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…
Return to the River Thames
Having walked the 59 mile central section of the Thames Path from Oxford to Marlow last summer, my daughter Ebony and I had no hesitation in returning this year to continue our journey. Our plan this time was to walk the eastern section, a 44 mile stretch from Marlow to Richmond, as well as an additional day to Westminster, covering the first 14 miles of the London section of the trail. As always with these things, Ebony’s priorities lay with food. Long before the matter of how far we’d be walking each day, or indeed where exactly we’d be walking, along came the question, “What’s the food situation looking like dad, anything good?” So, since I mention it, let’s get it out of the way. The food was delicious, and as you’d expect when visiting vibrant towns such as Marlow, Windsor and Richmond, there was an abundance of choice. Everything we ate was hugely enjoyable. From the British Gastro Pub, and the Italian restaurant, to the Argentinian tapas, and even the simple noodle bar at Westminster where our host was the kindest of men, we were suitably impressed. As for breakfast, can a girl really wake each morning for an…
6 reasons to walk the Settle to Carlisle Way
Stretching from the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales to the pleasant farmlands of Cumbria’s Eden Valley, the Settle to Carlisle Railway is undoubtedly one of Britain’s most scenic rail journeys. The Settle to Carlisle Way allows you to enjoy that same stunning landscape at a much more gentle pace. We’re incredibly excited about this holiday and we believe there are many reasons to sign up and experience the Settle to Carlisle Way next year – here are just six of them! Fascinating Geology The limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales is an enthralling landscape where becks can suddenly disappear underground only to reappear as springs several miles away! Deep beneath the ground is a world of caves and tunnels shaped by the rainwater working through the bedrock. All around are potholes, shake holes and limestone outcrops. The limestone pavement you see is a result of heavy glaciers having scoured and fractured the Carboniferous rock along existing fault lines known as bedding planes. After which mildly acidic rainwater has been eroding and dissolving these bedding planes creating intriguing patterns of blocks and fissures. The Yorkshire Three Peaks The famous Yorkshire Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough are a magnet…
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…
Top 6 Walking Holidays in Scotland
Here’s a thought for you. At just over 30,000 square miles, Scotland accounts for over 30% of the total area of the United Kingdom, yet it is home to less than 10% of the UK population. Which leads me to suggest, if your idea of a perfect holiday is to escape the crowds, then maybe Scotland is the place for you. With a blend of magnificent mountains, moorland, enchanting lochs and miles of rivers along with dramatic coastline and gentle countryside, Scotland really does have something for everyone, while interestingly, keeping you pretty much away from everyone. Let’s look at what we believe are six of the very best walking holidays in Scotland. Borders Abbeys Way Round Trip from Melrose | 68 miles | 5-8 nights The ruined medieval abbeys of Melrose, Dryburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh, along with a host of historical sites tell the story of the battles that raged between the kingdoms of Scotland and England from the mid-12th to early 17th centuries. For four centuries the abbeys fell victim to the lawlessness that engulfed the region. The most violent of times came during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, when the Scots, led by…
The Great Glen Way – A Scenic Trek Through Highland Beauty
The decision for Paul and I to walk the Great Glen Way was fueled by a sense of nostalgia and cherished memories. For me, the allure of returning to Inverness, a city I had explored years ago and for my dear Mum Fort William held a special place with its majestic mountains. However, we knew that tackling the renowned West Highland Way might be too ambitious for our abilities, so the Great Glen Way beckoned with its promise of a more manageable yet equally captivating experience. And let’s not forget the icing on the cake – the opportunity to sample some of Scotland’s finest Whiskies along the way. Leaving our car parked in Inverness we chose to take the bus to Fort William leaving us with a hassle free return after completing the trail. The scenic bus route offered views of breathtaking landscapes giving us glimpses of what was to come over the next seven days. Day 1: Fort William to Gairlochy Our day began with a hearty Scottish breakfast, our dining room offered views over Loch Linhe the mountains in the distance set the tone for what we knew would be a day of scenic splendor. With our appetites…
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…
Dream Days on the Dingle Way
I work in our Sales Team here at Mickledore. I felt so lucky both to be given the chance to head over to South West Ireland to walk part of the Dingle Way and to be able to ask my family to join me on the trip too. We as a family have always enjoyed walking on holiday but never done a walking holiday, this was an incredible chance to spend quality time with my family away from busy modern day life. Most importantly it gave me the chance to walk and experience exactly what our clients do, so any questions about this route you know who to ask. North West England to South West Ireland An early set off for us to travel to Holyhead to catch the ferry over to Dublin. There are many ways to travel to the Dingle Peninsula but because there were five of us, taking the car then ferry made most sense. We had a good journey down, the boarding was very straightforward and the picnic we took for the three hour ferry crossing helped pass the time. Feeling rested we set off on another four hour drive across Ireland from Dublin to Cloghane….
Matt and Damien’s First Long Distance Walking Holiday – The Thames Path West
This is my first Fam Trip since joining Mickledore, and the first long distance walking holiday for both myself and also my partner Damien who joined me on the walk. The Thames Path is one of the routes that I book as part of my role in the Operations Team here at Mickledore. With a variety of itineraries across the trail Kemble to Oxford (TPW6) seemed to be the perfect opportunity to get to walk the opening section of the trail and get to meet some of the accommodation providers that I work with on this section of the Thames Path holiday. We were also excited as it isn’t an area of the country either of us has ever properly explored. It’s safe to say it didn’t disappoint. Day 1: Kemble to Cricklade After a hearty breakfast we set off through the meadows from the accommodation to the official start point of the Thames Path trail. You’re soon winding your way through the fields and hedge lined pathways away from Kemble and into the calm of the countryside, passing through the picturesque Cotswold villages as the Thames slowly starts to develop from a trickle into a stream. We reached Ashton…
A Brief History of the Borders Abbeys
My role here at Mickledore is to create new holidays. Being a Borderer and having lived for 15 years in the shadow of the Eildon Hills, I was delighted when I got the go ahead to add the Borders Abbeys Way to our growing collection of walking holidays. I couldn’t wait to share many of the riverside and woodland trails I’d walked countless times over the years. I had an immense feeling of pride inviting you in to enjoy a little corner of my homeland. My mind was full of questions. Will you, like me, find peacefulness walking the banks of the Tweed and the Teviot? Will you marvel at the neoclassical Temple of the Muses by Dryburgh Suspension Bridge and when there, will you make the short detour to view the thirty foot statue of William Wallace as I do? Will you skirt or scale the magnificent Eildon Hills above Melrose? Will you find joy in the spacious Borders farmlands with their flower filled meadows and wealth of birdlife and wildlife? Will you feel the sense of history as you pass through the lands where King Robert the Bruce launched his raids into England, emerging victorious with the re-establishment…
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…