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UK and Ireland Walking Tours

England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Local Choice and Trusted Walks for UK and Ireland

The walking tour companies we think you should consider first, because we’ve personally worked with them for our own trips or they offer the best overall experience and price for their destination.

walking in wales castle and mountains in background

Anglesey and Wales Walking Holidays

Anglesey and Wales Walking Holidays is a Welsh-owned company based in Anglesey, where the company began. Originally founded by a couple in 2006 when the ...
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causeway coast northern ireland

Away A Wee Walk

The name alone, Away A Wee Walk, is a good indicator that this is one fun company! Owner Eimear Flanagan is the perfect person to ...
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inn to inn hiking on coast to coast trail with c2c packhorse

Coast to Coast C2C Packhorse

Coast to Coast Packhorse focuses exclusively on walking, running and cycling holidays along the UK’s Coast to Coast Trail. Services include self-guided, guided and transport ...
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cotswold walks united kingdom

Cotswold Walks

Cotswold Walks is locally owned and operated by Andrew and Elizabeth Guppy who focus exclusively on the Cotswold region, which covers five counties in south ...
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cornwall england encounter walking holidays

Encounter Walking Holidays

Encounter Walking Holidays is a small UK company based in Cornwall focused  on self-guided walking holidays in Wales and the United Kingdom’s southwest region. All ...
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ireland walking holidays

Ireland Walk Hike Bike

Ireland Walk Hike Bike is an Irish owned company operating exclusively in Ireland and Northern Ireland. They offer self-guided and guided hike or bike tours, ...
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celtic cross on a pilgrimage journey in the uk

Journeying

Journeying is a rare gem in the travel world. This non-profit group has been organizing small group pilgrimage tours in Ireland and the UK since ...
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muddy boots walking holidays yorkshire dales uk

Muddy Boots Walking Holidays

Muddy Boots Walking Holidays is a family run business offering walking holidays in the UK’s Yorkshire Dales. They offer several self-guided multi-day itineraries as well ...
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hiking trail in Ireland

Tailor-Made Tours

Tailor-Made Tours is an Irish company focusing exclusively on self-guided walking and driving multi-day tours and guided day hikes in Ireland. Their walking tours cover ...
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western discoveries cornwall walking holidays

Western Discoveries

Western Discoveries is a family-run company in Cornwall focused on hiking vacations in Cornwall along the Southwest Coast Path. They provide fully customizable trips based ...
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Walking tour companies that cover Ireland and the UK

yorkshire dales walking holiday

Absolute Escapes

Absolute Escapes is a small award-winning Scottish company offering inn-to-inn self-guided and guided walking holidays, as well as self-drive and train itineraries. The strength of ...
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yorkshire dales walking holiday

ATG Oxford

ATG Oxford is a well-established walking holiday company. Based in the UK, they focus on walking holidays and are experts at inn-to-inn walking trips. Their ...
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Brigantes Walking Holidays

Brigantes Walking Holidays is for the Do-It-Yourself inn to inn hiking fans. Based in the UK, they offer a huge selection of walking trips focused ...
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castle in England for review on Celtic Trails walking holidays

Celtic Trails

Celtic Trails is a small family-run company based in Wales offering tailored self-guided walking holidays. They were the first to offer self-guided walking holidays in ...
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active travel walking holidays country walkers

Country Walkers

Active US travelers will most likely be familiar with Country Walkers, one of the largest US based walking adventure companies in the world. They offer ...
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snowdonia mountains in wales

Daffodil Tours

Daffodil Tours is a new Welsh tour operator launched by seasoned mountain guides, Charlotte and Jethro. They focus on small group guided mountain hikes through ...
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Distant Journeys

Distant Journeys is a US based company specializing in guided and customized self-guided hiking vacations, most of which are in the European Alps and the ...
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eurohike walking holidays austria

Eurohike

Eurohike is part of the larger Eurofun Touristik, an Austrian based company offering self-guided or guided inn to inn hiking and center-based walking and cycling ...
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walking holidays adventure travel exodus

Exodus

US based Exodus Travels is one of the largest adventure companies in the world. You may also recognize their sister company Headwater, which offers the ...
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footpath walking holidays england britain hiking

Footpath Holidays

Footpath Holidays is a family run British company offering the best prices and selection for walking holidays in Great Britain. They offer self-guided, guided options ...
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How do I choose, there are so many!

