|
About our
self-guided walking holidays
About
our Self-guided walking holidays I Prices I
Group Discounts
Travelling
to your holiday
I What to bring I Frequently
asked questions
Worry-free
walking with Contours Walking Holidays A Contours Walking Holiday is a wonderful way to explore the countryside,
walking from one place to another, stopping somewhere different each
night, with the freedom to walk at your own pace, stop for breaks when
you want and spend as long as you want exploring the villages, towns
or sites of historical interest along the trail.
Our range of walking holidays have been
designed to be as flexible as possible - you can start your walking
tour on any day you want and extend your holiday by adding extra nights
for rest days or sightseeing.
We arrange your accommodation, provide maps and a guidebook describing
the route and transport your luggage between overnight stops. We
take care of every little detail, leaving you free to enjoy your walk,
knowing everything is taken care of .
Comfortable accommodation You
stay in comfortable family-run hotels, country inns, friendly guesthouses
and farmhouse bed and breakfast's along the trail that have been carefully
chosen for the warmth of their welcome, the quality of their accommodation
and their accessibility to the trail. We always book en-suite rooms with
private bathrooms where they are available, but some, in the remoter
areas where accommodation is limited, may not have private facilities.
Occasionally your accommodation may be situated more than a few minutes
walk from the trail or you may have to spend more than
one night in the same place. Where this is
the case we provide transfers between your accommodation and the trail.
Meals
The holidays are run on a bed and breakfast basis.
Each day you have a choice of a traditional cooked breakfast or a Continental
breakfast. In keeping with the flexible nature of these tours we do
not provide lunches or evening meals. Packed lunches are available
from your accommodation, although you may prefer to stop for lunch
at an inn or café along
the trail. Your Tour Pack contains information on places to stop for
lunch or buy picnic materials. Evening meals are available from your
accommodation or from an inn or restaurant nearby. Your Tour Pack contains
recommendations on the best places to get your evening meal.
Luggage transfer We transport your luggage between overnight stops. Every time you arrive
at a new destination, your luggage will be waiting for you, so all you
need to carry on your walk is a light daypack containing whatever you
require for the day such as waterproofs, camera and picnic lunch.
The Tour Pack All the information you need for an enjoyable, worry-free walking holiday
is contained in the Tour Pack that we provide. In it you will find:
- The relevant Ordnance Survey Explorer (1:25000) or Harvey maps
- A guidebook describing the route.
- Advice on getting to and from your holiday by public transport.
- A day-by-day itinerary describing each night's accommodation with
either a town plan showing its location or directions to it, together
with details of any transfers arranged.
- Recommendations on the best places to get evening meals.
- Information on places to stop for a drink or a meal during the day.
- A list of facilities such as banks, shops, post
offices, telephones, inns and cafés along the trail.
- Personalised luggage labels.
- A comprehensive checklist of what to take with you.
- Information on what to do and who to contact in an emergency.
Availability
All our holidays are available from spring to late
autumn (March - October).
Many are available during the winter months as well. The months that
each tour is available is given in the tour description. You can start
your holiday on any date you want during that period.
Short Breaks If you only have two or three days available, we offer over twenty short
breaks in Cornwall, Devon, Mendip Hills, North Downs, Wessex Downs, Chilterns,
Cotswolds, Norfolk, Welsh Borders, Pembrokeshire, Peak District, Yorkshire
Dales, Lake District and Northumberland. Click
here for details.
Extra nights
When booking your holiday you can customise your trip by building in
extra nights for rest days or sightseeing. Please contact us if you would
like assistance in deciding where to spend an extra night.
Prices
The tour prices, which are per person, are based
upon two people sharing a twin or double room. Single travellers are
very welcome on all of our holidays and the single room supplement
is shown below the tour price.
|
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. We always
book en-suite rooms with private bathrooms where they are
available, but some, in the remoter areas where accommodation
is limited, may not have private facilities.
- Choice of a traditional
cooked breakfast or continental breakfast.
- Door to door luggage transfer (one suitcase per person).
- A Tour Pack
(one per party) containing the relevant Ordnance Survey or
Harvey maps, a guidebook describing the trail, information
on getting to and from your holiday by public transport,
a day-to-day itinerary, information on facilities along the
trail, luggage tags, an equipment checklist and a contact
telephone number in case you need assistance in an emergency.
|
Group Discounts
We offer discounts for groups of three or more people booking a tour
together. Please contact us for details.
