England walking holidays travel advice

As most of these walking holidays are self guided, do make sure you have a small first aid kit with you, in case of falls, sprains or grazes.

Never underestimate the advantage of walking with poles, especially if you are prone to walkers’ knee. Many people feel they can gain an extra few miles of blissful walking if they have one.

Don’t underestimate how much sun you might catch, even if it is overcast. Always bring a high factor sun cream with you, preferably an eco friendly one, especially if you are planning on swimming during your walk.

Similarly bring good quality, protective sunglasses. Even if it is cold, the sun’s rays can be harsh in exposed landscapes such as the Yorkshire Dales.

Always be wary of ticks. They carry Lyme disease and other nasties, and so best to take precautions. Read this guide for top tick tips and check out the Tick Twister tool that they recommend. Tweezers do the trick, but only ones with pointed ends, not the flat ended ones.

Stay hydrated. Even if it is chilly, you are still working hard so don’t underestimate how much water you might need. However, drinking water from streams is not recommended.

Don’t forget to pack your antihistamines if you are prone to hayfever in season.

Take care walking on cliff paths and always read the signs. Be particularly careful after heavy rains, not only on cliff paths but also on beaches if there have been rock falls. Never scramble on rocks that have fallen from cliffs.

Walking holidays are a good opportunity to learn how to be scouts or girl guides again. Be prepared with maps, compass, rain gear, pocketknife, matches and a whistle. You can buy mini emergency kits on eBay for a tenner.

Always tell someone where you are going, and make sure your mobile phone is charged.

If you are caught out in a lightning storm, stay as low as you can, and stay away from summits or isolated trees. Tempting though they might be for shelter.

Although our England walking holidays are pretty moderate in terms of landscape, with no big peaks or anything too wild to tackle, you do need to make sure that you are prepared in terms of having enough layers, food and water. You aren’t ever going to be too far from help on the Thames Path, for example, but there are remote spots on the South West Path, Yorkshire, the Lake District and Peak District.

Always get a detailed weather forecast before you set out and, if you are in a wild and remote area and very bad weather is coming in, don’t hesitate to turn back.

“Walking the Cumbria Way is an exciting exploration of the history and geology of this part of England. The most memorable moment was cresting Stake Pass and descending into the remote and grand valley of Langstrathe Beck with its stone walls reaching the crags that cap the fells. The valley remains an empty and timeless wilderness… Sturdy boots and good rain gear, including a pack cover are necessary, as are sunglasses and sunscreen. The weather is variable. You'll see more if you have done some reading about the history and the area.” – Diana Staaf on the Cumbria Way

“Our holiday on the North Downs Trail in late spring was breathtaking. The bluebells, primroses and fields of rape, punctuated with the occasional pheasant and fox, while doing a self-guided hike, made us feel like Adam and Eve alone in Paradise… Be prepared to walk pretty seriously all day and have a good sense of direction. We found that following the maps and guide book (with thorough preparation from Derek) was challenging, but very satisfying and added tremendously to the experience.” – Carol R Mehler on the Pilgrims’ Way

“Recommended to families with children. Unforgettable.” – Malgorzata Jokipii in the Cotswolds

“Bear in mind that the way marking is poor and indeed nonexistent in places. Get the Cicerone Guide and also the Rucksack Readers “Cumbria Way”; plus the biggest scale ordnance survey map and a compass. Good warm and weatherproof walking clothing is essential even in July” – Stephen Allen on the Cumbria Way

“We flew from the US, and added a pre-day in Rochester and a post-day in Canterbury. We enjoyed those days very much, and they helped to set apart the special rural quality of our trail days. Derek is very knowledgeable about the history of the area - listen to his stories and tales, they added a lot to our enjoyment of what we were viewing. He also provides an audio tour of the trail, which we listened to each night in advance of the next day’s journey.” – Ann Jensen on the Pilgrims’ Way

“During the course of the week one cannot fail to be impressed by the sights seen on the Thames Path… make sure that the daily walks are within their capabilities, even though the paths are on the level.” – Graham Stenger on our Thames Path walking holiday