Mickledore Travel
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Trail Talk: Mark on the South Downs Way
Earlier this year, Mark walked a beautiful section of the South Downs Way with his daughter Eb, taking in its rolling hills, big skies, and charming villages. He recently sat down with us to share his experiences, from favourite stretches of the trail and memorable stops along the way to reflections on the landscapes that make this long-distance trail so special. In your blog, Notes from the South Downs Way, you said you were drawn to the mild climate and the rolling arable landscapes you’d encountered on a previous visit to the South Downs. Would you like to expand on that? So, I’ve been living in the Lakes for 15 years now, and for the most part, it’s a good place to be. If I were to have one small criticism, other than the rain – but then I suppose those lakes won’t fill themselves – it can, at times, feel a little enclosed. Towering fells standing guard over you, a lot of time spent in the shade, and much of a muchness in terms of the colour palette. Listen, you don’t have to go all the way to the south of England to enjoy spacious arable farmland. Simply travel…
Trail Talk: Anne-Marie on the Jersey Coastal Path
After returning from her familiarisation trip around the stunning Jersey Coastal Path, Anne-Marie sat down with us for a chat about her experience. From the island’s unique character and charming villages to its scenic coastal views, we wanted to find out what makes this Channel Island trail so special. Having lived in France for many years, you probably have a good sense of what makes a place feel French or English. How does Jersey come across – French, English, a bit of both, or something entirely its own? That is a great question. My first thoughts when I was invited to go to Jersey on my familiarisation trip were that it was going to be a lot like being in France. Firstly, because lots of the place names were French – like Pomme d’Or (golden apple), Bonne Nuit Bay (good night bay), and Le Sentier des Moulins (the windmill trail). When we arrived at the airport and caught the bus to St Helier, I also noticed that most of the road and house names were French. My first impressions were largely incorrect, though, as I found the architecture on the island to be very British in appearance. The Jersey locals,…
Greetings from Hadrian’s Wall
This article was written by Sarah Hodgson during her time with Mickledore and reflects her first-hand experience of the route. We came looking for ruins, but what we found was much more than a lonely stone barrier – it was a route alive with history, hikers, and the occasional stubborn cow. Walking where Roman soldiers once patrolled the very edge of an empire, the views stretch for miles over moorland and stone, and you can almost hear the echoes of ancient footsteps. Hadrian’s Wall itself is a marvel, still standing strong after nearly 2,000 years. We started our journey two weeks earlier in Wallsend – you’ll know from our previous walks that we like to complete the whole route and walk every mile. The day began at Segedunum Roman Fort, a well-preserved archaeological site that marks the beginning of the Wall. Its name means “strong fort” in Latin, which feels fitting for the edge of the empire. Over the next two days we covered the first 25 miles between Wallsend and Corbridge. This section of the route might not appeal to everyone, as it’s the most urban and flat stretch of the walk. Still, there’s something quite special about starting…
Kofi the Beagle’s Amazing Lake District Adventure
This article was written by Hayley Finn during their time with Mickledore and reflects their first-hand experience of the route. Fans of my previous work will know I usually walk with my wife and, last year, also my parents-in-law. This year, I have chosen one of Mickledore’s most challenging walks: the Inn Way to the Lake District, a circular route around the entire national park that includes 42 traditional Lakeland inns and many key locations and valleys. The route was devised by guidebook writer Mark Reid. This year, I am walking with the very best companion – my dog! Kofi is a 6-year-old beagle, born and raised in the Lake District. She’s a well-trained fell dog, stays close, and doesn’t bother the livestock or wildlife. She is also very dramatic and overly friendly if we meet anyone having their lunch! For the last six months, we have both been in training for this walk – me to lose my lockdown weight and Kofi to get her fitness up and ensure her paws and stamina can handle the rocky, rough paths of the route. When walking with your dog, it’s really important to consider their fitness as well as your own….
A tale of two halves on the Cleveland Way
This article was written by Sarah Hodgson during her time with Mickledore and reflects her first-hand experience of the route. After walking the Northumberland Coast Path last Summer, and thoroughly enjoying it, we had high expectations for our chosen 2024 walk, the Cleveland Way. With over 40 routes to choose from we really were spoilt for choice – everything from Lake District hills, rolling Yorkshire countryside, Scottish Glens and sunny coastal paths. After doing a full coast path last year, we wanted something slightly different this year but also with some coastal walking as we love to be beside the sea. After much deliberation we decided to go for the Cleveland Way Combined Highlights covering the northern end of the moors from Osmotherley and down the North Yorkshire Heritage Coast to Robin Hoods Bay. A great mix of half moorland and half coast. With an added night and rest day in Whitby we’d be walking for 6 days in total. Opened in 1969, the Cleveland Way was the UK’s second National Trail, coming four years after the Pennine Way. In total it covers 109 miles from Helmsley, nestled in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, to Filey, right on the…
Specialists in delivering group holidays
We welcome group bookings at Mickledore. So much so, we’ve become something of a specialist at it. In fact we’ve been expertly delivering bespoke holidays to parties for over 25 years now. For walking parties up to and including 6 people, we recommend you book in the normal way, and your holiday will follow the itinerary as described on our website. For larger groups of say 8, 10 or more we encourage you to pick up the phone and talk with us directly. Simply tell us which of our 40 routes you’d like to walk, when you’d like to go, as well as the size of your group and we’ll prepare and price a bespoke itinerary for you and your friends. Our bespoke group holidays will differ a little from our advertised itineraries. Due to much of our accommodation being of a smaller, more independent nature, we may at times have to split larger groups across two accommodations in the same village, but you would of course still be able to meet up in the evening for that all important meal together. Your holiday may involve spending two or three nights at a time in one location, minibus transfers to…