The abundance of walking holiday tour companies in the United Kingdom and Ireland can be attributed to the region’s rich natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and extensive network of well-maintained walking trails. The popularity of outdoor activities, combined with the area’s rich history and cultural heritage, has created a thriving market for walking tours, catering to both local and international tourists seeking to explore these stunning destinations on foot. Lucky for you, we’ve done most of the research for you, but here are some tips for narrowing it down.

Reputation and Reviews

Look for testimonials and feedback to gauge the quality of their tours and the level of customer satisfaction. Reputable companies will often have positive reviews and a strong online presence. Do NOT let this be your only factor, however, as some of the best local operators often fail to take advantage of the technology that allows them to track and display their reviews. In their case, look at social media posts and comments to see how they interact with customers.

Special Interests and Abilities

Assess the variety and scope of walking tours offered by the company. Consider your preferences and fitness level to choose a tour that aligns with your interests and capabilities. Whether you seek scenic countryside walks, historical towns, mountain peaks or coastal paths, ensure the company offers a selection of tours that cater to your desired experiences. See How We Review to narrow by special categories.

man hiking yorkshire dales national park
Yorkshire Dales inn perfect for inn to inn hiking in the UK

Support and Lodging

Consider the level of support and accommodations provided by the tour company. All of the companies for UK and Ireland should at minimum include luggage transfers, accommodations with breakfast, and transportation between walking stages. Some companies will go above and beyond, offering airport transfers, details about exact lodging, all-inclusive meal packages, and options to add guided day tours or excursions. Our LOCAL CHOICE companies usually provide custom-made itineraries designed by experts who know their routes exceptionally well because they live near them.

Cost

Compare the cost of the tours and the value they offer. While budget is a consideration, the cheapest option may not always provide the best experience. Choose a tour company that provides good value for your money, including quality accommodations, custom itineraries, knowledgeable guides, and excellent customer support.

woman hopping stones across a river in Yorkshire Dales UK

By carefully researching and evaluating these factors, you can select a walking tour company in the UK or Ireland that matches your preferences and ensures an unforgettable journey through some of the most picturesque landscapes and historical sites in the world.

Walking guides and stories for Ireland and the UK

couple walking a street in Thailand

10 Easy Walking Holidays for All Ages

We often get asked to suggest easy walking holidays, which can be difficult to answer since there is no standard definition of “easy.” It depends ...
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favorite walking tour in wales llyn peninsula

Best Walking Tours for Wales

It’s no secret that Wales is a popular hiking destination and has been for a very long time. It’s also home to an ancient language, ...
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hiker on a camino in Ireland

Camino Walks in Ireland

A visit to Ireland can be a deeply spiritual experience, especially for those lucky enough to walk any of Ireland’s camino walks. We’ve created a ...
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man hiking up a dune on a Michigan beach

Finding a Center-based Walking Holiday

Looking for ways to save money on travel and help save the planet? Does the idea of hiking different routes each day and returning to ...
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inn to inn hiking in dingle ireland

Inn to Inn Hiking in Dingle Ireland

OUR FIRST INN TO INN HIKING / WALKING HOLIDAY Our first walking holiday was an 8-day inn to inn hiking trip around the Dingle Peninsula ...
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Inn to Inn Hiking in Yorkshire Dales

Some of the best inn to inn hiking in England can be found in the Yorkshire Dales and without the crowds of their more popular ...
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slackpacking north cascades washington

Slackpacking Beyond the US

What is slackpacking slackpacking = hiking with a day pack instead of a full backpack Not to be confused with day hikers, slack packers actually ...
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