For many years, our Pathways Fund has provided assisted holidays to those who could not otherwise afford one. Since 1998, the fund has helped to protect and improve the countryside where HF Holidays guests and members walk.  

We cannot thank you enough for your generous donations. 

We aim to preserve the environment where our walks take place. And to do this we allocate grants and other funding to individuals, organisations, and groups for specific projects that can’t be readily funded elsewhere. 

A few examples include:

~ Putting up signposts, stiles, bridges, and way marks ~

~ Maintaining footpaths, walls, and hedges ~

~ Clearing ponds, removing trees, and planting ~

~ Providing equipment to mountain rescue teams ~

If you receive a grant from us, we ask that you install a plaque at the site (or nearby) to recognise the contribution from the HF Holidays Pathways Fund. We also ask you to stock HF Holidays promotional material at a suitable location, for example a nearby visitor centre. We normally only allocate grants for projects within an area on one of our walks.

We believe everyone has the right to enjoy the outdoors. With this in mind, we provide assisted holidays for people – and sometimes their families – who can’t afford a holiday due to difficult personal circumstances. 

We require a simple declaration, which must be supported by a HF Holidays member. If you are a member and know of an individual or family who would benefit from staying at one of our 15 characterful country houses located near the countryside or coastline, you can nominate them easily. Applicants can also make an offer of a partial contribution to the cost of the holiday if they feel able to do so. 

Sarah Davis-Brown, Head of Culture & Sustainability at HF Holidays, deals with all applications and correspondence to maintain complete confidentiality. Application forms as well as our terms and conditions are available by emailing Sarah directly pathwaysfund@hfholidays.co.uk 

Our HF Holidays’ Pathways Fund has helped Derbyshire pupils get outdoors with a special delivery from CBeebies presenter Gemma Hunt.

Pupils at The FitzHerbert C of E Primary School in Ashbourne had a surprise visitor when CBeebies presenter Gemma Hunt arrived with ten Waterproofs & Wellies kits.

Thanks to HF Members and guests, it’s the fifth school to receive kits through our partnership with The Outdoor Guide Foundation. Following previous deliveries to schools across Cornwall and the Isle of Wight, it brings us to a total of 100 kits supplied to primary schools in communities near our HF Country Houses.

For some families, the cost of waterproofs and wellies is simply out of reach, meaning children can miss out on outdoor lessons and play on wet days. These shared kits help more pupils join in, keeping them warm and dry as they learn and explore.

Gemma, an ambassador for the Foundation, was joined by our Engagement and Wellbeing Manager Sara Smith and Peveril of the Peak House Manager Marek Vilis for the delivery.

“Every child should have the opportunity to learn, play and build confidence outside, and something as simple as waterproofs and wellies can make a real difference,” says Gemma.

And there’s more to come. Our Pathways Fund will support a further 100 kits for ten primary schools near our country houses across England in 2027, helping more children enjoy the great outdoors, whatever the weather.

HF Holidays' Pathways Fund donates £3,950 towards wet weather kit for kids in Cornwall.

In the summer issue of HF Magazine, we announced a £3,950 donation to provide 100 Waterproofs & Wellies kits for primary schools across England. The second and third of ten deliveries have now reached two primary schools in St Ives.

“Children can now explore, build confidence and enjoy meaningful learning beyond the classroom, whatever the weather,” says Claire Farnaby, Reception Teacher at Pencoys School.

At the start of October the team at Newfield Hall, our HF Country House in the Southern Yorkshire Dales, welcomed a charity-nominated group for a guided walking break supported by the Pathways Fund.

Fences & Frontiers (F&F), are a London-based charity that aims to make the UK a more welcoming place for refugees to rebuild their lives. Ten young individuals joined HF guests to explore the countryside around Malham. They hadn’t met before the holiday but soon formed new connections through walking and spending time outdoors together.

HF Leader Steve Anthony who guided the walks during the assisted holiday said “It was a privilege to be involved with the whole weekend. Hat's off to HF Holidays for creating such a wonderful scheme.”

The Pathways Fund has donated £5,000 towards a new training wall at the headquarters of Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team.  

Formed in 1965 to assist those frequently ‘coming-a-cropper’ on the popular Lyke Wake Walk, the volunteer team now has around 50 members including 40 Search & Rescue volunteers. It responds to approximately 60 incidents a year across the North York Moors, helping keep walkers safe in the countryside surrounding Larpool Hall, our HF Country House in Whitby.  