Travel 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.
Equipment
The most important items of equipment that you need for a walking holiday
are a good pair of walking boots, waterproofs and a suitable daysack.
The list below covers the clothing and equipment you may wish to take
with you on your walking holiday. The items highlighted in bold are
essential.
• Walking boots. Please make sure you have
worn them a few times before the start of your holiday.
• Gaiters
• Thick socks. Synthetic/wool mix loop
stitch socks provide the best cushioning.
• Liner socks. Useful for 'fine-tuning'
the fit of your boots.
• Polycotton or artificial fibre trousers
or 'jogging pants'.
• Shorts
• T-shirts. Ideally made of 'wicking'
synthetic fibres
• Shirts. Ideally made of 'wicking' synthetic
fibres
• Warm fleece or woollen pullover
• Waterproof jacket with hood. Breathable
fabrics like Goretex or Sympatex improve comfort levels.
• Waterproof overtrousers
• Warm hat
• Sun hat
• Gloves
• Walking pole(s)
• Small Daysac of around 20-30L, big enough
to take your waterproofs, packed lunch, drink, camera etc.
• Daysac liner. A large plastic bag or
'bin' liner is ideal
• Water bottle or Thermos flask if you prefer
to take a hot drink.
• Sit mat
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Personal first aid kit
• Camera and films
• Binoculars
• Sunglasses
• Map case
• Compass
• GPS
• Whistle
A copy of this checklist is included in your Tour Pack.
Dogs
You can bring your dog with you on many of the walking
holidays described in this brochure. Please contact
us for information
on 'dog friendly'
holidays.
Tailor-made tours for clubs and groups Every year we organise tailor-made tours for clubs, groups and individuals.
If you would like us to arrange a walking holiday for you, just let
us have the details and we will give you a quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Choosing a tour
Why should I book with you when I could book the accommodation myself
on the internet?
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?
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?
What do I have to carry?
Where will I stay?
What meals are provided?
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?
Can I bring my dog with me?
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 Is my money safe?
How do I book a tour?
How do I pay for the tour?
Can I book extra nights along the trail?
Do you offer group discounts?
Do I need travel insurance?
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 do I need to bring?
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 start
of 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)17684 80451 or by fax on +44 (0)17684 80452 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.
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 halt.
Where will I stay?
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.
What meals are provided?
Each morning you have a choice of a Continental breakfast or a traditional
English, Welsh or Scottish breakfast. Typically this consists of fruit
juice and cereals, followed by egg, bacon, sausage, mushrooms and tomatoes,
toast and marmalade and tea or coffee.
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 choice of a continental or traditional cooked
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.
Can I bring my dog with me?
Yes, with some exceptions. Please contact us by telephone on + 44 (0)
17684 80451 or fax on +44 (0) 17684 80452 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
Is my money safe?
Contours Walking Holidays are fully compliant with the EC Package Travel,
Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. In accordance with
these regulations all clients booking with Contours Walking Holidays
are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequent prepayments,
including repatriation if required arising from cancellation or curtailment
of your holiday due to the insolvency of Contours Walking Holidays. This
insurance cover is provided by Bond Plus and administered by the Cumbria
Tourist Board.
How do I book a tour?
Once you have chosen your tour, your starting date and whether you want
any extra nights, there are three ways you can book your holiday:
- Visit the booking pages
on this web site where you will find our booking conditions together
with a booking form that can be printed, filled in and faxed to us
on +44 (0) 17684 80452 or mailed to Contours Walking Holidays, Gramyre,
3 Berrier Road, Greystoke, CA11 OUB, UK.
- Visit the booking pages where you will
find our booking conditions together with a link to a secure
online booking form or
- Telephone us on +44 (0) 17684 80451.
How do I pay for the tour?
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), Sterling bank draft (made payable to 'Contours
Walking Holidays') or International money transfer direct to our bank
account in STERLING (GB pounds).
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) 17684 80451
or fax on +44 (0) 17684 80452 or by email on info@contours.co.uk for
more information.
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.
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 £25 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.
What do I need to bring?
An equipment list is included in your Tour Pack. You can
also find the equipment checklist on our web site.
Quick links
Back to top...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
