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Walkers Welcome
Places specifically set up for walkers tend to be located near to some of the best marked trails in the country.
Some have great yomps starting on their property, some can direct you to the local bus route, but all are run by owners with a passion for sharing their top tips. Contact the owners in advance for advice on the best routes and their recommendations for pubs and places to stop off on the way.
So grab your OS Map, your waterproofs and your stout walking boots and hit the ground running. Or walking at a more leisurely pace. You are on holiday, after all.
Yr Hen Stablau Self-Catering, Dyfi Valley, Wales, UK
Unfussy, renovated stables overlooking the peaceful Dyfi Valley woodland near Machynlleth. It has impressive eco credentials including solar energy, underfloor heating and woodburning stove. Dogs are welcome and it is wheelchair accessible.
from: £360 per week low season to £640 high season
More Walkers Welcome
Grindon Farm, Northumberland, England
Tranquil, self-catering cottages in stunning Hadrian's Wall country, an ideal base for walking, cycling or simply taking some time out with nature. Impressive eco credentials including underfloor heating and rain water harvesting.
Cartshed sleeps 6. The Old Farmhouse sleeps 4.
Old Farmhouse £315-£565 Cartshed £330-£640 per week self-catering
Ravenscraig Guest House, Cairngorms, Scotland
The owners of this friendly hotel will not only give advice on the best local fishing – they'll smoke your catch for you so you can eat it for breakfast! Perfect for mountain exploration, offering great value and proper Scottish food to fuel you up.
14 rooms, including one self-catering apartment
Singles/doubles from £30/£55 B&B
Glenmore Lodge Chalets, Cairngorms, Scotland
If you're looking for some adrenaline-pumping outdoor activity, where better to stay than at Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre? Fantastic facilities for climbing, mountain biking and kayaking, and spectacular mountains on your doorstep.
3 chalets sleeping between 4 and 8
4-/8-berth chalets from £160/£320 per weekend, £495/£895 for a week.
17 Burgate, Pickering, England
A renovated Georgian townhouse B&B with a cosy wood-burning stove, tea and cake on arrival and excellent breakfast, is an idyllic stay for walkers and cyclist exploring the North York Moors.
5 double, all en suite
Doubles from £85 per night (reductions for stays of more than one night)
Great Broxhall Farm B&B, Kent Downs, England
This bucolic retreat is centred on a fabulous flint-and-brick farmhouse dating from the 16th century. Hens and rare-breed ducks wander its courtyard and lawn, adding to the very rural feel of the place.
2 doubles
Doubles from £80 B&B
Larch & Spruce Cottages, Dedham Vale, Essex
Two Scandinavian-style cottages sleeping up to four situated in a field in the Box Valley. Footpaths from the doorstep, the South Suffolk cycle route close by and great food at the16th-century White Horse Inn pub next door.
2 cottages for 4
Contact owner for details
Dutch House, North Yorkshire, England
A dynamic Dutch couple run Dutch House, which combines wildlife garden, courtyard café, child-friendly art workshop and shop with a one-bedroom B&B in its own separate traditional farm cottage. The bedroom is spacious and light, with quirky touches.
1 double
From £70 for 2
Llangollen Hostel, Denbighshire, Wales
A 32-bed hostel conveniently in the centre of Lllangollen with excellent facilities, including laundry, kitchen, lounge with log fire, wifi, bike and canoe storage, drying room and luggage drop. Dorms, as well as double and single rooms available.
32-bed hostel; some doubles en suite, plus dormitories
From £18 per person, including breakfast
Habitat @ Ballater, Cairngorms, Scotland
The idea of a five-star hostel may seem somewhat contradictory, but this place pulls it off with style. Communal areas are modern and stylish and the facilities are excellent. Balmoral Castle is nearby along with many walking and cycling trails.
34 beds - 6 dorms plus private rooms
Beds in bunkroom from £18, twin/family room from £45/75.
Slack House Farm, North Pennines, England
Simple, clean and comfortable accommodation on this organic working farm in the North Pennines. Situated within the ‘Heart of Hadrian’s Wall’, this is an ideal location for lovers of walking, cycling, horse riding and pony trekking.
3: each sleeps 6-10, 5 and 3 people respectively
£15 per person per night
Challan Hall, Arnside & Silverdale, England
A beautiful, homely haven for birdwatchers, this cosy B&B is situated on the doorstep of Silverdale and Leighton Moss Nature Reserve. Come to find glorious walks, flourishing wildlife and cooked breakfasts to rival your mother's.
