Lockdown has allowed me to do more walking, and has depressed me to where it is so hard to get myself going. So I have started looking at walking tours. These look so enticing I hope they will inspire me to get up and out.
I am most interested in the "Self Guided Tours". These are overnight walks where the Tour Agency provides maps and books your nights for you. They move your bag from inn to inn, as you walk your tour on your own. I am especially looking for the tours that provide emergency bail out should you bite off more than you can chew or if you have an emergency while on your hike. (at a fee of course.)
Bags: There is usually a weight limit, but if you are flying in this should be no problem. These are in a secure area, but I recommend that you have a locking bag, and do not pack your best diamonds.
Food: This is not included In most tours. Be sure to pack your own lunch and to ask if you have any special needs for restaurants as the small towns do not usually have a lot of different dining options.
What services do they provide?: Make sure that you ask what is or is not provided. The styles run from solo walker, to couple/small group, to small groups of strangers. Know what you want, and ask for specifics. If you are wanting a room to your self, there may be a fee.
Accommodations: Most of the web sites seem to rate their hotels/B&B/inns for comfort level. There is often a taxi provided if they must book you into a nearby inn. Make sure to find out if there are extra fees for single room, en suite (that is with a private bathroom.) I use a CPAP so that is always going to be a reality for me. I will want to make sure that there is electricity available at all of the inns.
Endurance: Each site has a different way of evaluating the difficulty of their walks. For those of us with bad knees, distance, elevation gain/loss, stiles, stones/gravel may not be listed. ASK. Headwater Tours lists One Boot Level tours. I plan to get myself up to a 5 mile/day walking level before booking a tour
.JPG)
Contours offers Miles without Stiles for accessible walking tours. Their rates look good, and they have been great about answering my questions.
Contours also offers Short Daily Mileage walks that are a bit more challenging.
Macs Tours lists one check tours. You can also sort by the quality of accommodations.
Mac lists three tempting tours of the Lake District that look do-able for me.
Headwater has more expensive international tours that I plan to try as I get myself more stable in my walking
Here are their 1 and 1+ tours
Comments