Self-guided holidays : Self-guided short break walking holidays
Rural Retreats
Short breaks based in character inns and country hotels. Walking through some of the country's best-loved rural landscapes.
Coastal Escapes
Short walking breaks which visit some of the most magnificent coastal scenery in the world.
Hidden Gems
Short walking breaks 'off the beaten track'. Walk through timeless landscapes; stay in tiny secluded villages and hamlets.
Footpath Holidays Self-guided Short Breaks
A Footpath Holidays Self-guided Short Break is a great way to relax and enjoy the beauty of the English countryside. Take a well-earned break - weekend or mid-week - and re-charge your batteries with a three night stay in some of our favourite areas in south and west England and Wales.
The Walking
Your Self-guided Short Break will include three nights and two carefully selected walks which will show your chosen area at it's very best. We will take you ‘off the beaten track’ so that you can enjoy the tranquility, variety of scenery, diversity of wildlife and unrivalled access opportunities which make Britain so special. Both of the easy-to-follow walks will be between seven and ten miles in length, so you will be able to walk at a relaxed pace and enjoy the scenery to the full. You will be provided with maps and a detailed description, which will include not only directions but also historical notes too. The notes will include details on possible refreshment and comfort stops, and if a walk passes close to a venue of special interest (a National Trust property, castle or museum, for example) there will be information on opening hours and entrance costs.
The Accommodation
We want you to enjoy the place you stay and the meals you eat as much as you enjoy the walking, so we put a great deal of time and effort into finding the best accommodation with the warmest of welcomes. All of the inns and country house-style hotels which we use offer comfortable well-appointed bedrooms with ensuite bathroom. You may find yourself staying in a centuries-old inn but you can still be confident that your room will have 21st century plumbing!
As well as ensuite facilities (private bathroom) you can expect your room to have direct dial telephone, television and tea and coffee making facilities. The exception is the Queen’s Arms at Corton Denham in South Somerset where they prefer to serve tea in your room and televisions are a modern intrusion on a timeless ambience. Some hotels have free wi-fi facilities, but you will probably be too busy walking, relaxing in the garden or enjoying the atmosphere in the restaurant to notice!
The Food
Your short walking break will include not only a great cooked or continental breakfast but a delicious evening meal as well. All of the inns and hotels have a top-quality restaurant serving regional specialities using locally-sourced ingredients.
For your evening meal you will be able to choose at least three courses, plus coffee, from an exciting and varied menu with all food prepared and served to a high standard. Most of the restaurants hold AA Rosettes or RAC Dining Awards, and some (such as Hotel Penzance in the Far West of Cornwall) have the distinction of having won prestigious regional and national titles. Three Ways House Hotel in the Cotswolds is home to the world-famous Pudding Club and specialises in serving fabulous traditional British puddings.
