Walkabout Walking Holidays

Walking Holidays - A New Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:46:00 +0000

Another initiative which Walkabout have introduced to the walking holidays is the creation of challenge walks for those individuals who thrive on tough, demanding walks. In each case the challenge is to complete these routes within a stated time. They all require a very good level of fitness and commitment to succeed. The routes include high mountain paths and summits.

The challenge walks walking holidays are currently available in Wales and The Lake District on the following dates in 2010:

Wales Challenge Walking Holidays:
* Friday 28 - 30 May - The Welsh 1000m peaks - 21 miles, 8000ft ascent - 1 day (12hrs)
* Friday 2 - 4 July - The 14 Welsh 3000 footer peaks - 26 miles, 12250 ft ascent - 1 day (17hrs)

The Lake District Challenge Walking Holidays:
* Friday 30 July - 1 August - The Lakeland 3000 footer peaks - 26 miles, 7900ft ascent - 1 day (16hrs)
* Friday 13 - 15 August - The 24 Lakeland peaks - 31 miles, 8000 ft ascent - 2 day

Our challenges are available as powerful team building activities for organised groups from the public or private corporate sector at any time to suit the organisation. Our walks are very effective bonding exercises and can also be used as charitable fund raising events. We adapt and design our walks to suit your purpose and budget at a date of your choosing. For more information please contact Walkabout Walking Holidays on 07734 038266 or 01286 871 313.

Long Distance Walking Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:44:00 +0000

Walkabout Holidays are now offering long distance walking holidays for 2010. This exciting new venture takes place in all four regions in the Walkabout roster; Wales, Lake District, Spain and the Alps.

Long distance walks are named ways following well marked paths, through areas of outstanding interest and natural beauty. For the most part they avoid the higher mountain areas and summits of mountains and are suitable for moderate or hard walkers. As with all of the walking holidays on offer these new long distance walks will perfectly suit 50+ year old walkers.

Our walks are available as powerful team building activities for organised groups from the public or private corporate sector at any time to suit the organisation. They are very effective bonding exercises and can also be used as charitable fund raising events. We adapt and design our walks to suit your purpose and budget at a date of your choosing. The ones Walkabout offer in 2010 are listed below (dates listed are the only open dates available for walks in 2010):

Wales:
* Friday May 14 -17 - The Snowdon Circular Path - Cylchdaith yr Wyddfa - 25miles - 3,000 ft ascent 1 or 2 days.
* 10 - 12 days October (dates to be confirmed) - The Offas Dyke path - 170 miles

The Lake District
* Friday 21 - 25 May - The Cumbrian Way - 58 miles - 4 days

France/ Italy/ Switzerland
* Sat June 19th to 26th - The Tour du Mont Blanc - 1 week
* Sat August 28 - September 12 - The Grand Tour of Monte Rosa - 160 miles, 12,000ft ascent - 2 weeks

Spain
* Sat 4th Dec -11th - The Costa Blanca Way - 84 miles - 5 days

If you would like more details on any of the long distance walking holidays then please contact Walkabout on info@walkaboutholidays.com or by calling 01286 871313 or 07734 038266.

Wales Walking Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:25:00 +0000

There's still time to book your place on the Wales walking holidays for March, April, May and July. Remember that discounts are available on all holidays for groups of 2 or more people booking together.

As with all the walking holidays here at Walkabout Holidays we have devised 3 separate walks allowing for walkers of all ages, abilities and fitness levels to join us as we seek to have an enjoyable, active holiday, meet new people and improve our physical condition. A wales walking holiday will also help you to relieve the stress you encounter during every day life.

For full details of the wales walking holidays please click on Wales: Snowdonia. You will find information on the base camp location (Llanberis), the 3 different walks (easy, moderate and hard), as well as our more specialist walking holidays such as the mountain walking course, adventure walks and challenge walks.

For information on how to book your Wales walking holiday visit the booking page.

Spain Walking Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:18:00 +0000

There's still time to book a walking holiday in Spain if you haven't already done so. Visit the availability page for details of when we are running trips to the Costa Blanca.

