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Cumbria Times
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Phil Hopkins
Group Travel Editor & Theatre Correspondent
@philhopkinsuk
7:00 AM 8th October 2021
travel

Trio Of New Holidays From The Slow Travel People

 
Slow travel specialists Inntravel have introduced a trio of new walking holidays for the autumn, just as travel begins to open up. There’s a pair of new UK breaks, taking in the diverse charms of Snowdonia and the Fife Coastal Path ahead of the latter’s 20th anniversary in 2022.

Also introduced is a trip to Sicily’s western corner, including the dreamy Egadi Islands with their distinct North African accent and a gentle pace of life.

Inntravel’s programme of self-guided walking holidays offers tempting trails in all corners of Europe. Each is meticulously researched and is accompanied by detailed walking notes and maps. The focus is on a slow, immersive form of travel, enjoying local food and welcoming hotels, and discovering the culture.

Here's a taste:
NEW UK HOLIDAYS
Snowdonia: from Sea to Summit
With Snowdonia yet again in the headlines with concerns of over-tourism, this new self-guided walking holiday showcases some of the National Park’s quieter corners and more surprising attractions. Beginning in the coastal town of Porthmadog, guests will walk past Glaslyn Estuary, where giant leatherhead turtles can be seen, and pick their way among quiet sandy coves, each perfect for a wild swim, to the town of Criccieth on the Llyn Peninsula.

Riding the historic steam-pulled Welsh Highland Line, guests travel further into the mountains with a two-night stay in Beddgelert, where a circuit takes walkers to a Victorian copper mine and past the waterfalls of Afon Cwm Llan. The final two nights are spent in Llanberis, reached after a walk from Rhyd Ddu through one of the National Park’s remotest landscapes, an area little-touched by roads. From Llanberis guests can strike out for the summit of Snowdon on foot or by train, or escape the crowds with a lakeside circuit of Llyn Padarn.

Price: from £690pp sharing, including 6 nights’ B&B accommodation, 2 picnics, 2 dinners, route notes and maps and return transfer to car. Available until 31 October 2021 and from 1 March to 31 October 2022.

Fife’s Coastal Corner
In 2022, the Fife Coastal Path, which runs for 116 miles between Newburgh and Tayport, celebrates its 20th anniversary and Inntravel has introduced this new short walking break that takes in some of its very best bits.

Beginning in Anstruther, a timeless seafaring village, the walks give guests the chance to discover everything that makes the region so special: quaint fishing villages; dramatic ruins that hint at a far-reaching history; an abundance of marine and birdlife; and some really excellent local food and drink – visit smokehouses, distilleries and a rather wonderful chocolate shop.

The final two nights are spent in the university town of St Andrews, where there is a ruined castle and cathedral to explore, plus two glorious beaches and a world-famous golf course.

Price: from £345pp sharing, including 4 nights’ B&B accommodation, luggage transfers, route notes and maps and return transfer to car. Available from now until 31 October 2021 and from 1 March to 31 October 2022.

OVERSEAS
Wonders of Western Sicily

On this new self-guided walking holiday guests will discover the quiet charms of Western Sicily and the Egadi Islands, where the history is as rich as Genovese, the local cream-filled shortcrust pastry. The trip begins in the medieval hill-town of Erice, with its stunning views and maze of narrow alleyways.

The highlight here is the Castello di Venere, a 12th-century Norman fortress perched perilously high on an outcrop. The following day’s walk descends from Erice to vibrant Trapani, where an hour’s ferry takes walkers to Marettimo, the remotest and furthest-flung of the Egadi Islands. Three nights here, in a comfortable apartment just outside the island’s main village, enable visitors to slow down, enjoy long leisurely al fresco lunches and soak up the distinct North African vibe.

Inntravel’s suggested walks take in Punta Troia, a craggy headland dominated by a Spanish fortification, and up thyme-scented slopes where peregrine falcons and Bonelli’s eagles swoop overhead. After the ferry ride back to Sicily, the final two nights are spent in the charming coastal village of Scopello, within easy reach of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, with its rich variety of flora and fauna.

Price: from £775pp based on 2 sharing, including 7 nights’ B&B accommodation, 1 picnic, return ferry Trapani to Marettimo, luggage transfers, transfer on day 5, route notes and maps. Available from now until 31 October 2021, from 1 April to 15 June 2022 and 1 September to 31 October 2022.

More details: https://www.inntravel.co.uk/