Sunset from Hay Bluff, Wales. Walking holidays with my partner are one of my favourite things to do, and planning them is part of the joy! I love bringing all the pieces together – route, accommodation, location, transport – to make a great holiday.
When I talk about our walking holidays (i.e. frequently), people often ask, "How do you know where to walk?" and "How do you find these places?" They seem uncertain how to even start planning such an expedition. Well, this is how. I hope sharing these tips encourages others (who are able) to get out and do multi-day walks, too.
When I talk about our walking holidays (i.e. frequently), people often ask, "How do you know where to walk?" and "How do you find these places?" They seem uncertain how to even start planning such an expedition. Well, this is how. I hope sharing these tips encourages others (who are able) to get out and do multi-day walks, too.
Location and/or type of walk
In the UK, we’re spoilt for choice with accessible countryside and long distance footpaths. You could choose to hike a purpose-waymarked route, explore a national park or AONB, follow a canal towpath, or hop between visitor attractions such as stately homes, peaks, museums and cider farms. Or you might want to do something more conceptual and abstract like Richard Long’s walks, or Nicholas Crane’s intriguing journey in Two Degrees West. The choice is yours!
My partner and I have done multi-day walks on National Trails, long distance paths, self-designed routes, dismantled railway lines, canal paths, coast paths and combinations of the above. You might decide on a far-flung corner of the country, or go for something closer to home to save on transport time and cost.
My partner and I have done multi-day walks on National Trails, long distance paths, self-designed routes, dismantled railway lines, canal paths, coast paths and combinations of the above. You might decide on a far-flung corner of the country, or go for something closer to home to save on transport time and cost.
How long (days) and how long (distance)?
A winter walk in Kent. The length of most people’s holidays is constrained by work/life commitments and money. My partner and I prefer to stay at B&Bs (beds! hot showers!), which usually cost us £60 to £80 a night, depending on the area. Hostels and deals on budget hotels are sometimes cheaper and it’s cheapest of all to camp.
We also know how far we like to walk in a day. For us, 16km/10mi is an easy day over everything but the hilliest landscape, even with a full pack. 20km/12mi is a good day for us and we wouldn’t aim to do more than that if the going was rough. 25km/15mi is about our upper limit for a comfortable/pleasant day of walking, especially if it’s a week-long hike in the short daylight hours of winter.
It’s worth factoring in rest days if you’re doing a longer walk, so you can explore local attractions, wash your clothes, edit your photos or stay in bed all day if that’s your thing. Everyone’s capabilities and preferences are different.
We also know how far we like to walk in a day. For us, 16km/10mi is an easy day over everything but the hilliest landscape, even with a full pack. 20km/12mi is a good day for us and we wouldn’t aim to do more than that if the going was rough. 25km/15mi is about our upper limit for a comfortable/pleasant day of walking, especially if it’s a week-long hike in the short daylight hours of winter.
It’s worth factoring in rest days if you’re doing a longer walk, so you can explore local attractions, wash your clothes, edit your photos or stay in bed all day if that’s your thing. Everyone’s capabilities and preferences are different.
Map a route
Southwest Coast Path, Cornwall. If you’re following an established trail, there might be a guide book that breaks it into daily sections with notes about accommodation and transport. If you’re creating your own route, you'll probably need to start by mapping the course.
In the UK, Ordnance Survey 1:25000 maps (Explorer range) are the best for walking. If you're not sure how to read OS maps, here are some keys.
To plan a walk, I usually use the Walk Highlands GPS planner (it’s free to sign up and access the 1:25000 OS maps there). Sometimes I plot a straight line between my start point and goal, then gradually put in mid points; sometimes I start with straight lines between towns/villages about 10-20km apart (more likely to have accommodation) and see where I end up before zooming in to the 1:25000 map and plotting a course along public paths, permissive routes and minor roads.
In the UK, Ordnance Survey 1:25000 maps (Explorer range) are the best for walking. If you're not sure how to read OS maps, here are some keys.
To plan a walk, I usually use the Walk Highlands GPS planner (it’s free to sign up and access the 1:25000 OS maps there). Sometimes I plot a straight line between my start point and goal, then gradually put in mid points; sometimes I start with straight lines between towns/villages about 10-20km apart (more likely to have accommodation) and see where I end up before zooming in to the 1:25000 map and plotting a course along public paths, permissive routes and minor roads.
Find and book accommodation
To find B&B accommodation, I zoom in on an area in Google Maps and search for “B&B”. I find this gives a more accurate indication of location than a text-based search on a site like TripAdvisor (you don't want to turn up in a town at sunset only to realise that the B&B is another three miles away). If you’re camping/hostelling, look for those icons on the OS map or check Cool Camping for nice sites.
Finding accommodation providers is generally pretty easy in the UK, but sometimes everything in a village is booked out (and frequently B&Bs will have a minimum two night stay on the weekend). If this happens, I start rearranging the route. For this reason, I always book the first night of the walk first and don’t book the next place until I’ve reserved/paid a deposit. The days of rocking up unannounced and finding a bed have pretty much disappeared anywhere other than major tourist towns or cities – we always book ahead.
Finding accommodation providers is generally pretty easy in the UK, but sometimes everything in a village is booked out (and frequently B&Bs will have a minimum two night stay on the weekend). If this happens, I start rearranging the route. For this reason, I always book the first night of the walk first and don’t book the next place until I’ve reserved/paid a deposit. The days of rocking up unannounced and finding a bed have pretty much disappeared anywhere other than major tourist towns or cities – we always book ahead.
Panoramic view from the top of Castle Crag in the Lake District.
Gather resources
I am the princeling of over preparation, both because I believe in being safe rather than sorry and because I find preparing for a journey almost as fun as taking it!
- Maps: I like having weatherproof hard copies (e.g Aqua3) as well as a GPX file for the phone - sometimes we buy them and sometimes we hire them from the Ramblers (if you like walking in the UK, consider becoming a Ramblers member - I am).
- Transport: Get tickets and/or timetables for public transport, car park info, relevant taxi numbers, etc.
- Accommodation: A list of phone numbers and addresses for all accommodation, along with payment info (deposit paid, amount owing, whether they take cards). I usually call the week before to confirm, especially as we have extra requirements (we’re both vegetarian).
- Clothes and accessories: I’ll re-waterproof my boots/jacket if needed and maybe write a packing checklist – I don’t want to be stuck without spare socks after a downpour!
- Gear: Have you got everything you need? Is it in good nick? This might include back pack, first aid kit, thermos, devices and chargers, poles and camping gear.
- Info: You could buy/borrow a trail guide if you’re on an established way, or research places of interest and create your own booklet (nerds unite - I love doing this!).
Preparation and training
If you’re new to multi-day walking, or if you haven’t done one for a while, it's worth getting some practice. Go on a day walk every week and have a go at the following in the lead-up to a longer hike:
An autumnal path in Essex. - Distance: Do a day walk covering the longest distance you’ll be hiking during your holiday – if possible, over similar terrain – so you know you can do it.
- Endurance: Do two reasonably long day walks back to back, so you have some idea of what it feels like to get up and go when you’re still a bit achy. (Camp overnight if you’re planning this on your walk so you can fix any issues with your set-up.)
- Strength: Fill your backpack with your gear or equivalent weight and take it out on your day walks, both to get used to the weight and to get a feel of how to pack/adjust your bag.
Good luck and happy walking!
What are your tips for planning walking holidays? Where do you dream of walking? Is there something you want to know more about? Please share in the comments or on Twitter.
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