Hi all,
Hopefully winter is coming to an end and it is time to get a ‘spring’ in your step. Earlier in the week the Just You team laced up their boots and headed out for a chat with Min Hassett, our Tour Manager who knows everything there is to know about the UK’s favourite pastime of exploring on foot. As we love the community – we thought we’d give you first view of this lovely talk!
Hi Min are you excited about the UK walking Tours we have for 2018?
Hi, there is such a great range of Just You walking holidays this year, I believe there is something for everyone.
What is it our customers enjoy about our walking holidays?
When you go walking out in the fresh air coast or countryside it gives you a feel-good factor, and all your cares seem to disappear, which I must say is how it makes me feel.
While on the walks, our customers tell me they feel looked after as they have a Tour Manager and qualified walking guides with them on the walks, they say it's great not to having to map read and just enjoy the experience.
When walking with a group its great as you start off walking next to one person and chatting, then they might stop to take a photo, so you are then next to someone else and that’s how it goes all day, and it means everyone gets to mix and talk. I really enjoy walking with the groups and seeing them enjoying it and having fun along the way, that’s what a holiday is all about.
What advice do you have for someone thinking of booking a walking holiday for the first time?
Nearly all our walks can be shortened, so if they you are not confident about doing the whole of the walks you have the comfort of knowing they have the option to shorten the walk it if need be. A lot of customers tell me having this option gave them the confidence to book in the first place.
For customers who would like to try the walking holidays but have not done much walking in the past, my recommendation would be without a doubt A Stroll Through the Cotswolds , this is a four-day break, unlike all the rest of our UK walking breaks which are five days. The reason for this is because it was designed with customers new to our walking breaks in mind.
The walking is easier on this break and customers have the choice of doing all the walks, some of the walks, or just exploring at leisure. They make their mind up on the day of the walks, it is an excellent first time walking holiday to decide if walking is for them.
Even though the walking is easier on this one a lot of our regular walkers came along because they love walking and they wanted to see the Cotswolds.
This tour also attracted so many new walkers to our Just You walking holidays. The feedback was excellent, I heard time and time again how they wish they had done it sooner and how well it was designed with new walkers in mind.
What standard of fitness is required for the walking holiday's, and are they set at a fast pace?
A good degree of physical fitness is required, however our walks are set at a comfortable pace. In other words, it is not a route march, we appreciate our customers are on holiday and want them to enjoy the walks and take in the sights. We make sure there is plenty of time to take photos, enjoy the views, and have rest breaks along the way.
Do many of our customers do more than one walking holiday a year?
Yes, they certainly do. There are lots of customers that will do at least one in spring and then book a second one for the autumn. Because we have a good choice in our current brochure I think that will happen a lot this year, it's lovely to walk in the different seasons.
We have three new UK walking holidays for 2018 can you tell us anything about them?
I have had been lucky enough to have been out on all the walks on the new tours, and I am sure they will be very popular as some of the best walks of the areas have gone in. Northumberland is a stunning area and the coast is fantastic for walking, as is Holy Island. Simonside Hills near Rothbury is a walk I often do and the views amaze me every time I go. The Lake District is a walker's paradise with so much choice and I am so pleased to see Hadrian's Wall in there, in my opinion they have put the best section of the Hadrian's Wall into our itinerary. Walking in Jersey is fantastic the coast is quite beautiful and the walks in our brochure really show the Island at its best.
Finally, Min what would you say to those who are thinking about booking a walking holiday but haven't as yet?
Firstly, if you are new to walking, just go for it and book A Stroll Through the Cotswolds , spring is nearly here and it's a great season for walking, as the countryside is waking up after sleeping through winter, it's a season I love. Our first Cotswolds holiday goes out in April so there's still time to book!!
To all our customers who are thinking about booking whether it be the Yorkshire Dales, The Lake District, Northumberland, Devon, or Jersey, they are all such great Holidays you just have to pick one.
Happy walking
Julia
