Why a Walking Holiday Could Be For You

Walking holidays have seen a recent surge in popularity, and according to the United Nations, walking tourism is now one of the most popular ways to visit and experience a new destination.

There are multiple benefits to walking holidays and a wide range of options to suit every traveller, so whether you’re planning your next holiday or looking for a new adventure, here’s why a walking holiday could be for you.

Walking Holidays For Health and Wellbeing

When it comes to prioritising your health and wellbeing, a walking holiday is one of the best ways to travel. Regular exercise is great for your physical and mental health, so it makes sense that a holiday during which you keep active every day would bring a whole host of benefits.

Walking holidays can help you stay fit and active, relieve stress and boost your mood. Regular walking is also known to improve immune function, heart health and protect against anxiety or depression, and is a particularly great form of exercise for older adults to help you age well.

During a walking holiday, you get to combine gentle exercise, fresh air and immersive travel while reaping rewards for your health and wellbeing.

Other Benefits of Slower Travel

It isn’t just your health that will benefit from a walking holiday. Slower travel also has a myriad of other benefits.

Environmental Impact

By choosing to walk around a destination, rather than drive or use public transport, you can reduce the environmental impact of your visit, helping to preserve beautiful places so that fellow travellers can enjoy them for generations to come.

A More Immersive Experience

Walking holidays enable you to see more of your destination and to experience it in a different way, giving you a more immersive – and oftentimes more authentic – experience.

Choosing the Right Walking Holiday

Another great thing about walking holidays is the vast array of experiences on offer. Whether you’re a novice walker, experienced hiker or somewhere in-between, there’s sure to be a walking holiday for you. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider when choosing the right experience:

Guided vs Self-guided

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to opt for a guided walking tour or a self-guided walking holiday. Each comes with its own advantages and drawbacks that you’ll need to weigh up.

For example, a guided walking holiday means you don’t need to learn map reading or worry about losing your way, but, on the other hand, you will be walking as part of a larger group, which not everyone enjoys, and may find you either struggle to keep up or feel held back by other walkers.

Difficulty Level

It’s important to book a walking holiday that suits your experience and fitness level, so consider the overall length of your route, the time you’ll need to spend walking per day and the distance you’ll cover, as well as factors such as the terrain and expected weather conditions.

Accommodation

Walking holidays generally offer a range of accommodation types, including Inn-to-inn walking, B&B stays, and campsites.

Duration

You’ll also need to think about the length of your holiday. Walking holidays often range from short breaks taking places across a long weekend, to a fortnight.

Destination

Europe is a popular choice among walking holiday enthusiasts but there are also lots of wonderful walking destinations right here in the UK, including the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, and the Cotswolds.

Practical Considerations For Your Walking Holiday

There’s no denying that walking holidays require some logistical planning. You’ll need to think ahead and decide:

• What gear to bring and how you’ll carry it along the way.
• How to travel to your start point.
• What you’ll be eating and drinking, including your daily water supply
• Back-up plans in case of bad weather or unexpected changes to your route, for example, due to trail closures.

However, the benefits of a walking holiday typically far outweigh the challenge of planning ahead, and if you decide to try a walking holiday yourself, we’re sure you’ll agree that it was worth the extra effort.

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