Three rooms: one double, one twin and one en-suite
£75
New Barn Farm, Feather Down Farm, Carlton, Bedfordshire
Barely two hours from London by train, this fantastic campsite just outside the picturesque village of Carlton has pigs, goats, horses, ponies, donkey, ducks and chickens, not to mention acres of beautiful woodland and numerous walking trails.
Room for up to 6: 1 double bed, 1 bunk bed, 1 cupboard bed
from £291
Arnside Independent Hostel, Cumbria, England
Set within the Arnside and Silverdale AONB, you can step out of this old Edwardian house immediately immerse youself in the glorious surrounding scenery. Family and dog friendly, it's the perfect place for a country retreat without breaking the bank.
19: mixed sizes, from single to sleeping up to 8.
£43 double en-suite. Cheaper options available (e.g. shared dorm rooms)
Treganhoe Farm, Penzance, Cornwall
Treganhoe Farm in the Cornwall AONB has been in the James family for three generations, and is now run as a dairy farm with pigs and sheep. Visit the beach, famous Land’s End and "The Drift" reservoir, a lovely bird reserve and fly fishing spot.
3 rooms in each tent sleeping 5-6
From £435 per week
Golden Hill Farm, North York Moors, England
A bucolic idyll, this small, intimate campsite – also offers holiday cottages, shepherds huts and gypsy caravans. Perfect for families, the site is set amongst 6 acres of beautiful English countryside.
Range of camping, caravan, house, cottage and hut rooms
Camping from £15 per family per night; Caravan from £25 per night. 3 bedroom cottage from £300 per week
Hotel de Mecina Fondales, Las Alpujarras, Spain
Vibrant, welcoming and full of bright flowers, this charming hotel is full of character and run by a father-and-son team - both called Victor. Delicious local food on the terrace, fantastic views and ample opportunities for hiking and activities.
21 rooms
Singles/doubles €60/€88
Loch Kinord Hotel, Cairngorms, Scotland
This elegant hotel offers comfortable relaxation after an invigorating day spent exploring the mountains or the Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve and Loch Kinord. Fuel up with a hearty traditional Scottish breakfast made with fresh local ingredients.
22 rooms
Singles/doubles from £65/£95 B&B
Dowfold House B&B, County Durham, England
Let yourself (and your dog) be pampered at this elegent, homely Victorian B&B. Enjoy award winning breakfasts as well as fabulous walking and cycling routes.
3: 2 doubles, 1 family
£98
The Little Chapel, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The Little Chapel was a former artesan glass-makers before being converted to a cosy family home. The Chapel is located in a small hamlet, close to the historic city of St Davids with its restaurants, deli, clothing shops and magnificent cathedral.
Sleeps 6 in 2 rooms: 1 double, 1 double and 2 twins
645.00 to: £1370.00 (based on two staying)
Tigh-Na-Coille, Cairngorms, Scotland
With such an abundance of birds and wildlife, it can be easy to forget that this is a working farm and not a nature reserve. Sleeping six, the well-equipped cottage will welcome you home after a day of walking, fishing, golf or maybe whisky-tasting.
Cottage sleeps 6 (1 double room & 2 twin rooms)
From £350 per week
Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Gwynedd, Wales
This Haven holiday park is the perfect place for a family break; with a range of accomodation available (including adapted caravans for the disabled), Hafan y Môr features a water park and has a range of outdoor activities on offer.
Several family caravans, chalets & apartments.
Caravans: £65-265. Chalets: £72-215. Apartments: £45-190. (all to rent per night)
Hilly Field Barn, Dartmoor, England
A homely cottage has been created from this converted 200-year-old barn set in rolling farmland and its own private garden, with views over to the village of Buckland Monochorum. A cosy cosy base for exploring the western part of the moor.
1 Double Room
Weekly prices from £260 to £455, depending on season.
The Old Repeater Station, Northumberland, England
This B&B is a great pit-stop halfway along Hadrian's Wall, and a bus can take you from right outside the door to nearby historic Roman Forts such as Vindolanda. There are five basic bedrooms offering simple accommodation in bunks or en-suite twins.
5 rooms: doubles, twins and bunk beds. Sleeps up to 12.
Double room from £65, family room from £75
Height Top Farm, Lancashire, England
Set in a peacefully rural location, these one bedroom self-catering cottages have been lovingly renovated from the existing farmhouse. Look out for a wealth of original features, from the fully working Yorkist range to the log burning stove.
2 cottages for 2 (1 with double, 1 with twin)
From £350 per week; £475 peak season
Boot and Shoe Cottage, North Pennies, England
Expect the warmest of welcomes, a roaring log fire, home made food and a real home-away-from-home from this riverside cottage in Teesdale.
