We all know that planning a holiday ranks very highly on the priority list for most households: and the importance of good planning increases if you are going to embark on something a bit unusual or which you have not done before. For example, if decide one year to give up the beach in Spain and instead head for the hills in the UK to see this beautiful country of ours! And, if you are not an experienced walker, you might decide that you want to learn walking skills during your holiday while soaking up the views, sucking in the fresh air and listening to the sounds of nature – all wonderful reasons for walking in the first place! Below is Newport, Pembrokeshire ideal for hill and coastal walking holidays.
This blog contains some useful tips to think about if you fit into the bracket above. It will increase your chances of picking the right holiday and having a great time.
1. Who is in Control of Your Holiday An early key decision is how flexible do you want to be during your holiday? For instance do you want to be told what you are doing each day as you would if you were doing a course? Or, at the other end of the scale, do you want to develop a package which entirely suits you – so that you can build in a day on the beach or visiting local sites rather than spend 7 days walking. You also need to consider whether you want to undertake the walks on your own – using the provider’s suggested routes or whether you want the provider to accompany you on the walks. Both options exist but at the end of the day you should look for a walking holiday provider who offers the flexibility you want – that way you stay in control of your holiday. Below: flexibility is the key – working up walking plans with your holiday provider.
2. The Walking Package Many walking holiday providers will sell you a single package which goes from A to B to C to D etc and will not deviate. Instead, find one who knows about the attractions of A,B,C and D but who is also willing to take you to E, F and G because they are the places that are of particular interest to you. For example if you love castles or coves or bird watching then the walking provider should be willing to incorporate those into the walks they take you on or plan for you. Perhaps its wildlife you want to see?
3. Walking Pace Ensure that your walking holiday provider considers your walking capabilities when it comes to choosing the terrain and how far to walk. If you are not as fit as you would like to be (perhaps one of your holiday aims is to improve your fitness?) or you don’t like walking at a fast pace, you might worry about whether you can keep up throughout the week. Any walking provider worth his salt should be aware of these potential concerns and they should talk to you about pace and duration ahead of planning any walks. They should structure the walks to ensure you are comfortable with it and confident that you can undertake it at you pace. That way you can enjoy it! This should always be the holiday provider’s first aim for each walk. After all, nothing is worse than seeing one poor sole lagging behind while the rest of the group ‘yomp’ off over the hills and out of sight. No fun at all. below is a typical group discussing options.
4. Group Size Some might prefer to have the exclusive use of the walking holiday provider rather than walking with a group of any size. With the right provider, you might be pleasantly surprised at the price – it does not have to break the bank and if it gives you peace of mind then the extra cost might be worth every penny. Or you might want to find one who only takes small groups. With any group, pace might become an issue despite any reassurances from the walk provider at the beginning but at least in a small group, when you get to know each other, you might feel more inclined to speak up if you have a problem. setting the right pace is a big step to enjoying any walk!
5. Pre-Holiday Liaison A good walking holiday provider will want to talk through some ideas with you before you arrive on your holiday and they should want to know about your ability – that way they can do some useful planning and present you with ideas ahead of, or when, you arrive. Don’t think of this as a burden but as reassurance that you have found a good provider who really cares about ensuring what they offer fits your requirements. I suppose it’s a bit like booking a hotel: you think about numbers of rooms you need; whether you want a view or a quite room at the back; what time is breakfast; what time you will arrive; directions etc. The good walk provider also needs to know a load of stuff to ensure all is as you want it. When looking for a walking provider ask him what information he needs in advance: if the answer is ‘nothing, just turn up…’ then perhaps you should look again.
6. Medical Information A responsible provider will need to glean certain medical information from you ahead of your holiday. This is not unnecessary prying but it gives the provider essential information which will help him to craft the walks to suit your physical ability. And it will ensure that he has valid insurance should something happen. If you are not asked for this information then think twice about using that provider.
7. Provision of Kit Walkers need the right kit. If you are not very experienced, pick up the phone and ask your provider about what kit to bring with you. Many providers will hold a kit-store of their own and you can hire/buy some items from them. The better ones will issue you with a kit list if you ask for it. The only piece of kit that you really must have, in advance, and have worn them in, is your walking boots. If you do not have boots, talk to your provider well in advance (a few months ideally) about what your walking aspirations are before and after your holiday and they should be willing to advise you on what type of boots to buy. Do this before you go to look at the bargains in the high street so that you know the right questions to ask when you get there. And it is worth getting your boots from a shop where the assistant has done a proper boot fitting course!
8. Getting a Good Feeling We have all been let down at some stage with a purchase or things have not been as you expected them to be and you feel disappointed. This is particularly galling if it happens on your holiday. So aim to get a good feeling about your walking holiday provider before you pay up. A couple of tips: have a look at the website and customer reviews. Try to get a feel for look the provider’s approach to points in this blog. Check that they have walking qualifications – this will give you the reassurance that they should know about group management, first aid etc etc. Secondly, when you call, ask to speak to the walking leader who will be with you during your holiday. If there are several walk leaders and the company policy is to give you a different leader for each walk then at least speak to one of them. Many smaller companies are one-man bands so speaking to the actual leader should be easy. Again run through the points above and gauge from their answers how ‘user-friendly’ they really are. Come off the phone and ask yourself if you would be happy spending some/all of your holiday with that person and learning from them. Did they seem to be enthusiastic and looking forward to providing you with a real life changing skill?
9. Be Honest If you are not as fit as you feel you should be, or you need to take medication, or you struggle on hills, or you get dizzy in high places etc etc then be honest and offer that information to your holiday provider. The good ones will work around your concerns and ensure that you still have a great, but safe, time. Nothing is worse for the provider than planning a great set of walks for you based on the information you gave and then you turn up and you are clearly unable to complete them because you were not quite accurate about something. See honesty as your contribution to ensuring that you have a brilliant holiday.
10. Will You Laugh One essential ingredient to any holiday is the ability to enjoy whatever you are doing – and in most cases have some fun and a laugh. When you spoke to the provider on the phone did they make you laugh? Did you come off the phone excited and buoyed up about what they could offer you? If yes, book that holiday: if not ….. keep looking. It’s your holiday so you need to have a good time.
If you want to know more that give me a call or fill in the enquiry form at www.discoverwalkingpembrokeshire.co.uk or call 01239 821631.