Self-guided walking holidays let you travel at your own pace. Plan the day around your own personal agenda, choose when and where to stop for lunch, then set off again whenever you're ready.
You get comprehensive route notes as well as detailed maps. So you always know where you're going, no matter where you are.
Travel hotel-to-hotel on self-guided walking holidays
Discover your holiday region on our hotel-to-hotel walking holidays. You walk from hotel-to-hotel (usually every two days) while we transport your luggage so you only need to carry what you need for the day. For the days when you're not walking, use our route directions and regional guides to find lots of information about the local area and to get plenty of ideas for sightseeing and exploring. Perhaps you prefer to lounge by the pool? No problem - the choice is yours.
In many areas we offer a free wine pick-up service too. If you find a beautiful vineyard en-route and choose to purchase a few bottles (or cases) just let our rep know. They can pick it up and take it to your final hotel, ready for you to take home!
When you travel is up to you, with most of our independent walking holidays departing every two days, and having durations from 7 to 11 days. And choosing the right walk for you is easy. We've tagged each holiday with a 1-boot (gentle) to 3-boot (more challenging) difficulty rating, and with labels to show the activities you can enjoy.
Self-guided walking holidays at a single centre
Sometimes it's ideal to take self-guided walking holidays and stay at a single centre. We provide comprehensive walking maps and notes, with details of walk times, distances, and ascents - so you're free to mix and match levels to suit how you feel each day.
Many people bring children on our easier independent walking holidays and, of course, you can always carry infants in a papoose. Families staying in one place can have more choice over routes and how strenuous or easy-going you want your days to be.
For full holiday details click on the appropriate 'View Holiday' button below, or use the panel on the left to help you choose your independent walking holiday.
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This gentle hotel-to-hotel walking holiday is a fabulous introduction to the Loire Valley and follows a circular route linking the chateaux of Chenonceau, Amboise and Chaumont-sur-Loire. Warm, friendly hotels and great regional cuisine.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
This gentle hotel-to-hotel walking holiday is a fabulous introduction to the Loire Valley and follows a circular route linking the chateaux of Chenonceau, Amboise and Chaumont-sur-Loire. Warm, friendly hotels and great regional cuisine.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
Very easy walking through flower-festooned villages taking in feudal castles, churches, forests and vineyards. Panoramic views of the Black Forest, Vosges Mountains and famous Route du Vin. Lots of wine-tasting opportunities.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
This single centre holiday provides some of the finest walking in France including hiking the Tarn and Jonte Gorges, Aven Armand and in the Cevennes National Park - where you'll find 4000+ flowers including 80 different orchids.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
With both moderate and challenging walking options on offer each day, this superb high level mountain hike takes in dramatic gorges, beautiful lakes and traditional mountain villages unchanged over the years. Friendly, 3* hotels throughout.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
Gastronomic meals and historic hotels, sleepy wine villages and traditional mediaeval towns, ancient woodland and some of the world's most prestigious vineyards. These are some of the highlights of this 4-night walk around the beautiful Cote D'Or along quiet lanes, vineyard tracks and shady woodland paths.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
Brittany's Emerald Coast boasts some of the most stunning scenery in Europe, yet is relatively untouched by tourism. It's a landscape of pink-gold cliffs, deserted poppy-fringed beaches and traditional friendly Breton villages.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
This relaxed walk follows in part the route St James took en route to Compostela, and covers a gently rolling landscape of forests, farmlands, river valleys and fields full of poppies. Highlights include ancient Auxerre, mediaeval UNESCO-listed Vezelay and Chablis, renowned for its famous wines!
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
Varied walking in the glorious Luberon National Park - inspiration for generations of poets, painters and writers. Wander through vineyards and olive groves to perched mediaeval villages and stay in delightful hotels, full of character along the way.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
Incorporating both Alsace's Route des Vins and the picturesque Vosges National Park, this 8-night walking holiday showcases the very best that the region has to offer. Your holiday starts in the heart of wine country and takes you west through ancient forest and into the Vosges Mountains, straddling the French and German border.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
This 8 night walking holiday takes you along riverside trails, through sleepy hamlets and beside vineyards, stopping on route to visit some of the finest chateaux of the Loire Valley including Chenonceau, Amboise, Cheverny and Chaumont.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
This walking holiday explores the limestone cliffs, wooded valleys and beautiful mediaeval villages that are so unique to France's Dordogne region. World famous prehistoric sites and fine local wines add a further dimension to a stay here.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
Gastronomic meals and historic hotels, sleepy wine villages and traditional mediaeval towns, ancient woodland and some of the world's most prestigious vineyards. These are some of the highlights of this 6 night walk around the beautiful Cote D'Or along quiet lanes, vineyard tracks and shady woodland paths.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
No visit to this part of Brittany would be complete without seeing the beautiful mediaeval town of Dinan. This beautifully preserved ancient walled town, with riverfront port and picturesque half-timbered buildings, is an absolute gem. We provide a range of fully researched, self-guided walking and cycling routes, usually at 1 or 1+ boot and 1-bike level. A complimentary Headwater bike for your exclusive use throughout your stay is included to give you total flexibility. An ideal family getaway for all generations.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
This 7-night single-centre holiday is based in Sarlat, which has the highest concentration of mediaeval, Renaissance and C17 facades of any town in France. Based at one hotel, you have the choice of a range of delightful walking and cycling routes, provided by us, and are free to do as much or as little as you like each day. Walks are usually at 1 or 1+ boot and cycling routes at 2-bike level. We provide you with a bike each, as well as a hire car for the week.
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Combine three of our exciting holidays to experience the ultimate activity holiday in the Dordogne. 2 days of safe, undemanding canoeing with a choice of leisurely walking or cycling on the other days.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
JFMAMJJASOND
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