| Where will you be walking, eating and drinking in 2012? Choose from over 40 new walking holidays!
Personally, I like to have the thought of next year’s adventure in mind as I tuck into my second helping of Christmas pudding. It just makes it so much easier to justify those little indulgences over the festive season. With this in mind I thought that I would highlight just a few of my favourite new trips to get you thinking about your next adventure. In Scotland Dan has been paying particular attention to the islands. The white sandy beaches, prolific wildlife and unique island culture of Islay & Jura, Mull & Iona, the Outer Hebrides and the Orkneys now feature in our walking and drive and hike programmes. A real treat is in store for whisky lovers on the Speyside Whisky Trail, where you can discover the story of Glenlivet, Glenmorangie and many more. Lorna and Clare have been treading some of the British Isles’ best trails. My favourites include the Isle of Man Coast Path, the Norfolk Coast Path and the world class coastal walking on Jersey and Guernsey. Theatrical walkers will revel in the journey along Shakespeare’s Way, whilst those that enjoy the finer things in life shouldn’t miss out on the Cotswolds in Style walking holiday. Italy is as popular as ever and with two new trips to the Dolomites and a gourmet focused walk through Piedmont, the place Italians go for good food and wine, on the Barolo Vineyard Trail there should be something to tempt you regulars away from the delights of Tuscany. We all need an escape during the winter and we have added a number of winter sun walking destinations including the Algarve and Madeira in Portugal and Tenerife and La Gomera in the Canaries. Especially good for walking in the spring are the Lycian Way in Turkey and the Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Menorca. Since Kath spent some time in the Alps in August she has been smitten and The High Trail to the Matterhorn, the Aletsch Alpine Panorama and the Grindelwald Trail are sure to be the first of many walks in Switzerland. The Salzburg Lakes, Bavaria and the Leutasch Valley and St Jacobs Trail in Austria offer some slightly easier walking through yet more amazing Alpine scenery and the local mountain hotels are superb. And finally, for those of you who have got this far and clearly enjoy a challenge, I am thrilled to announce that we now offer walking holidays in France and are starting with the real classics; Corsica’s GR20 (Europe’s toughest trek), The GR10 Trail across the French Pyrenees and Stevenson’s Trail through the Cevennes. The daddy of them all, The Tour du Mont Blanc will also be live within the next week. That’s about it from me. I’ll leave you to get on with enjoying yourself over Christmas and New Year, knowing that any excesses will be walked off in the New Year.
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