Only the best walking companions

One of the joys of a self-guided walking holiday is that you’ll be walking with your specially selected group of family and friends. No strangers and no guides – just plenty of time and freedom to hike with your companions at your own pace and immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes, culture and cuisine.

On some of the more popular routes you may meet other On Foot walkers on a similar itinerary, and we hope you’ll strike up some new friendships with like-minded travellers. However, we’ll never assume that you want to walk or eat together – we leave that to you to decide.

As many of the hotels and B&Bs we use are small family-run establishments, and often the only option in a village, the size of group we can accommodate is often dictated by the capacity of the smallest hotel on the route, and the room types that it offers. See the ‘Prices’ tab on the route pages of our website for the maximum party size for each route.

If you’re planning to walk with a larger group, do please book early to increase your options, and be prepared to share rooms. And remember there is usually a discount for groups of three or more – so long as the walkers are all on one booking, booked at the same time on an identical itinerary.

Solo walkers are, of course, very welcome on most of our routes – we’re happy to give advice on walking alone, or search all our holidays here. And if you’re a couple looking for something a bit more romantic to celebrate an anniversary or even somewhere to spend your honeymoon, we can suggest some special places.

Whatever the size of your holiday party, we’ll do our best to find the perfect route to suit everyone – leaving you to just enjoy the hike and make magical memories.

At the height of summer it’s great to see the wonderful landscapes bathed in sunshine, but it is important to know how to stay safe and well and still enjoy your holiday in very hot weather.

• Check the weather forecast every day, and take note of the hours when the highest temperatures are expected (which may not be the middle of the day). We find that accuweather is usually very reliable.
• Always carry as much water as you can manage. Don’t be afraid to ask at shops or houses for a top-up if necessary. Where we know of a reliable water source, it will be mentioned in the route notes.
• Wear loose, light clothing, with a wide sun hat and sun glasses.
• Keep re-applying sunscreen.
• Take full advantage of any patches of shade.
• Be aware of your capabilities – you will probably walk more slowly in hot weather. Make use of shortening options if a long day of walking is going to be too much.
• Keep in touch with your Local Contact, who can suggest short cuts and alternative routes, or help get you to your next hotel if you want to take a rest day. In extreme cases there may be local restrictions for safety reasons, in which case we can help you re-arrange your walking and accommodation if necessary.
• If your hotel doesn’t have air-conditioning, ask if they have a fan you can use in your room, and keep curtains/blinds/shutters closed against direct sunlight.
• Start walking as early as possible in the day to avoid the highest heat. Ask your host the evening before whether you can have an early breakfast or a snack you can take with you. If this isn’t possible, consider starting out early anyway and getting something to eat along the way. Avoid caffeinated drinks, which will pass through your body more quickly than water!
• If you’ve set out early, take note of the check-in time at your next hotel, and maybe have a break somewhere cool and shady in the hottest part of the day.
• Hot weather can result in sudden thunderstorms – be aware in exposed areas and carry a light raincoat.
• Be especially careful of fire risk – don’t discard any litter or light any flames, and immediately report any fires to the emergency services.
• And if you’re feeling unwell, it may be sun stroke or heat exhaustion – seek help from your Local Contact. There’s more advice here.

Excitement is mounting, the clock is ticking down, and you want to be ready for your holiday!  What are the things you need to prepare before you go away, so you can enjoy your trip without stress?  Here are a few tips.

Walkers’ Pack – this is a comprehensive package of information for your holiday, including your personalised itinerary, detailed maps and route notes. There’s also lots of background information, suggestions of what you will need to take, places to eat, some basic help with language, transfer advice including timetables, luggage labels and a waterproof map holder (optional).

We will start to prepare your pack as soon as we’ve received your final payment and details of your intended travel plans. You should get it about a month before departure. We suggest you familiarise yourself with the contents in good time, as you may need to take action on some things.

On Foot Holidays Companion App – all the information provided in the Walkers’ Pack is also included in our free, bespoke app, with the added bonus of easy-to-use navigational tracks, maps and route directions at the touch of a button. You don’t need to load walking tracks to a separate GPS system – it all comes ready-loaded with your bespoke itinerary. We’ll send you details of how to download everything at least two weeks before your departure date, and recommend that you familiarise yourself with it before travelling. We also suggest downloading the what3words app, so that you can be quickly and easily located in the unhappy event that you need the assistance of emergency services.

Planning your journeys – you’ll have already discussed this with our bookings team, and we’ll send timetables in your pack/app relevant to your local transfers. There are some handy links on our website too, and do please ask if you need any help planning your journey.

Training – unless you are a regular hiker, you might want to take some longer walks than usual in the weeks before your holiday, not least so that you are aware of your stamina levels. Most importantly, wear the boots and backpack you’ll be travelling with, and make sure they’re comfortable!  Bear in mind that there is likely to be different weather and terrain on your holiday route too.

Packing – we’ll suggest the items to bring, including everything from clothing to first aid. Check what sort of weather to expect before choosing what to pack!

One of the frequent questions asked by clients is about walking poles. They’re a standard part of the hiking kit and are useful uphill and downhill, in poor weather and to steady yourself when crossing streams. However, they can be problematic when travelling by air, and you will need to pack them in your hold luggage – do check with your airline. If in doubt, plan to buy poles when you arrive.

The dull stuff – check in good time that your passport is valid and whether a visa or visa waiver is required – see your home country’s government website and don’t forget that you may need some months of validity on your passport after your return date. There’s more information here about digitised entry systems for the UK and many EU countries.

You’ll need some cash in the local currency (airport exchanges are not the cheapest way to do this), travel insurance (and a GHIC card if you are a UK citizen). Your mobile phone should be enabled for use in Europe, and it’s helpful to save the number of your Local Contact on your phone before you travel.

See more useful links for UK citizens about travelling to the EU here.

But most of all, remember to take with you your sense of adventure, a mind that is open to new discoveries, and willingness to enjoy whatever happens along the way.