If you want to read more details about the Spanish walking holidays we run please click on the Spain: Costa Blanca link to the left. Or please don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions about these or any of the other walking holidays we operate. Walkabout Walking Holidays can be contacted on 07734 038266 or 01286 871313.

Book a fantastic walking holiday in Spain today and come some place warm this Winter. See the beautiful sights of the Costa Blanca, make new friends or just take some time to help yourself get fit and relieve stress.

Updated Walking Holidays Programme

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:38:00 +0000

An outline programme is shown on the main pages of the Walkabout Holidays website however we are now updating this programme and offering a choice of other activities on at least one day. In outline the programme will include:

* Walks in and around the range that also includes the highest mountains ( up to 5,000ft) in Las Marinas and Alicante.
* Walks in the spectacular Bernia Ridge area.
* On at least one day the choice of either a Canyoning or a Via Ferrata expedition ( there will be a small supplementary charge for these options
* We will also explore sections of the Costa Blanca Way (132km) and the Gallinera Way (60km)

Any questions or queries don't hesitate to ring 07734038266 if we are not in leave details of when we can ring you back.

The Walkabout Walking Club

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:02:00 +0000

** Currently taking bookings for Walking In Spain **

Walking with a group is a social "clubbable" activity with additional benefits.

Walking with a guided group is safer than going alone, you have the services of an expert leader who knows the area and there are also logistical and economic advantages. Sometimes, in some places, it's nice to walk alone; but for most people it's more enjoyable and rewarding to have companions to relax and maybe share a beer with when the days walk is done.

However in our experience the most valuable aspect of a walking club is the social element. Walking as a social activity unites individuals into a coherent group. The places where we walk, the effort required, sometimes the sense of adventure and purpose, the challenge and achievement of the walk are memorable experiences. These are shared and seldom forgotten, by the individuals in the group.
A group of walkers are sharing a task with a clear goal: which is to finish the walk safely together - as a group! Undertaking a task as a group is a primary social activity; the operation of people in cooperative groups has been of fundamental importance in the development of humanity. That in part is maybe why it feels good to walk in a group and why walkers having got together are well served by clubs that keep them together.

Walkabout Walking Club ensures you experience these benefits by providing two services.

Firstly - We are developing the club ethos as an ongoing service. Through the club we want to ensure your holiday is not an isolated experience. We want to enable you to maintain contact with your group if you wish and through the club make walking an integral part of your lifestyle.

Secondly - We get to know our clients well. This enables us to form walking groups of individuals of similar fitness and ambitions - or goals! We organise holidays where our members have said they want to go, at times convenient for them and at grades they are comfortable with. We have customised the holiday to meet our member's needs; the walking group is self selecting.

What is the Walkabout Walking Club? How does it work?

* The Walking Club is a service provided by the company for its clients. The club is specifically for people in the 50+ age group who are interested in joining guided group walking holidays and trips. We welcome everybody from beginners to veterans.
* We help members to identify their level of fitness and the grades of walks; Easy, Moderate or Hard; that suit them. At the moderate to hard level we also offer Adventure and Challenge walking for those who are interested.
* We are able to help interested members develop or improve their knowledge and understanding of topics that relate to enjoyment of walking such as navigation, personal fitness, mountain safety and first aid.
* The club acts as a focus around which people can form groups who walk together on a regular or occasional basis.
* The company provides the administrative set up to bring people of similar fitness and interest together and organise them into compatible walking groups.
* The company organises the holidays, trips and shared experiences that unite the individuals with one another and with the club. The company also collates member's interests and requirements as regards the location and logistics of walking holidays to make sure the holidays are where and when members want them to be.

What are the aims of the club?

* To develop an online walking club that will in reality function as an active and friendly social organisation and network.

* To provide members with enjoyable walking holidays in good company at a discounted price. Which we are able to offer because we operate as a club and build the economies we negotiate into the price for members.

* To get to know our members well, to find out from members - What level of walking they want; Where they'd like to go; When they'd like to go and What kind of group they want to join.

* To enable our members to undertake any walk that interests them. Provided in our expert opinion it's safe and provided we can identify a viable group.

