Before You Go

How do I book?

You can book online or by telephoning our office on: 017687 72335.For overseas dialling: 00 44 17687 72335. Our offices are open between 09:00 - 17:00 Monday - Friday.

Or, if you prefer, you can download a booking form from our website and send it to Mickledore via fax 017687 71655 or by post.

To secure your booking we require a 20% deposit, with the final balance being due no later than 6 weeks before departure.

What happens next?

Once we receive your booking and deposit, we will send you confirmation of your booking, which you need to check promptly to make sure we have understood your requirements correctly. We will then go ahead and book all your accommodation and complete the booking. We will contact you as soon as all the accommodation has been secured so you can make your additional holiday and travel plans. We will contact you immediately if we experience any difficulty with the booking.

Approximately 6 weeks before your holiday, we will contact you to ask for the final balance. Once the final balance has been paid, we will send you your complete holiday pack. This will be sent to you within 1 week of receiving full payment.

Can I book extra nights / rest days?

Yes you can add an extra night or rest day anywhere on your holiday (subject to availability). There is a charge for this.

Do I need travel insurance?

We strongly recommend that you take out appropriate travel insurance prior to your holiday with us. Even if you are travelling within the UK, the right travel insurance will protect your payments if you have to cancel your holiday.

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

We advise our clients to be sure of the size of party and dates of travel before committing to a booking. However, if you do have to amend a booking, we will do our best to accommodate the changes (dependent on availability). Once the booking has been accepted and/or booked, then any further changes can incur an amendment fee of up to £12.50 per person per night, plus any increased costs.

What happens if I have to cancel?

If you do have to cancel your holiday please let us know as soon as you can. Cancellation of a booking must be confirmed in writing (sent by recorded delivery to the Mickledore office address). Cancellation charges will be made according to this schedule:

• Cancellation more than 56 days before the start of your holiday: 20% of the total cost with a minimum of £30.00 per person.
• Cancellation more than 21 days before the start of your holiday: 50% of the total cost.
• Cancellation more than 8 days before the start of your holiday: 75% of the total cost.
• Cancellation 8 days or less before the start of your holiday: 100% of the total cost.

Sorry, but no refund can be given for cancellation on the day the holiday starts or whilst on holiday. We recommend cancellation insurance to cover this eventuality.

When are your holidays available?

Our holidays are available between March and early November. We are sometimes able to offer holidays during the winter, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Do I have to start my holiday on a certain day of the week?

You can choose when you would like to start your holiday, on any day of the week.

How should I prepare for the trip?

As all of our holidays are active, we would recommend that you do some regular walking or cycling prior to your holiday, that way you will get maximum enjoyment.

For walking it is really important to make sure your footwear is comfortable and "broken in" (if new), as you could be doing some long days and don't want to experience blisters.

Accommodation & Meals

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?

No, the holiday price includes accommodation the night before you start walking/cycling, and at the end of the holiday when you have finished.

What kind of accommodation do you use?

We use a variety of accommodation on our routes, including small country house hotels, guest houses in market towns, bed and breakfasts in farm houses, country cottages and Victorian town houses. In selecting our accommodation we always look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality accommodation close to the trail. The vast majority of our accommodation is 4 star guest accommodation or above, and is usually en suite (private bathroom).

What meals are provided?

As standard we provide breakfast as part of your booking. This will be a choice of full cooked breakfast or continental.

We can also arrange packed lunches to be provided for each day's walk by the accommodation. These are optional.

Where do I have my evening meals?

We will normally arrange your accommodation near to local pubs and restaurants, and we will give you details and recommendations in your itinerary. Where there isn't a decent eating place nearby, we will either book you a meal at the accommodation, or we will arrange transport to a nearby pub or restaurant.

I'm a vegetarian, can you cater for this?

Yes. Vegetarian meals are always available and more restricted diets can usually be catered for. If you do have stricter dietary requirements, please discuss this with us at the time of booking.

Payment

How do I pay for the holiday?

You can pay on-line using our secure website and by using a debit or credit card. Alternatively we can take the same details over the telephone, or you can send a cheque through the post, made payable to 'Mickledore Travel Ltd'. Please note we do not take American Express.

How much is the single supplement?

The supplement for a single room is a minimum of £21.00 per person per night (dependent upon route of choice). If you are travelling with other people and are prepared to share a triple room, we can sometimes book these rooms, where no supplement would be charged. If you are travelling alone there is an additional luggage supplement on some, but not all of our routes. (Not on Coast to Coast, Hadrian's Wall, West Highland Way, and Great Glen Way). The single supplement entitles you to a single room of your own, but not necessarily a double or twin room, and not necessarily ensuite. (We will of course endeavor to book ensuite rooms wherever possible.)

Does Mickledore protect my payments?

Yes. Mickledore Travel provides total financial protection for all the monies that you pay for towards your holidays with us. Mickledore Travel is fully bonded with ABTA, meaning in the very unlikely event of our finacial failure, all deposits and balance payments will be refunded to you  - If your holiday is curtailed or cancelled due to the insolvency of Mickledore Travel, you wil recevie a refund. This arrangement is fully compliant with the Package Travel Regualtions 1992 and is deigned to provide you will total paece of mind.

