To ask for your walking holiday suggestions

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It’s my husband’s 40th in the summer. I’d like to book a surprise few nights away somewhere. I will be offloading the kids on the grandparents.

I’d like to go somewhere we can go walking, stay somewhere lovely, eat nice food, drink nice wine etc. Could be in the UK or Europe (though Brexit?)... we are currently in South Wales. Happy to travel but don’t want to spend half the time getting somewhere. Would prefer not to do battle with Cornwall/ the M5. Any suggestions? Will consider all options (except camping)

Have a look at HF holidays. I don’t know if they’ll be ‘treat’ enough, but their holidays are great and very cheap. They definitely have good ones on Exmoor, so not too far from you.

Could try Arran? It's perfect for walking! Not sure if it would be a bit far though?

How about exmoor not too long a journey and villages with decent hotels

Stay in South Wales. So much fab walking there!

Madeira? You can fly from Bristol, it's warm all year round, the levada walks are lovely and there are so many nice places to stay/ eat/drink...

I have done several walking holidays with this company. We have been really happy with them. www.contours.co.uk

A few sections of the West Highland Way? Or a weekend in the Alps if you want to go further afield?

Second Madeira

Isle of Wight coastal path.

Inntravel do self guided itineraries or you can base yourself in a resort. Wengen /Grindelwald in Switzerland is a favourite of ours but there are other lovely spots. Tuscany if not in peak summer for example. How £ are you able to go ?

Snowdonia

Brittany - v like Cornwall but with French food and wine. Lovely coastal path.

Ooh great suggestions Thankyou!

LIZS budget is definitely a consideration. If I can try to keep flights/car hire/hotel to under £600 I’ll be happy.

I love the thought of the Alps or Switzerland. Would my budget stretch? I’m also toying with Isle of Skye but what’s the situation with midges in a summer?

I’ve just realised that due to health issues I’m currently going through, very sunny places are going to be a no go as I am no longer able to be out in strong sun 😫

If you don't mind staying fairly local, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is utterly gorgeous, lots of accommodation along the route - and several companies offer luggage forwarding, so your bag is waiting at your next b&b each night. You just walk with a day-pack then, makes a huge difference.

In mainland Europe, I can really recommend the area around Chamonix if you prefer to take a series of shorter one-day walks instead. It's really lovely (if a bit lazy) to take a cable-car part way up the mountain and walk from there, or even just walk down the mountain. I think you can get bus transfers from Geneva, or hire a car.

Another great place for walks is Ötztal, in Austria close to the Italian border. Brits know it best from skiing because it's where Obergurgl is. But we think it's fab in summer for hiking. We did a multiple-day hike once up to the spot on the border where Otzi the Iceman was found. The great thing is that you can be hiking up a mountain in snow at 3000 metres, then come down the valley and swim in a natural outdoor pool that same afternoon.

Ah, you mentioned the budget issue. Obviously Pembrokeshire would be no issue, especially if you go for cheaper accommodation like YHA, even cheaper in a dorm!

Flights to the Alps are a bit cheaper in summer because high season is in winter for skiing. I think Easy Jet flies to Geneva. Not sure how much the cheapest shuttle costs though - that's often a big expense when skiing.

For accommodation in the Alps you can easily rely on mountain huts. The bed itself is usually reasonable (but you might need to take a sleeping-bag liner), but what adds up is food, because you have no choice of where to eat, and the cost of getting ingredients up the mountain is rightly quite high. It might be more worthwhile getting an air b'n'b so you can self-cater, but that will mean day trips only.

You may struggle on that budget but check out cheap flights to Basel/Geneva, train transfer and accommodation.

Hmm yes I think Austria/Switzerland could be a struggle on my budget. Esp with the exchange rate as it is these days.

I think what I’m after is somewhere we can stay that is lovely (b&b or self catering), nice restaurants but we can go on some lovely walks during the day too.

How about the lake district? Stay in a nice hotel? I love grasmere (travellers rest not fancy but good food good price nice rooms and good walking), the lodore falls on Derwentwater is lovely but pricey, Keswick country house hotel is in the centre of lovely lively Keswick and does good dinner bed and breakfast deals.

The Ridgeway is gorgeous and not too far from you.

And the Lakes are fabulous.

And I absolutely adore walking in the Peak District (we usually camp there, but there are loads of B+Bs)

Cotswold Way is not far for you. You could probably find budget hotels just out of the area eg Gloucester and do various circular walks
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold-way/news/looking-circular-walk

Or The Wilson's arms in torvor in coniston ticks your boxes and not pricey good food good walking and close to coniston.

It's not properly away seeing as you live in Wales, but have you done the Cambrian way? Cardiff to Conwy along wild paths.

A better page for Cotswold Way circular walks
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold-way/plan

We've done exactly what you're looking for with Inntravel and absolutely loved it. Places in Eastern Europe like Slovenia are a bit cheaper and also have Alps!

Let us know what you decide.

The Lake District? Keswick is a good base or down the Borrowdale valley. Plenty of accommodation options and loads of walking.