* Walkabout also aims to inspire members with the ambition, confidence and contacts to do things and go places they'd never previously have dreamed about.

* We want members to book our holidays confident that Walkabout will meet their expectations and comfortable in the knowledge that they will be with an appropriate group which may include people they already know.

Walkabout Regional/Local Walking Clubs.

You will get the full benefit from your Walkabout holiday if it inspires you to become a regular walker or puts you in touch with people who you can get out with on a regular basis. With that in mind Walkabout will encourage and help members to form local walking clubs that will be part of a walkabout network. These local clubs will be dedicated to promoting walking as a convenient locally based activity. Through the clubs you will meet people in your home area who are interested in getting out walking on a regular basis both locally and further a field. The clubs will organise regular activities and will offer members:

* A programme of walks in the local urban and adjacent rural areas. Details of the walks will be included in detailed itineraries designed by Walkabout along with notes on times, distances and how to improve fitness. The walks will vary from short one hour routes to longer routes that can be enjoyed locally on a regular basis.
* Regular club meetings will organise purely social activities and also discussions led by guest speakers on topic of interest to club members.
* Discounts will be available to these clubs for all Walkabout walking holidays and we will also negotiate discounts with providers of clothing and equipment for club members.

If you are interested please "join us" and become a member.

There is no membership fee, simply click here and complete the "Join Us" panel on the home page. You will then receive confirmation and a password. This will admit you to the Club member’s page. On your first visit you will be asked to complete a form which gives us more information relevant your membership of the walking club. You only have to do this once, thereafter use the password to log in and access the club pages. These contain information about the club and details of Introductory Weekends, Special Offers, News, and Other Information.

It's useful for members to come on a "Walkabout introductory open weekend in Wales" if they can make it. The weekends are 'open' to people at any level of fitness and walking grade. The weekends provide the opportunity to sample our walks and to establish your fitness level and the walking grade that suits you before embarking on longer or more demanding more expensive holidays. (see Who goes? Fitness and Grades on our web site). Also by walking and socialising with our staff, leaders and your fellow walkers you will discover more about what the Walkabout Club can offer you.

Jim Lyon
Mountain Ventures Ltd t/a Walkabout Walking Holidays.
July 2009

Walking Holidays Wales

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:14:00 +0000

With the current economic crisis dominating much of the news media many commentators are speculating that less people will travel abroad this Summer for their annual vacation. At Walkabout Holidays we do offer holidays in both France and Spain, however bearing in mind this latest news today's article will focus on the walking holidays we provide in Wales.

Occupying much of North Wales, the Snowdonia National Park has the most rugged and highest peaks in the principality and it is from our Llanberis village base within this region that we start our Welsh holidays. We run the walking holidays in Wales during Spring and Autumn as this is when conditions are best suited.

Those people who choose to join us in Wales will be immersed in the history of those explorers and expeditions of the last 100 years. Llanberis and Llanberis Pass is now a centre of international significance in mountaineering circles, especially as The Pen y Gwryd hotel was used as a training base for the first team of mountaineers to ascend Everest in 1953. There are several commemorative exhibits in another hotel, The Vaynor, which displays photographs and accounts of those previous climbers who have helped Llanberis and the 'Pass' become famous amongst enthusiasts.

For more information on Llanberis or more details about the Wales walking holidays we organise then please browse through the rest of our website and don't hesitate to contact us.

Weekend Walking Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:53:00 +0000

Weekend walking holidays offer the perfect opportunity to meet new people whilst gaining satisfaction from the pursuit of adventure, the successful completion of challenges and the many beautiful places to discover.

At Walkabout we offer weekend walking holidays in Wales, England, France and Spain.

Wales
* In Wales we are based in the village of Llanberis, a place which has rich historical links with mountaineering and with Wales.
* The walking holidays in Wales are available throughout Spring and Autumn, when the weather is more likely to be dry and sunny, and the Welsh hills are at their best.
* Click here for more details about the weekend walking holidays in Wales.

England
* The weekend walking holidays in England are based in the outstanding natural beauty and diversity of The Lake District.
* "I wandered lonely as a cloud" ... walk the paths that Wordsworth walked.
* Click here for more details about the weekend walking holidays in England.

