Arrangements
UK holidays and travel times
 The first date given for a holiday is the day you
arrive. We don't walk on that day, except perhaps for an evening stroll to get
to know each other. You can usually get into your room from 2pm. Your guide
will arrive by 5pm and will leave a message at reception to say where she'll be
at that time. Dinner is generally at 7pm - so do tell us if you think you will
be late in case we can hold your meal. The walks start at a convenient time
after breakfast each day. Their length depends on the grade and sometimes we
might change a walk because of the weather. The walk on the last day is
shorter, and we are generally back by 2pm for trains from 3pm. However, on
weekend breaks and treks - especially if intermediate and high level - we are
generally not back till 3pm for trains from 4pm. When booking a weekend or a
trek, please tell us if you will need to leave earlier than this.
Accommodation
 The accommodation we book for the holidays varies hugely - from
charming small hotels and inns, to moderately priced guesthouses, and
ideally-located hostels and mountain refuges. The prices are based on you
sharing a room with another member of the group unless it says otherwise.
Singles with or without a supplement are often available if you book early. All
supplements are given as a figure per night. In hostels and refuges you mostly
sleep in bunk beds sharing a dormitory with other members of the group. Help
yourself to a free welcome cuppa from the Member's Kitchen when you arrive! For
much more accommodation information see our
Accommodation page
Frequent Walker Miles!
It's very gratifying how many women return
for more WalkingWomen holidays after their first experience. So we've
introduced 'Frequent Walker Miles' as a way of giving something back to you.
This means that if you come on 3 holidays in a calendar year, we'll take
£20 pounds off the 3rd one - and again off the 6th!
Trekking
 If 'trekking' to you means days of slogging with the kitchen sink on
your back - forget it! We use 'Trekking' or 'Trek' to refer to holidays that
involve walking to a new place most days, allowing us to get off the beaten
track and reach more remote places like the stunning Western Lakes or a high
Alpine valley. We transport the luggage by taxi or porters wherever possible,
and on trips where this is not possible we clarify in the holiday description
the number of days you will carry extra gear. A trekking day can sometimes be a
little longer than a day walk of the same grade and there isn't the same
flexibility to take a day off as with other holidays, so please choose the
grade with special care. The reward is the satisfaction of having walked there
and seeing a new valley come into view. If a UK trek is not circular we arrange
transport back to the starting point or nearest station for free or for a
small, shared charge (see the holiday description).
Taking time out - other things to do
Whether you walk each day is up to you; it's
only tricky if you want to take time out on a trekking day! There are lots of
other things to do - either for a day off or after walking. You might also want
to walk on your own for a day, or sit under a tree to read, paint, or do
nothing!
Travel directions
Travel directions and a list of what to
bring will be sent to you with your confirmation of booking. You will also find
a lot of useful information on the Travel & Gear page of this website. We confirm the
booking after you have paid the deposit. If you would like to see travel
directions before you book, just email us for a copy.
Dogs
WalkingWomen has been set up to cater for
the needs and safety of women who want to walk. Assistance dogs (e.g
'blind' dog, 'hearing' dog etc) are permitted on all WW holidays and at all UK
accommodations we use. Non-assistance dogs are allowed at some
accommodations we use (see below), but will only be allowed to join walks
if they are well behaved around people and sheep, are under
control at all times, and are not likely to be experienced as threatening due
to their size or breed. If the guide feels that your dog is endangering or
annoying other women, you will be asked to make other arrangements even if it
means that you cannot join the walk. For this reason, please consider carefully
whether your dog is sufficiently well behaved and non-threatening to others
before bringing him or her on a holiday - and please let us know beforehand.
Dogs are only permitted at the hotels we
use in: Great Langdale, Derwent Water, Patterdale, and Lulworth Cove. Dogs
are also exceptionally allowed at Glenthorne when we take the whole guest house
for ourselves - e.g Christmas. (Accommodations often charge a small amount
extra for cleaning).
If you are frightened of or allergic to
dogs, please avoid holidays at the above locations since even if there is
no dog ' in the group', there may be other dogs staying at the hotel. If you
are very allergic to dogs, please let us know in case there is an Assistance
dog as part of the group.
Foreign Holidays
Where the flight is included - ATOL
 We include the cost of the flight and transfer in as many holidays
as possible - usually from Gatwick, Manchester, or Heathrow. The holidays in
this brochure with flights included are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation
Authority. Our ATOL number is 6497. Usually one of the guides for the holiday
is on your flight and will be at the airport to meet you. We send you all the
particulars when you book.
Your ticket will arrive near the departure
date. Please make sure we have your name as it appears on your passport, that
your passport will be in date, and check the ticket for any last minute changes
in the terminal or flight time. Airports can be very busy during the holiday
period and security queues are longer than in the past. Please make sure you
arrive at the appropriate check-in desk by the time given for checking in.
Unfortunately, WalkingWomen cannot accept any responsibility if you miss your
flight due to arriving later than the check-in time given.
Where the flight is not included
Where the flight is not included - usually
due to that route being dominated by one or more low cost airlines - we will
include a shared transfer to suit the best/most flights. The advantage to you
is that you can gain from low Internet prices if you book early. We will
happily book your ticket for you if you don't have the time or the Internet
access to do so. The disadvantage to you is that the ticket will be booked in
your name and on your credit or debit card at the time of purchase, and if you
later cancel you may lose your money (making cancellation insurance essential).
Please talk to us before you book a flight at a different time from the one
recommended.
Insurance now essential abroad
It essential that you take out sickness and
injury insurance if you are booking a holiday with us abroad (insurance against
theft or cancellation is also very highly recommended). Additionally it pays to
travel in Europe with an E1.11 Form from your post office to reduce any medical
charges payable at the time if you are ill or hurt. If you want very
competitive annual insurance, try Essential Travel on 0870
343 0314 or Columbus Direct Insurance on 0800 9801030. Columbus
will also take an additional 10% off is you say you're booking with
WalkingWomen. Age
Concern (0845 601 2234) is the most competitive insurance we've
found if you are over 65 years. If you hear of a direct insurance company
offering better rates, please do let us know!
EHIC: Additionally it pays to travel
in Europe with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which has replaced the
E1.11 and reduces the medical charges payable at the time if you are hurt or
ill in Europe. (Click here to apply for an EHIC online, or phone 0845 606
2030 with your DOB & Nat. Ins number to request it over the phone). However
the EHIC won't cover you for everything - eg. mountain rescue - so insurance is
also necessary even in Europe.
Insurance on UK holidays?
If you are taken ill at the last minute and
cannot come on holiday, you might also be very glad to have cancellation
insurance in place. Many companies offer very competitive rates for short
breaks, or for an annual travel insurance policy that covers all your holidays
over the year. Try Essential Travel Insurance or Columbus Direct Insurance
above. |
--Whole
year Calendar
Rosie Jeffries or Sarah Burt. The Lake District Map is