2: 1 large king-size double + 1 attic-style twin
Enquire on website for prices
Dalesbridge Centre, Yorkshire Dales, England
Situated in the beautiful Forest of Bowland, and with a campsite, B&B and self-catering house, the Dalesbridge Centre offers accommodation to suit the needs of all comers, whether groups or individuals.
Camping pitches, bunk houses, B&B and self-catering rooms
Tent from £6 per night; Caravan from £25; B&B double from £70; Self-catering house from £1,750 per week; 4-bed bunkhouse from £70 per night.
The School Annex, Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon, Wales
Set in the Brecon Beacons National Park we offer a high standard of self catering accommodation and great green credentials. You can take time out to relax or be as active as you want, even star gaze in our dark sky reserve, all on the doorstep!
1 double with bunk over. 1 super king which can be 2 singles
From £240
Blakelow Farm Cottages, Peak District, UK
Beautiful 5-star accommodation with an environmental smile, these cottages are in a stunning location with fabulous views. Information readily available on the benefits of sourcing locally, caring for the landscape and protecting wildlife.
Cottages sleep between 1 and 4
3 nights from £220 to £605; Week from £325 to £825
Stones Cottages, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Holiday guilt-free in these incredibly eco-friendly cottages, set in gorgeous Pembrokshire. A haven for wildlife lovers, this is the perfect place to come and see not only an abundance of birds, such as puffins, but seals as well!
2 cottages, each with 1 double en suite, 1 twin en suite
£75
Barnabas House, Dartmoor, England
Barnabas House is a lovely Edwardian property beautifully refurbished to provide 6 bedrooms, all with en-suite or private bathroom and free wi-fi. Recently awarded VisitBritain 4-star award, with the Walkers' and Cyclists' Welcome accreditation.
6: 5 King Rooms, 1 Twin
Superior King from £83, Classic King from £73, Premier King from £78, Twin from £78
Rushbanks Farm Campsite, Dedham Vale, Essex
Just a short distance along the River Stour from the pretty 15th-century village of Nayland is Rushbanks, the only official campsite in Dedham Vale. It’s a peaceful, family-friendly site with simple facilities and is particularly good for boaters.
Campsite (no electric hook-ups)
£15 for one-man tent; £22 for 2 adults
Dormy House, Farncombe Estate, The Cotswolds
Dormy House is the perfect Cotswolds rural retreat. Think cosy corners, log fires and sumptuous interiors. Like home, but better. With two restaurants and a spa and gorgeous walks from the front door, it's pretty close to perfection.
38 ensuite rooms
From £200 per room
Glan LLyn, Mold, North Wales
A boutique farm stay and self-catering accommodations in the Clwydian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Idyllic rural location that's great for outdoor enthusiasts and families.
2 double,1 twin/double, 2 double/twin rooms cottage
Double/twin room: £59 during the week, £64 Friday and Saturday, cottage from £120
Rennington Cottages, Northumberland, England
It’s the attention to detail that makes these four cottages, built in 2013, a winner for families: the library of books and boardgames, the log burner in the lounge with a ready-made fire, rainforest shower heads in the master bedrooms and a hamper.
4 cottages: 1 for 6, 1 for 7, 2 for 8
From £680 per week. Short lets available
Hafan Y Mor Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Wales
This Havan holiday park is the perfect place for a family break; with a range of accomodation available (including adapted caravans for the disabled), Hafan y Môr features a water park and has a range of outdoor activities on offer.
Several family caravans, chalets & apartments
Caravans from £133, Apartments from £143, Lodges from £176 per night
L’Esprit du Bocage, Normandy, France
Restored by a Dutch family using traditional materials just five years ago, this typical granite house sleeping up to five is ideally placed for discovering Mont St-Michel and the landscapes of southern Manche – hence the name: Spirit of the Bocage.
Gîte for 5
From €480
Brockloch Bothy, Dumfries & Galloway
The Bothy, a luxury boutique cottage, complete with sincere eco-credentials including sheep wool insulation, earthborn paint, solar panels, is made entirely with sustainable timber, and recently featured on George Clarke's amazing spaces on Channel 4
1 double
from £350 for a Monday to Friday stay or £350 Friday to Monday stay
Pipistrelle, Powys, Wales
Built for comfort and greeness, this cosy cottage sleeps 2 (plus an infant and dog) and enjoys stunning wildlife-rich Welsh countryside. A stylish romantic escape, which is both baby-friendly and equipped with the latest in entertainment technology.