France
* For the walking holidays in France we base ourselves in the Chamonix during the early part of July and again in late August and September.
* Get the best of both worlds by avoiding the crowded Summer season, yet still taking advantage of the lack of deep snow permitting the re-opening of mountain huts and paths.
* Click here for more details about the weekend walking holidays in France.

Spain
* We offer a choice of bases for the Spanish walking holidays but all are located within a short drive of the hills, mountains and coastal paths where the walking takes place.
* We stay in hotels offering ensuite, half board accommodation with either single, double or twin rooms.
* Most of the hotels we stay in have swimming pools and a host of other amenities.
* Click here for more details about the weekend walking holidays in Spain.

Guided Walking Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:09:00 +0000

Guided walking holidays offer the perfect solution for those people looking for a different kind of vacation. Our mantra of companionship, fitness and satisfaction encapsulates everything that we build our trips around.

Of course the most important thing about embarking on guided walking holidays is the trust that exists between the walking party and the guide. Walkabout Holidays offer leadership, safety and flexibility and has over 40 years of experience in organising walking holidays and other mountain activities. Included within previous projects is the training of professional mountain leaders and assisting clients in reaching the peaks of Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and the Eiger.

Safety is of the utmost importance and in the mountains there are several factors to maintaining the safety of the group; experienced leadership, careful route selection, good decision making and sensitive party management. All of the guided walking holidays we organise follow well marked safe paths and we always ensure that the leader to client ratio meets the recognised best practice specified by the UK Mountain Leader Training Board. It is possible for the walking programmes to be adjusted on the day in response to the interests of the group, the fitness levels at that time and the weather.

Group Adventure Challenge Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:32:00 +0000

Whether you go on holiday as part of a group, or as a solo traveller looking for companionship we offer a range of different types of walking holiday. Whichever you choose you can be sure of adventure and that you'll face lots of exciting challenges along the way.

Group adventure holidays are suitable for single travellers, couples or a group of friends. We organise groups of people so that members are of similar fitness levels, ambitions and age range. By organising it this way we find that the groups get on well and have a great adventure together. We generally organise a group into no more than 12 people and no less than 6 and once we've established the aims and interests of the group we customise the walking holiday as far as possible to meet those ambitions.

Group Adventure Holidays
If your group is made up of adventurous types you could opt for the adventure walks which include using hands as well as feet to negotiate rocky sections and to reach the summit. We also offer multi-activity adventure holidays to private groups whether they be stag or hen parties, corporate teams or simply a group of friends. These are bespoke programmes that include activities such as mountain biking, climbing and abseiling.

Group Challenge Holidays
Our challenge walks require group members to have high levels of fitness. The big ones involve walking long established mountain journeys across many miles and climbing many feet of ascent within a particular time. There are examples of challenge walks in each of the 4 countries we walk in; Wales, England, France and Spain. For more details on the challenge walks click on the link.

Walking Holidays In England, Wales, France And Spain

noreply@blogger.com (simonthornton) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:11:00 +0000

Welcome to the blog pages of Walkabout Walking Holidays, organisers of walking holidays throughout Europe. Over the coming months this page will be updated with news and articles related to the walking, trekking and outdoor activity world in respect to the services we provide.

The trips have been categorised in various different ways to make it easy for you to choose the right type of walking holiday for you. It is possible to choose from:

* The grade of the walk
* Additional activities such as mountain biking, climbing or abseiling
* Length of your trip
* Location - England, Wales, France or Spain.

If you are looking for a walking holiday during Spring or Autumn we offer walks throughout England and Wales. In England we focus on the Lake District and the paths William Wordsworth walked, and in Wales we base our treks and climbs through Snowdonia National Park. During the Summer you can walk in the spectacular French Alps. Finally you can take advantage of the pleasant Winter climate of 'La Sierras Marinas' the mountains of the Costa Blanca by choosing to book your Winter walking holiday in Spain.

If you have any questions then you'll find plenty of other useful information throughout our website as well as a page with information on Accommodation and other useful information about your walking holiday.