TAKE 2 i 26


Pick up the pace with walking holidays in the open air, writes Katie McGonagle


f ever there was a reason to remind ourselves of the joys of the great outdoors, being stuck inside for weeks on end, with only our once-a-day exercise to break up the monotony, is it. Even now, as lockdown restrictions are gradually being eased, those daily walks feel like a lifeline to the outside world in a time of turmoil. Whether you’ve taken the chance


to explore your local area on foot instead of by car, walked through woodlands or past lakes you’d never been to before, or simply dug out that old pair of trainers from the back of the wardrobe for a short stroll around the block, you can be sure your clients will have been doing the same.


21 MAY 2020 Some might even have found


they rather like this healthy new habit and want to carry on walking well after lockdown is over – which is why bumping up your knowledge of the best holidays on foot would be a wise investment of time right now. Even before the coronavirus crisis, walking holidays had been on the rise, both in groups or self-guided, as part of a wider trend towards active breaks such as cycling and hiking. Add growing consumer sentiment in favour of outdoor breaks where holidaymakers can keep their distance from fellow travellers, and it’s fair to say a boom in walking breaks might be on the horizon.


BOOK IT: Ramblers Walking Holidays has seven and 14-night options on its Hiking in Andorra holiday, which starts from £1,029 for a week departing May 30, 2021, including BA flights to Toulouse, transfers, full-board accommodation, local transport and walking guides, with a choice of moderate or more challenging walks, depending on clients’ preferences. ramblersholidays.co.uk


TRY THIS


LIKE THIS? SOUTH OF FRANCE


Few places are so redolent of the good life than the south of France, where strolls through the quaint villages of the Dordogne or lavender-filled fields of Provence are rewarded with stops at cellar doors or chateaux to feast on cheese and wine, knowing you can work it off again the next day.


ANDORRA


WHY GO: You don’t have to move too far down the map to get to Andorra, the tiny landlocked country set in the Pyrenees mountains between the borders of France and Spain. It’s a popular spot during the ski season, but come summer, those mountain slopes and scenic passes transform into lush meadows scattered with delicate wildflowers, interrupted only by the occasional farmer’s field or tiny wooden chalet.


HIGHLIGHTS: The always-photographable peaks of the Pyrenees provide a scenic backdrop to just about every walking route here, as terrain varies from unspoilt Alpine slopes to glassy mountain lakes. Among the standouts is the Unesco-listed Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, a glacial valley reached via a fairly challenging hike but one that rewards walkers with rare wildlife and an insight into the agricultural heart of the country.


travelweekly.co.uk


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