Contours Walking Holidays

Contours Walking Holidays are the specialists in self-guided walking holidays (trekking tours) in many destinations in the United Kingdom. You'll find an unrivalled range of walking holidays and short breaks along more than sixty trails in Britain ranging from famous hiking routes like:

• Hadrian's Wall Path: in AD 122 Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall across northern England to hold back the advancing Barbarians. Despite the depredations of the centuries, it remains the largest ancient monument in northern Europe, and the best way to appreciate it, and the ruggedly beautiful countryside around it, is to walk it, following in the footsteps of the Legionnaires.

• West Highland Way: Much of the route follows ancient tracks through glens, forest and moorland, such as the drove roads along which Highlanders moved their cattle to market in the Lowlands; military roads built by troops to control the Jacobite Clans and old coaching roads. Many of these tracks are rough and stony and can muddy in wet weather. There are some remote sections, but the trail is well-established, clearly waymarked and very popular.

• Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk: This hiking route was created by Alfred Wainwright, crosses the North of England from the Irish Sea at St Bees to the North Sea at Robin Hoods Bay. It passes through some of the most beautiful and varied scenery in the country: the rugged mountains and beautiful lakes of the Lake District, the rolling hills and pretty valleys of the Yorkshire Dales and the expansive heather moorland of the North York Moors, with some dramatic coastal scenery at each end.

• Cotswold Way: Enjoy the Cotswold Way, a trekking route which runs along the western edge of the Cotswold Hills from the beautiful old ‘wool' town of Chipping Campden to the historic city of Bath.

• Offa's Dyke Path: During the 8th century, King Offa of Mercia ordered a great dyke to be built, stretching from sea to sea, to mark the western boundary of his kingdom with Wales. In places it is still visible as a bank up to 25 feet high with a deep ditch alongside and is known as Offa's Dyke Path.

We hope you enjoy our routes will inspire you to take a hiking tour in England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland with us. New walks for 2010 include St Bega’s Way in the Lake District, St Oswald’s Way in Northumberland and the Ceredigion Coast Path in Wales.

Contacta with Contours Walking Holidays and ask for more information.