Your Holiday Pack

Holiday pack

You will be posted a holiday pack once we have received the balance (normally 6 weeks before the start of your holiday). Your holiday pack comprises of:

Your itinerary with details of each night's accommodation; information on your evening meals, as well as luggage transport and transfers, (where applicable).

Directions and detailed maps to each accommodation.

A guidebook (except for Hadrian's Wall Cycleway), which describes the route in detail, and covers the whole route with a series of maps, as well as providing a wealth of background information.

Map(s), which cover the entire route(s).

Luggage Tags (if luggage transport booked), which the luggage courier will use to identify your bags.

Information on local facilities, such as cafes and other recommended places to eat, cash points, taxi companies, etc.

We supply one holiday pack per booking and this will be posted to the person that made the booking. Extra packs can be purchased at £30 per pack. Please contact us a minimum of 6 weeks in advance if you require an extra pack. We are happy to email any party member the itinerary if required (on receipt of balance).

Guidebooks and maps

As part of the standard charge we will issue the following:

• 1 guidebook and map for up to 4 people.
• 2 guidebooks and maps for 5-7 people.
• 3 guidebooks and maps for 8 people or more.

You may purchase extra copies from us at a discounted price.

Equipment & Luggage

Do you carry/move our luggage between each overnight stop?

If you book the luggage transport option then we will move 1 piece of luggage up to 18 Kilos in weight, transported between your B&B's as part of this price. If you leave your luggage at your accommodation in the morning, it will be waiting for you on arrival at the B&B that evening. Any extra bags can be transported (at an additional charge) as long as they are pre-booked.

We also offer a storage service for extra luggage not needing to be transported for this holiday. Please contact us for a quotation.

I'm afraid we do not offer a luggage service on its own.

What do I have to carry?

If you are having your luggage transported, then all you need to carry is a small day sack to hold your waterproofs, personal items, packed lunch, map, guidebook and camera.

What do I need to bring?

We have produced a list of items to bring. We like to advise our clients to always be prepared for all weathers, at all times of year.

• Walking boots - need to be comfortable and well broken in.
• Several pairs of thick walking socks.
• Mittens/gloves.
• Warm hat and/or sun hat.
• Raincoat: (waterproof and windproof with a hood).
• Waterproof trousers.
• Thermal long-johns & thermal top.
• Jacket.
• Fleece tops.
• Fleece or polypropylene trousers (no denim or cotton).
• Spare clothing for the evening.
• Shorts and t-shirt (ideally made from synthetic fibres).
• Map case.
• Compass.
• Torch: with spare batteries.
• First aid kit: insect repellent, sunscreen, blister kits, pain relief and assorted bandages.
• Water bottle.
• Walking poles (if you already use these).
• Small day sack (20-30L) for carrying your personal items.
• Day sack liner / black bin bag / day sack waterproof cover.
• Camera and film.
• Binoculars.
• Sunglasses.
• Whistle.
• GPS (if you already use one).

How do I get to the start of the holiday and back from the end?

We will provide you with information and guidance on how to get to the start of your holiday, but you will need to make the actual arrangements yourself.

General

Can I walk or cycle alone?

Many outdoor professionals would advise you against going out in the mountains or remote countryside - a problem could occur and you could experience difficulty being on your own. However, many people undertake these trips alone and thoroughly enjoy the experience.

If you do decide to do a route by yourself, please ensure you are properly equipped and sufficiently experienced.

Do you cater for children?

Many children aged 6 and above have enjoyed our walks, but they do need to be fit and have the right equipment and clothing. We are unable to offer any discounts as B&Bs will charge us the same, but we can try and book accommodation where a family room is available, which tends to be more cost effective. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate babies.

Can I bring my dog?

We can accommodate dogs on some, but not all, of our routes. Our most dog friendly routes are Hadrian's Wall and the Cleveland Way Moorland Highlights. We cannot accommodate dogs on the Coast to Coast. It is always best to book as far ahead as possible with a dog as the accommodation is very limited. We do have an extensive information sheet on dogs, so if you are interested please complete an enquiry form and we will send you more information on booking with a dog.

Using public transport to and from your holiday

Summary information on Public transport to the beginning and end of each route is displayed on our holiday webpages. We are happy to offer advice and guidance on your transport arrangements - please get in touch.

Parking

We can usually arrange parking for your vehicle at the start or end of your holiday. Parking is at your own risk and will sometimes be "on street" parking. Usually there is a small charge made and this needs to be settled with the Proprietor on your arrival.

Weather

Any time between the beginning of May and the end of September tends to be a good time to walk in the UK. You are likely to encounter a mixture of weather at any time of the year, so it is always worth bringing waterproofs and suntan lotion!

Guided tours

Unfortunately we do not offer guided tours.

Travel agents

We are happy to work with bone fide travel agents and tour operators. Please contact us for further details.