Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing a tour
Why should I book with you when I could book the accommodation myself on the internet?
How long are your Independent Trails holidays?
When are your Independent Trails available?
I want to walk a trail not listed on your web site. Will you organise it for me?
Do you arrange luggage transfer between overnights along the trail?
Do you provide maps and a guidebook to the trail?
I'm a vegetarian / have a special diet, can you cater for this?
What's included in an Independent Trails self-guided tour?
I'm travelling on my own, can I go on an Independent Trails tour?
How do I get to the start of the tour?
How do I get back at the end of the tour?
Where can I get more detailed information about a tour?
Booking
Can I book extra nights along the trail?
What is the 'single supplement'?
Can I change the dates of my tour after I have booked?
What happens if I have to cancel?
Preparing for your tour
How should I prepare for the trip?
What are your restrictions on baggage?
Choosing a tour
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 days 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.
Do I need to book any accommodation at the startof the trail the night before I start walking or at the end after I've finished walking the trail?
No. The tour 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.
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.
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 or 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.
Do you arrange luggage transfer between overnights along the trail?
Yes, on all our tours we transfer your luggage (one bag per person) between your accommodations along the trail.
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.
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 halt.
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.
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 Tour 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.
What's included in the tour price?
- Accommodation in twin, double, single or family rooms in comfortable hotels, country inns, family-run guesthouses and farmhouse bed and breakfast's 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 tours 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 tour 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 tour pack containing travel details to the start and from the end of the tour, 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.
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 of providing a set of maps and a guidebook for one rather than two people.
Yes, with some exceptions. Please contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1629 821900 or by fax on +44 (0)1629 821901 or by email on info@contours.co.uk for more information.
How do I get to the start of the tour?
We provide information on how to get to and from your holiday by public transport in your tour 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 tour?
We provide information on how to get to and from your holiday by public transport in your tour pack.
Where can I get more detailed information about a tour?
Detailed Fact Files on each tour are available on our web site.
Booking
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 tour pack). This insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through HCCI International Insurance Company PLC.
- 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)
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').
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.
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.
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.
What is the 'single supplement'?
The single supplement covers the extra costs of a single room or single occupancy of twin or double rooms; baggage transfers for one rather than two people and of providing a set of maps and a guidebook for one rather than two people.
Can I change the dates of my tour after I have booked?
Up to 8 weeks before the start date of your tour 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 tour will be treated as a cancellation of your original booking.
What happens if I have to cancel?
If you have to cancel your tour 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.
Preparing for your tour
How should I prepare for my trip?
To get the maximum enjoyment out of your walking tour you should be in good shape and accustomed to walking the distances described in the Fact File for the tour 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 tour. 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 tour out - you don't want a sole coming off one halfway through the tour. If you are going to buy new boots for the tour make sure that you have worn them on several walks before the tour - nothing spoils a walking tour more than blisters.
An equipment list is included in your Tour Pack. You can also find the equipment checklist on our web site.
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.