Sand and Sea Breezes on the Northumberland Coast Path
This article was written by Sarah Hodgson during her time with Mickledore and reflects her first-hand experience of the route. I joined the Mickledore sales team in October 2022, and was delighted to be given the opportunity to walk the Northumberland Coast Path. To give me and my partner plenty of time to enjoy the dramatic scenery and vibrant history along the trail, I chose the 6 day walking itinerary and opted for a rest day in Berwick Upon Tweed at the end. The daily distances and flatter coastal terrain also appealed, as although we are used to walking in the Lake District fells, this was to be our first long distance walking holiday, and we wanted to ease ourselves gently into what we hope to be first of many walking holiday adventures together. Day 1: Arrival in Warkworth We set off nice and early on Saturday morning, leaving our home on the edge of the Lake District to make the journey to Berwick Upon Tweed, which is located at the end of the trail and where we had arranged to leave the car for the week. After a pleasant two and a half hour journey along quiet roads through…
Hayley’s Family Hike on the Isle of Wight
This article was written by Hayley Finn during their time with Mickledore and reflects their first-hand experience of the route. This year I wanted to walk the Isle of Wight with my wife, I’ve never been to the island and I wanted to get some sunshine after weeks of unseasonably wet weather in Cumbria. Fans of my previous blog around the Gower in Wales will know my wife Anna has long Covid so we book the longest itineraries with the shortest daily distances. Since we were planning on the leisurely itinerary we invited Anna’s parents along as well. Would I come to regret this? Cowes to Shalfleet We came early to the island after a night on the mainland near the Southampton port at Anna’s brother’s house. This allowed us a day to have a wander around and Anna to get a nap in. I took John and Sheila over to Osbourne House, which was Queen Victoria’s holiday palace on the island. I’ve always wanted to visit. It is well worth visiting if you arrive on an early ferry or book a rest day in Cowes. After a very well organised and generous breakfast at our accommodation we set off…
Roaming the Rob Roy Way
This article was written by Megan Cowper during her time with Mickledore and reflects her first-hand experience of the route. I work in the sales team here at Mickledore, which gives me the great job of being able to book clients on to the beautiful walking routes which we offer all over the UK. Since starting my role here I have been very eager to try out one of the routes for myself and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to walk the Rob Roy Way this summer. For many different reasons Scotland has always been a special place to me, I have very cherished memories of visiting the highlands not only as a child but over the last couple of years and so the chance to reminisce these memories walking through the southern highlands of Scotland was too good of an opportunity to miss. One of the best parts about this experience was that my boyfriend Liam was able to join me on this holiday and although we are both keen walkers, this was something new for us and our first walking holiday together. Day 1: The Journey up North We started our journey up north to…
Discovering St Oswald’s Way
This article was written by Katie Armitage during her time with Mickledore and reflects her first-hand experience of the route. For the past 6 years I have had the pleasure of booking our clients on some truly beautiful walking routes from all over the UK. I grew up in Northumberland near Twice Brewed on Hadrian’s Wall and so when I found out that me and my partner Pedro would get the chance to walk the St Oswald’s Way this June I was very excited to explore more of Northumberland! Day 1: Arrival day at Seahouses The St Oswald’s Way begins on Lindisfarne (also known as Holy Island) and finishes at Heavensfield which is just outside of Humshaugh. The full route is just under 100 miles and usually takes between 6-9 walking days to complete. Due to time constraints I have tailored my trip to 6 walking days starting in the fascinating fishing village of Seahouses and finishing at Heavensfield. The main reason why I wanted to start in Seahouses was that we could go on a boat tour of the Farne Islands on our arrival day and we did just that! My parents who live nearby joined us for the…
6 reasons to walk the Gower Peninsula
This article was written by Alex Greenwood during her time with Mickledore and reflects her first-hand experience of the route. The Gower has a lot to offer the hiker: beaches, ruins, rugged coastline, charming coastal settlements, and miles of dramatic walking. We are passionate fans of the area and think that there are many reasons to visit – here are just six of the myriad of things you will discover if you take to the trail: An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty The Gower was designated as the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956 for its classic limestone coast and the variety of its natural habitats. Packing a punch over its compact 188sq km, the AONB is renowned for its rich and diverse landscapes. Gower’s scenery ranges from fragile dune and salt marsh in the north to the dramatic limestone cliffs along the south coast, intercut by sand beaches. Inland, the hills of Cefn Bryn and Rhossili Down dominate the landscape of traditional small fields, wooded valleys and open commons. National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest Over 30% of the Gower is National Nature Reserve or a Site of Special Scientific Interest. While immersing…
Advice on having a safer and more enjoyable walking holiday!
How fit do I need to be? What should I wear on my feet? Do I need to know how to read a map? What should I wear? What if something goes wrong? These are all questions most of us will have asked at some point in our lives ahead of an adventure. Here we try to answer some of these questions to help you prepare for your holiday and hopefully ensure you have a more rewarding and enjoyable experience. Fitness How fit do I need to be? It’s a difficult one to answer as one person’s idea of fitness can be very different from another’s, but you need to be confident that you can complete each day’s walk without being completely worn out. Fatigue is good, exhaustion is not! Fatigue gives you a healthy appetite for dinner and a good night’s sleep, whereas exhaustion leaves you uncomfortable, dehydrated and dreading the next day’s activity. Quite simply, the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your holiday and your recovery time between walking stages will be faster. Not only does good training prepare you for the walk so that you are strong and comfortable, you will find that you…