Newsletter > Newsletter archive > July 2020
July 2020
Keeping us up to date
We hope you are enjoying getting out and about, perhaps a little further afield now. It may even be time to start thinking of a holiday. This month we welcome back one of our long-term partners, Inntravel, and there's a free hostel guide offer below if you're planning a UK break.
The last few months have been very good for wildlife and vegetation, perhaps rather too good for the latter in the case of our footpaths. Every summer lots of our paths get overgrown and now, of course, many have been much less walked than usual. The best thing for these paths in the longer term is for people to use them. Meanwhile it may be a good idea to take a walking pole or stick and to have some over trousers handy, plus good boots or wellies for trampling undergrowth down. Think of it as a public service!
In England and Wales the vast majority of our walks are on designated public rights of way (in Scotland there is 'right to roam' so different rules apply). However we do have some walks that use 'permitted paths'. On these the landowner is entitled to withdraw permission and we have been notified of some that have been closed because of the pandemic. We are putting notes on walks where this has been reported so that others are forewarned. Please let us know either via a comment on the walk or through the website contact form. Obviously we hope that these paths will be accessible again as soon as possible.
Good news for travel
Self-guided walking and cycling specialists, Inntravel, have announced the return of their UK holidays from 1 August 2020, with holidays to the continent to follow from 1 September.
The range of holidays will be reduced for a time, as the company have pledged to work only with hoteliers, bike suppliers and taxi drivers who are 'Covid Compliant', and will only offer holidays where the key highlights can still be delivered. However Inntravel are confident the experience will be just as enjoyable as before the pandemic - their small, family-run hotels can be relied upon to take very good care of guests, and walking and cycling in off-the-beaten track destinations are ideal ways to explore away from the crowds.
To offer added reassurance, Inntravel have also enhanced their flexible booking policies: it's now possible to amend reservations up to the day before travel; and no-quibble refunds will be offered for a range of scenarios, for example if a destination country locks down or requires quarantine on arrival, or the UK locks down and re-imposes a travel ban. Timely refunds are something Inntravel have provided ever since the start of the crisis, earning them praise from consumer champion, Which?
Looking further ahead, Inntravel have also committed to keeping their prices the same for Summer 2021, so a holiday for next year can be enjoyed at this year's prices.
For more details on Inntravel's self-guided walking and cycling holidays, visit inntravel.co.uk or email their expert team at holidays@inntravel.co.uk Due to home-working, the capacity to receive phone calls remains limited.
Book with confidence
Amend your booking up to the day before travel
Speedy, no-quibble refunds if Inntravel cannot operate your holiday
No price rises: book for summer 2021 at 2020 prices
Bonded with ATOL and ABTA for your complete financial security
Free hostel guide
Independent Hostels UK is the largest network of hostels and bunkhouses in England, Scotland and Wales. Its handbook is a huge resource for good value self-catering accommodation, with over 400 excellent places to stay. Many are historically interesting and quirky and in wonderful locations - ideal, perhaps, for a family get-together. In a bid to encourage people back the 2020 Guide is being offered free - you are just asked to pay £1.75 for postage.
Member news
Walkingworld contributor Pete Salenieks has written a short piece, with some glorious pictures, of his return to his own walk ID 2300 after lockdown, which visits Castell Dinas and Y Grib in the Welsh Black Mountains. We accompanied Pete on this walk some years ago and it's great to see those views again. You can download his 'Happy Return' as a PDF. Might just give you some inspiration for your own post-lockdown adventures.
'Chris the Coastwalker' is about to set off on an epic charity walk for BBC Children in Need. Leaving from Heacham, Norfolk and heading clockwise round the British coast for approximately a year, he will be mainly wild camping and relying on the kindness of strangers. If you can help in any way at all he will be very grateful.