1 large bedroom 1 large sitting room/diner/open-plan kitchen
Prices from £260
Woodland Waterfalls, LLANIDLOES, Wales
Dog friendly, secluded converted bungalow for four, sitting in natural woodland in mid Wales. With stunning gardens the gigantic windows overlook the grounds, surrounded by waterfalls, stream, pools and wildlife. Explore the surrounding landscape.
2 double bedrooms plus bathroom OR Caravan
from £169 (caravan) to £249 (Bungalow conversion) GBP per week in low season
Organig Parc, Carnguwch, Wales
These old stone stables have been renovated using local materials to transform them into charming holiday cottages. With breathtaking views of the mountains, river and Cardigan Bay in the distance, this is the perfect retreat to unwind.
4 cottages, sleeps from 4 - 6 people
From £495 for a week stay
Old Post Office Barn, Peak District, UK
A wonderfully restored Roaches red gritstone barn offering cosy self-catering accommodation in Upper Hulme, a beautiful area of the National Park.
1 double bedroom and 1 pull out bed
From £150 for two nights
Manorbier B & B, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK.
Manorbier, a little bed and breakfast by the sea, in Tenby, Wales is in the shadow of Manorbier's Medieval castle. The 2 rooms, both with coastal views, located in a family home, have private bathrooms, a guest lounge & use of the Sea Breeze Garden.
1 double en suite, 1 twin room
£85 for two people sharing double en suite single occupancy £60 double en suite, twin room with private sole use bathroom £75 two people, single £50.
The Webbington Hotel & Country Club, Mendip Hills
The Webbington Hotel & Country Club is a giant sized Best Western with 54 rooms converted from an Edwardian manor. Leisure Club facilities for the guests include a tennis court and on site restaurant and bar. Ideal for access to the Mendips and Bath.
54 rooms
From £99
The Lazy Duck, Cairngorms, Scotland
'So laid-back it's almost horizontal', the Lazy Duck offers the ultimate peaceful retreat, tucked away in green pine forests full of wildlife. The site includes an 8-person hostel, romantic eco-lodge and cabin and a tranquil campsite with hammocks.
Eco-lodge & cabin sleep 2; hostel sleeps 8; campsite 4-pitch
Hostel from £19 pppn; cabin/eco-lodge from £95 per night for 2 people; camping £15 per tent per night (+ £5 per extra person).
Casa Las Chimeneas, Las Alpujarras, Spain
Your hosts' enthusiasm and local knowledge really stands out - from walks and attractions to cookery courses, yoga retreats and wildlife walks, they'll ensure you get the most out of your trip, leaving you free to soak up the relaxing atmosphere.
9 rooms & 3 apartments
Doubles/twins €90 B&B, self-catering apartments from €350 per week
Bedknobs Bed and Breakfast, Cornwall, England
An elegant detached Victorian Villa with spacious and comfortable en suite bedrooms in an acre of secluded woodland garden just 5 minutes walk from Bodmin town centre. Ideal for exploring nearby Eden Project.
3:1 twin, 2 doubles
£75-£90
Wrostler's Barn, Cumbria, UK
Beautiful, off-grid camping barn in ancient woodland, very close to Coniston Water. A fantastic eco-holiday retreat, remote and secluded but just a one minute walk through the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) woods to the lakeside.
There are two separate sleeping spaces, 12 single mattreses.
from £250
Springhill Farm, Northumberland, England
Ten cottages in converted farm buildings, a clutch of wooden wigwams, a bunkhouse sleeping 32 for family reunions or groups of friends, and a beautiful campsite. The coast is within touching distance, as are the area's historic sights. Fabulous.
Camping & caravan site, cottages, bunkhouse, wigwams, hides
Pitches from £14; wigwams & hides £19.50 pppn; bunkhouse £15 pppn; cottages from £185 for 2 nights.
Brenley Farm, Kent Downs, England
Producing hops, fruit (apples, pears, there’s even a small vineyard) and cereal crops, Brenley Farm near Faversham exudes an air of plenty. Where possible, owner Maggie Berry serves the farm’s produce at her epicurean breakfasts.
3, plus separate bunk-bedded barn sleeping up to 24
From £87.50 (single occupancy from £50); bunk bed in the barn from £14.50 (bring a sleeping bag)
Orchard Lodge B&B, Cornwall, England
A 5 star bed & breakfast with gold award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, Orchard Lodge has en suite rooms, an open fire for winter, relaxing garden for summer. Within 10 minute's stroll from Boscastle's historic harbour and coastpath.
5: 3 doubles, 2 twins/doubles
£82-£94