changes made less than 56 days before the start of your holiday will be treated as a cancellation of your original booking.

What happens if I have to cancel?

If you have to cancel your holiday, please inform us in writing. You can send it to us by mail, fax or email. The date from which we receive your cancellation is the date from which cancellation fees will be calculated.

Paying for your Holiday

What's included in the holiday price?

Accommodation in twin, double, single or family rooms in comfortable hotels, country inns, family-run guesthouses and farmhouse bed and breakfasts along the trail, that have been carefully chosen for their warm and friendly welcome and the quality of their accommodation.
A breakfast each day. In keeping with the flexible nature of these holidays, we do not arrange lunches or evening meals for you. Packed lunches are available from your accommodation, although you may prefer to stop for lunch at an inn or café along the trail. Evening meals are available at your accommodation or from an inn nearby. The holiday pack provided describes the options available for your lunch and evening meals each day.
Luggage transfer between overnight stops (one suitcase per person).
Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook describing the trail (one per party).
A holiday pack containing travel details to the start and from the end of the walk, a day-to-day itinerary, information on facilities and points of interest along the trail, an equipment checklist and a contact telephone number in case you need any assistance.

Is my money safe?

In accordance with 'The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992', all passengers booking with Contours Walking Holidays Ltd are fully insured for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Contours Walking Holidays Ltd. A certificate detailing this cover will be given to each and every passenger as evidence of cover. Please ensure that you have been given the appropriate certificate(s) at the time of booking (you will receive the serial number of the certificate(s) in your booking confirmation: the certificate(s) will be included in your holiday pack). This insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through HCCI International Insurance Company PLC.

How do I pay for my holiday?

You may pay for your holiday by cheque (made payable to 'Contours Walking Holidays'), debit card (Delta, Solo or Switch), credit card (Mastercard, Eurocard, Visa or Amex) or Sterling bank draft (made payable to 'Contours Walking Holidays').

What is the Solo Walker Supplement?

The Solo Walker Wupplement is a single supplement for people walking alone.

Our prices are calculated on the assumption that two people will be sharing a room. For this reason, the Solo Walker Supplement covers the extra costs incurred by booking a single room or single occupancy of twin or double rooms. In addition, it covers the costs incurred by transferring one rather than two sets of baggage and providing a set of maps and a guidebook for one rather than two people.

What is the Single Supplement?

The Single Supplement is a charge for people walking as part of a group, but who require a single room or single occupancy of a room.

Our prices are calculated on the assumption that two people will be sharing a room. For this reason, the single supplement covers the extra costs incurred by booking a single room or single occupancy of twin or double rooms, but which also accounts for some of the fixed costs that would be borne by the second walker.

This supplement is unlike our Solo Walker Supplement as it is reduced to account for walking as part of a group.

Transport

How do I get to the start of the walk?

We provide information on how to get to and from your walk by public transport in your holiday pack. If you plan to travel by car it is usually possible to leave it at the guesthouse or hotel at the start or at the end of the trail for the duration of your holiday. We can check this for you once your booking is confirmed. Some hotels and guesthouses may charge a small fee for this service.

How do I get back at the end of the walk?

We provide information on how to get to and from your holiday by public transport in your holiday pack.

Accommodation

Do I need to book any accommodation at the start of the trail, the night before I start walking or at the end after I've finished walking the trail?

No. The holiday price includes accommodation at the start of the trail, the night before you start walking and at the end of the trail after you have finished walking.

What will my accommodation be like?

On a self-guided walking holiday, with each night spent at a different location, we have to make use of a wide variety of accommodations. These range from hotels, inns and guesthouses to small B&B's. Many are historic buildings; all are very comfortable with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Most of the accommodation is in en-suite rooms with private bathrooms, but in some of the remoter areas where accommodation is limited, the rooms may not always have private facilities. We always book en-suite rooms where available.

When will I know the names of my accommodations?

Contours Walking Holidays endeavour to book accommodations as soon as possible after you have submitted your booking and we have received your deposit. We provide a finalised list of these accommodations in your holiday pack, four weeks prior to the start of your walk. To prevent the confusion that could result from unforeseen changes, we have a policy in place that we do not release this list earlier than the specified four weeks. For more information on this, please visit A Guide to Our Holidays.

Luggage

Do you arrange luggage transfers between overnights along the trail?

Yes, on all our holidays we transfer your luggage (one bag per person) between your accommodations along the trail.

What do I have to carry?

All you need to carry is a light daypack containing your lunch, water bottle, waterproofs, first-aid kit and any other personal items you might want during the day. We transport the rest of your luggage (one suitcase per person) between each overnight stop.

What are your restrictions on baggage?

To aid the baggage carriers and to ensure that your luggage arrives safely, there is a weight limit in place of 17kg per bag (one bag per person). There should be no loose items such as shoes or plastic bags fitted to your luggage and each bag should be labelled with the tags provided in your holiday pack. For more information about baggage transfers, visit A Guide to Our Holidays.

Food and Meals

What meals are provided?

Breakfast is provided each day.

In keeping with the flexible nature of these holidays we do not provide packed lunches - these can be ordered from your accommodation the evening before, but there is often an inn, café or restaurant along the route where you can obtain lunch. The itinerary we provide lists all the inns, café's, restaurants or tea-rooms along the trail. Evening meals are not normally included; they can be obtained from your accommodation each night or from an inn nearby. Your Holiday Pack contains recommendations on places to obtain evening meals.

I'm a vegetarian / have a special diet, can you cater for this?

Yes. Vegetarian meals are always available. Please tell us of this requirement when booking. We may also be able to cater for more restricted diets, but please check with us first before booking.

Preparing for your Holiday

How should I prepare for my trip?

To get the maximum enjoyment out of your walking holiday you should be in good shape and accustomed to walking the distances described in the Fact File for the holiday you have chosen. The best (and most pleasurable) way to ensure this is to go for a few walks in the weeks leading up to your holiday. You should also ensure that your footwear is comfortable. If you are going to wear boots you've had for some time, make sure that they will last the holiday out - you don't want a sole coming off one halfway through the walk. If you are going to buy new boots for the holiday, make sure that you have worn them on several walks before the tour - nothing spoils a walking holiday more than blisters.

What do I need to bring?

An equipment list is included in your Holiday Pack. You can also find the equipment checklist on our web site.

Do I need travel insurance?

Although it is not essential we do recommend that you take out holiday insurance to cover cancellation, personal accident, illness and loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money.

When will I receive my Holiday Pack?

Each holiday pack is produced four weeks prior to the start of your walk. Every pack is tailored to fit the requirements of your walk and unfortunately cannot be sent to you earlier than the specified four weeks.

If you book your holiday less than 6 weeks prior to departure, please be aware that there may be a delay in receiving your holiday pack. For more information on the contents and delivery of your holiday pack, please visit A Guide to Our Holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing a Holiday