Completed in June 2026, the new wall provides a safe, weatherproof facility where volunteers can practise specialist rope and stretcher rescues more frequently.  HF Field Advisor John Flanagan joined the team at their headquarters for the wall’s grand opening in September. Sadly, celebrations were cut short when the volunteers were called to an emergency, providing a timely reminder of the vital work they do! 

Louis Hulme, the team’s Technical Rescue Lead, said: “The generous £5,000 donation from HF Holidays has helped us create a facility for regular specialist training alongside our sessions on local crags. It will help our volunteers keep their skills sharp and allow us to demonstrate our capabilities to visitors and prospective recruits. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

The funding will contribute towards refitting and equipping a dedicated new rescue vehicle to be based at HF Holidays’ Country House Longmynd Hotel. The new base at HF Holidays' Country House Longmynd Hotel will mean the rescue team can now be on the scene within minutes of an incident in the Longmynd and surrounding hills.

Ben Chapman, Senior House Manager, HF Holidays’ Longmynd Hotel adds “This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting access to the countryside and the volunteers who help keep outdoor spaces safe for everyone. West Mercia Search and Rescue volunteers do an amazing job, and this new rescue vehicle and base in Longmynd will give walkers great peace of mind to enjoy the beautiful countryside we are surrounded by.”

HF Holidays has donated £13,000 towards rebuilding a vital bridge in the remote Sunart area on the west coast of Scotland. For many years, guests staying at Alltshellach, our HF Country House in Glen Coe, have enjoyed walking the Rathad na Sithichean, or Fairies’ Road, near Strontian.

However, its bridges deteriorated over time. When the remaining crossing was removed in 2025, an important circular route was cut off, leaving walkers with a potentially dangerous burn crossing. HF Leader and Field Advisor for Glen Coe; Pete Thomasson, who nominated the project for funding, saw the impact first-hand.

“After heavy rain, we had to change our walk, and I realised the Pathways Fund might be able to help. That’s when I contacted Sunart Community Council to see what could be done.”

Completed in September 2026, the new bridge restores access to the Fairies’ Road, reconnecting walkers with the upper reaches of the River Strontian and Ariundle Nature Reserve, a rare surviving fragment of Scotland’s native oak forests.

“It’s a very popular route for residents and visitors alike,” says Alison Gainsford of Sunart Community Company, which oversaw the project. “Without support from the HF Holidays Pathways Fund, it’s unlikely this project would have gone ahead.”

Thanks to the generosity of our HF Members and guests, the Pathways Fund helped make something special happen this spring. 

Working with the Family Holiday Charity, we were able to fund a family’s stay at Monk Coniston, our historic country house in the Northern Lake District. During their Family Walking Adventure, the family of three enjoyed spending time outdoors together, making new friends, and sharing good food in a welcoming setting. 

A representative from the Family Holiday Charity, said: 
“Their confidence has grown immensely. They talked to strangers while they were there and made new friends. They loved being able to spend time in the countryside and feel safe. They wanted everyone at HF Holidays to know how wonderful their stay was and how grateful they were.” 

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this special holiday possible for the family.* 

*Names have been omitted to protect identities. 

Whilst it’s easy for the big projects and assisted holidays to own the spotlight, support for the Pathways Fund often starts in simple, fun ways at our country houses. These small initiatives help raise money and awareness while bringing people together during their stay.

Weekly Boat Race at Harrington House 

At Harrington House in Bourton-on-the-Water, guests can take part in a light-hearted but longstanding tradition – a weekly boat race in aid of the Pathways Fund. After making a small donation to enter, they create their own paper boat and race it from the bridge over the River Windrush near the house. It’s a fun tradition that brings out plenty of friendly competition while supporting the work of the fund. Past winners are displayed in the hallway of the house!

Weekly Photo Competition at Derwent Bank 

At Derwent Bank in the Northern Lake District, guests can enter a weekly photo competition with images taken during their holiday. Each entry includes a donation to the Pathways Fund, and House Manager Wayne Leslie shares the photographs in a slideshow presentation before choosing a winning image and awarding a small prize. It’s a lovely way to celebrate guests’ holiday memories while supporting the fund. 

A big thank you to all our guests, members, and teams that support these initiatives with their time and enthusiasm. 

Thanks to the generosity of HF Members and guests, the Pathways Fund has pledged £3,950 to purchase 100 Waterproofs & Wellies kits for 10 state primary schools across England, supporting the Outdoor Guide Foundation’s drive to remove a simple but significant barrier to outdoor learning: having the right kit to stay warm and dry.

For many families, waterproofs and wellies can be out of financial reach, meaning some children miss outdoor lessons and playtime on wet days through no fault of their own. In 2023/24, 4.5 million children were living in relative poverty after housing costs – 31% of all children, or roughly nine pupils in every class of 30.

