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February Newsletter
Welcome to the February issue of the Contours Holidays newsletter. We hope that you are all keeping safe and well during these unusual times, and that you are looking ahead to the future and all the adventures it will bring. It has certainly been a difficult time for many, but rest assured the Contours Team are watching the current situation very closely and are always on hand to help and advise you when you are ready to venture back out into the Great British countryside. Click here to see our latest information and guidance.
In this month’s edition, we want to encourage your sense of adventure, with a range of our favourite blogs and features to peruse and inspire. It is still an uncertain time, but the ongoing vaccine news gives us hope that we will soon be exploring our beloved trails once more. Also, be sure to keep an eye out on our social media accounts and in next month's newsletter for news about our budding collaboration with one of the UK's largest guidebook producers - we're really excited about it! Thank you very much for reading, and Happy Adventures!
Featured Video:
Walking the South Downs Way
Walk the length of the chalk downs of Hampshire and Sussex on the South Downs Way, which dips into beautiful river valleys to visit Norman and Saxon churches, deserted medieval villages, and historic thatched villages bursting with flowers. This spectacular National Trail boasts a wealth of old beacon viewpoints overlooking patchwork fields and woodland. Those inland vistas are matched only by the breath-taking views from chalk clifftop trails out over the English Channel at the adventure’s end.
Watch our short film, “Walking the South Downs Way” here.
(Published in 2019 with special thanks to Damian Hall and Summit Fever Media).
Nine Gorgeous Yorkshire Walks
So you’re looking to explore “God’s Own Country”? Yorkshire is renowned for its truly beautiful surroundings — and what better way to experience them than with a proper walking holiday? That’s exactly why today’s post breaks down nine of our all-time favourite Yorkshire holidays for you to take a gander at.
Continue reading ...
Walking the Shropshire Hills
When I set out from Church Stretton on Contours’ Shropshire Hills walking holiday it was with a spring in my step and the great anticipation of revisiting some of my favourite places in the country. Church Stretton itself is one of those towns that I have fond memories of and it makes an ideal starting and finishing point for this circular trail.
Continue reading ...
Walking Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail
After I joined Contours, I was keen to get out to build on my trail knowledge and walk another UK National Trail. One of our best-selling holidays caught my eye: Hadrian’s Wall Path. It spans northern England from coast to coast, following the World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall. I could walk all 85 miles during a week’s annual leave.
Continue reading ...
Featured Posts
Over the past few weeks, my inbox has been full of notifications of cancelled or postponed events, due to the impact of Covid19 and the social distancing restrictions. Training for an event or active holiday is a great motivation to keep exercising and to structure training to make sure you are in great condition on the day of your event.
Read more...
Can I do that? It is a question that most, if not all, of us have asked ourselves when contemplating a new challenge, whether at work, with family or for leisure. It is a question that anyone who exercises with seriousness will be familiar with.
Read more...
In last month's newsletter, we welcome new contributor Tracey Hannam, who shared some of her previous walking experiences and explained how walking can improve your overall wellbeing. We also had Contours team member Sam’s story on how walking has helped her remember loved ones, as well as some great advice from Neil Cooper on how to train for upcoming tours while working from home. Thank you for reading and Happy Adventures!
Read more...
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Booking with Confidence Scheme Extended
We know that you are all itching to get back out on the trails but are understandably concerned about whether your holiday will go ahead as planned if you book several months in advance. Because of this, we want to give you added peace of mind – and give you something special to look forward to – by extending our Free Postponement offer on all new bookings until 31st March 2021.
This means that if your holiday plans are disrupted after booking, you can delay your start date to a later time at no extra cost. We particularly recommend booking early for popular trails such as West Highland Way and Hadrian’s Wall Path, as accommodations can book up quickly in these areas.
Click here for more information on our free postponement scheme.
Walking the
Downs Link Trail
By Christine Saul
In June 2019, whilst I was in the South Downs area walking the South Downs Way, a very warm and sunny week offered the opportunity to investigate a potential new route for Contours: the Downs Link trail.
Continue reading ...
Walking the
South Northumberland
Coast Path
You may know the Northumberland Coast Path quite well: ancient castles, fishing villages, stunning beaches and a rugged and rocky coast eternally battered by the North Sea, all make for prime hiking country. There’s a metaphorical carrot dangling in front of every hiking day here, with a wealth of history and intrigue for you to discover.
For me, our Northumberland Coast started at Warkworth (with a day to see Cresswell and the beaches between) and then stretched north to the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed; that is all I knew of this coastline.
Continue reading ...
Short Daily Mileage Walking Holidays
Looking for a self-guided walking holiday but don’t fancy walking for more than 10 miles per day? That’s not a problem, thanks to our wide selection of short daily mileage tours. Depending on the route you choose, you can walk for between 2 and 13 days, without exceeding 10 trail miles per day. These tours are perfect for newcomers exploring their capabilities, or well-practised hikers seeking a more leisurely ramble in the magnificent UK countryside.
See our full selection of short daily mileage walks here.
Last Month's
Competition:
Congratulations to Tony R. for being the lucky winner who correctly identified Laugharne Castle in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The castle, located on the estuary of the River Tâf, was originally established in 1116, before being rebuilt as a Norman stronghold. There have been many alterations since then, including becoming a Tudor fortified manor house in the sixteenth century.
 (click image for full picture)
Competition Time:
Guess Where?
To be in with a chance of winning this month's competition, can you guess the name of this castle?
 (click image for full picture)
A winner will be chosen at random from all the correct entries to win a £20 Contours Holidays gift voucher. Good luck!
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