Responsible walking vacations
in England
Our England walking Vacations
Lake District hike on the Cumbria Way, England
Hiking vacation in England's Lake District
Yorkshire guided hiking vacation, The Prior Richard Way
A guided 12th century hike, York to Fountains Abbey via Ripon
Pilgrims Way guided hiking vacation, England
Walk with your group with guide
South West Coastal Path walking vacation, England
The South West Coast Path and Isles of Scilly
York to Fountains Abbey hiking vacation, England
The Prior Richards way self-guided 12th century hike
Northumberland coast hike, England
Self Guided Walking Vacation in Northumberland Coast Path
Shakespeares Way walking vacation, Cotswolds to London
From Stratford-upon-Avon to The Globe Theatre
Dartmoor and Exmoor walking vacation, England
Self guided walking between the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks.
Shakespeares Way & Thames Path walking vacation
Two fantastic traditional English walks.
White cliffs of Dover walking vacation in Kent, England
Superb cliff top walk along an iconic route
Thames Path walking vacation in England
Self guided walk along the River Thames Oxford to Windsor
Walking vacation in Kent, self guided walks
Discover hidden Kent, its people and their history.
Coast to Coast self guided walk in England
Self guided walk along the famous Coast to Coast trail
Cumberland Way hiking vacation in England
From coast to hill country in the Lake District
Lake District hiking vacation in England
Fells and lake views of Britain's Lake District
Barnstaple to Bude South West Coast Path walk in England
South West Coast Path in England walking tour
Walking vacation in Yorkshire, England
Fishing villages and high cliffs, Ravenscar Yorkshire's North Coast
Pilgrims Way self guided walking tour, England
Discover Kent's history, its landscape and its people
Wye Valley hiking vacation in Wales
Secluded charm, ancient woodland and the river Wye.
Ullswater Way hiking vacation in England
Walk around England's most beautiful lake
The Great Stones Way Trekking Vacation, England
52 miles long and is one of the newest UK walking trails
The Nidderdale Way walking vacation in Yorkshire, UK
North Yorkshire, bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park
South West Coast Path walking vacation, England
Minehead to Barnstaple walk on the South West Coast Path
Dales Way walking vacation in Yorkshire, England
The Dales Way self guided walking vacation
South West Coast Path hiking vacation, England
Bude to Newquay along the South West Coast Path
Short break walking vacation in the Lake District
Mini break re-set to health and happiness
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal hiking vacation, England
Northern England self guided hiking vacation
Sidmouth and the Devon Coast hiking vacation
Walk along Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast
Highlights of Hadrians Wall hiking vacation, England
Self-guided walk along the Hadrian's Wall Path
People & Culture
Balancing the needs of people & nature
George Monbiot on the Lake District’s designation as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017: “World heritage status will make attempts to defend our natural heritage much harder. It will be used to block efforts to reduce grazing pressure, protect the soil and bring back trees.”Since the South Downs National Park was gazetted in 2011, it has successfully blocked a request from an energy company to set up a fracking operation. However, it has also opposed the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, whose 175 turbines will be visible from the Sussex Heritage Coast. The project will require cables to be laid through the fragile chalk grasslands of the National Park which, as Trevor Beattie, SDNPA Chief Executive, has pointed out, is “a rarer habitat than the Amazon rainforest”. The government has, nonetheless, given the go-ahead to this development, arguing that it will produce enough renewable energy to power approximately 450,000 homes.

In the Lake District, there has been controversy over what actually needs to be at the forefront of protection. The cultural heritage of upland farming, or the habitats of wildlife and ever decreasing forest? This issue was raised by leading environmental journalist George Monbiot, following the Lake District being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2017, to protect the culture of sheep farming. Something Monbiot criticises, as he claims in a fascinating article in The Guardian that sheep farming has actually caused a lot of destruction to the park. Monbiot and other conservationists are equally vocal on the controversial practice of ‘swaling’ or burning of overgrown heathland in places like Dartmoor, an age old practice with some serious contemporary impacts.
So it is worth remembering that, when you are walking in England, you are often walking over not only stunning landscapes but also people’s homes, livelihoods, habitats for rare birds, vast open spaces which may once have been forested, all of which create debate and stress for those living there. So, as you de-stress on your walks, do be mindful of these stories and histories. Many of them are still ongoing.
What you can do
Read up on the issues of rural areas where you are walking, or chat with local people about them. Remember that, just as in many areas around the world, human interest and conservation are often in conflict and sometimes with good reason. It is rarely cut and dry, so do stay open to all sides of the argument before assuming that we all should just have a right of way.
Wildlife & environment
Easing the impact
The areas where we love to hike can get very busy during peak season, so to prevent erosion of delicate paths, and surrounding habitats, please don’t be tempted to wander too far off piste. These paths have been mapped by conservation experts, and also sensitively negotiated with landowners, and they really should be stuck to. This is another great reason to go on a walking vacation outside of peak season. Not only are you avoiding the crowds in very popular spots such as Devil’s Dyke in the South Downs, the Thames Path around Oxford or popular Yorkshire Dales such as Ribblesdale, famous for its magnificent viaduct, but you are also easing the impact of footfall on the land. And of course, always adhere to the rules of Leave No Trace. You may think you are a super responsible hiker, but it is always good to remind yourself of good walking practice.What you can do
Consider visiting outside school vacations and picking some lesser known areas to help reduce pressure on the most popular sites. Our walking vacations are nearly all tailor made so you can discuss this with your vacation company. Always stick to a designated path if there is one and walk in single file on narrow trails, even when wet or muddy. And if you are very keen, on your return, sign up to do a day of volunteering in a protected area, often publicised on national park websites as well as at the National Trust.
Responsible tourism tips