The first delivery took place at Freshwater & Yarmouth CE Primary School on the Isle of Wight in May 2026, where Wendy Allford, House Manager at HF’s Freshwater Bay country house, presented the kits to pupils and staff. This is the first of ten deliveries to schools located close to HF Holidays’ country houses, helping create a positive impact in local communities.

Callum McCarty, Outdoor Learning Lead at the school, said: “It ensures that every single pupil can get stuck into muddy, hands-on learning without hesitation, fostering their curiosity and love for the environment.”

The Outdoor Guide Foundation is the not-for-profit arm of The Outdoor Guide, a free online walking resource created by TV presenter Julia Bradbury and her sister Gina Bradbury Fox, with a mission to make the outdoors more accessible to all.

Based in Fort WIlliam at the foot of Ben Nevis, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) is an extremely busy operation.

Last year alone, the LMR team of just 45 volunteers carried out more than 150 rescues. They’ve now purchased a new 4x4, and HF’s Pathways Fund has committed £9,000 towards a bespoke conversion, including up-to-date communications equipment and facilities to help transport injured people safely.

Olivia Smale, Volunteer at Lochaber MRT said: “It’s great to feel supported by a company that’s so passionate about the areas they reach and the importance of strong local relationships.”

Thanks to the generosity of our members, £3,700 from the Pathways Fund has helped improve two much-loved walking routes frequently used by guests staying at Chy Morvah, our HF Country House in St Ives.

A section of the Tinners Way between St Ives and Trevalgan, along with Paul 35, an inland route near Mousehole, are regularly used on our walking itineraries. Working alongside HF’s Cornwall Field Advisors, Liz Fairweather, Angie Tiller, and Simon Gent, HF Holidays Member and former Chairman of the West Cornwall Footpaths Preservation Society (WCFPS), Richard Belton, campaigned to restore these historic walking routes.

Works included the installation of a new bench and handrails and the repair of several stiles. To mark our contribution, eight HF Pathways Fund plaques have been installed along the Tinner’s Way, demonstrating our commitment to improving the walking trails our members love. Head of Culture & Sustainability, Sarah Davis-Brown, visited Cornwall in August to walk the path alongside HF guests.

It’s a great example of members shaping positive change, Field Advisors spotting worthy causes, and HF investing back into the paths that matter.

We’ve donated £3,480 towards repairing a path through Kirkby Malham’s parish churchyard, a much-loved spot just a five-minute drive from our HF Country House, Newfield Hall which is regularly used as a stop-off on our guided walks.

Newfield Hall Assistant House Manager Jake Wren visited the site with Rev Sue Brian, Chair of the church, to see the completed work, highlighting the value it brings to the community and those who pass through.

Our guests often spend time in the churchyard during guided walks, including stopping at the famous “watery grave”, where a small stream runs through the grave itself, a wonderfully unusual feature many people remember long after their holiday.

Kirkby Malham Church always offers our members and guests a warm welcome, including the chance to enjoy a cup of tea and use the facilities. – particularly appreciated when walkers arrive with muddy boots and wet waterproofs!. Supporting these repairs is a simple way to say thank you, and another lovely example of the community, connection, and belonging at the heart of HF Holidays and the Pathways Fund.

Through your generous donations to the Pathways Fund, HF Holidays has helped Kirkby Malhamdale Parish Council improve the public toilets in Malham, an essential facility for everyone visiting this much-loved Yorkshire Dales village, including many of our guests. 

Since our contribution was confirmed in December 2024, the funding has delivered essential upgrades, with clear improvements already seen in the condition and usability of the facilities. Further enhancements are planned as resources allow, and we’ve also committed an additional £800 to support their long-term future. 

This project is a great example of how the Pathways Fund improves local infrastructure, backs rural communities, and ensures the places our members love to explore can be enjoyed comfortably. 

HF Holidays has a longstanding tradition of supporting Mountain Rescue Teams located near our properties and where our guests walk.

The Brecon Mountain Rescue Team recently reached out to HF Holidays for help in funding a new defibrillator worth in the region of £3,000, which we were delighted to be able to help fund.

We are delighted to have provided, for the third consecutive year, a three night holiday; this time in the Southern Yorkshire Dales for 12 refugees and asylum seekers, delivered in partnership with Fences & Frontiers.

These breaks have once again proved incredibly valuable, offering participants the chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of the British countryside. Beyond the physical escape, the holidays create meaningful moments of calm, connection, and reflection for people facing uncertainty in their everyday lives.

“It was amazing, this Holiday give me chance to explore new place, learn more about historical places, enjoy nature, release my stress and relax”

In 2024 we committed to support the restoration of Roseberry Topping, the iconic North Yorkshire landmark located close to our country house, Larpool Hall in Whitby.

We’re pleased to confirm in January 2026 the first of the three pathways we’re supporting had started. The first phase of the project has supported the woodlands south of the summit and have included clearing leaf litter, resurfacing with new aggregates, installing drainage, and stabilising sections with timber revetments.

Our relationship with the Family Holiday Charity, formerly the Family Holiday Association, began in 2013. United by a shared belief that every family deserves the chance to take a break. For many of the families supported, a holiday is simply out of reach due to difficult personal circumstances, yet the benefits to wellbeing can be transformative.

We were delighted to rekindle this partnership in December 2025, providing 10 families from Birmingham with the gift of a festive weekend in the Shropshire Hills. For those attending, the holiday offered a much needed chance to rest, reconnect, and create happy memories together.

When the coach pulled up, the children’s excitement was palpable. One little girl exclaimed to her mum, “Mum, it’s like Buckingham Palace, and we get to sleep here!” That moment set the tone for the weekend.

Thanks to our generous members and guests, the Pathways Fund was able to fund a family’s holiday to HF Country House Larpool Hall in Whitby through the Family Holiday Charity this year. We’re delighted to share an incredibly heartwarming review of the experience.

Lana*, a mother who was in an abusive marriage, had always dreamed of exploring new places in the UK with her children and made a quiet promise to herself “one day I will”. She explains;

“Driving through the valleys of the North York Moors, my children and I were completely speechless. In between the silence we said to each other, “How beautiful is this place!” We had never seen anything like it. I was so happy to see my children just as amazed as I was, it felt like the beauty of the landscape touched their hearts as deeply as it did mine.”

The holiday had a significant impact on Lana and her children;

“The experience taught me something profound: that the world is vast. That lesson felt symbolic of my own journey. It reminded me of how terrified I was of the unknown before leaving the marital home, and how freeing it is to discover that there are amazing people and beautiful places out there that I never even knew existed....It felt like a personal message to keep moving forward.”

From the house team to fellow guests, our amazing HF Holidays community showed incredible kindness to Lana during her stay. She said;

“The holiday gave me a renewed sense that we were deserving of such a beautiful place and supportive community. This holiday felt like an adventure, and my soul was absolutely thriving on the new experiences. I was so happy to share this with my children, knowing these memories would stay with them forever.”

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this special holiday happen for Lana and her family.

*Name changed to protect identities

In October 2025, HF Holidays proudly supported the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat on the Isle of Wight with a £500 donation from the Pathways Fund.

This contribution, made through the purchase of 10 fundraising bricks, support the renovation of the lifeboat station, and is now complete. The project has delivered

• Safer and more practical storage for life-saving equipment
• A dedicated upstairs space for training and community use
• A larger, more efficient shop to help fund ongoing operations

Each brick represents a lasting commitment to a vital local service. Our donation will form a permanent part of the new station, helping support lifesaving work for generations to come.

Thanks to our members’ generous support of the HF Holidays Pathways Fund, we committed £4,250 towards waymarking improvements near our country house, Monk Coniston, in partnership with the Lake District Foundation.

The funding has helped maintain the Lake District National Park by paying for maintenance of low level paths and repairs to essential signage, improving navigation and safety for HF Members and guests enjoying our walking holidays.

Several of the HF Holidays team used their annual volunteer day to support this important Pathways project taking part in a litter pick around Coniston Water, and installing HF Holidays plaques that recognise the contribution and generosity of our members.

Thanks to our Pathways Fund we joined forces with Gloucestershire County Council and the Cotswold Volunteer Wardens to make walking more accessible for all. 

Along the Monarch’s Way, from Clapton Hill to Bourton-on-the-Water, 11 old stiles have been replaced with easy-to-use gates. A small change with a big impact, this project is already helping more people enjoy the beauty of the Cotswolds with confidence and ease. 

Funds were raised through activities like the weekly Boat Race at Harrington House, which also inspires guests to take part in litter-picking and recycling initiatives. 

HF colleagues Tej, Cristina, and Sarah joined the Volunteer Wardens on-site to help install one of the brand-new kissing gates – a moment that really highlighted HF’s commitment to community spirit. 

We were delighted to continue our partnership with Fences & Frontiers (F&F) – the charity that aims to make London a welcoming, supportive, and inspiring place for refugees and asylum seekers to live in and settle.

At the end of April 2025, we hosted our second weekend walking holiday for an F & F group in 2025, this time at Abingworth House, our stunning property in the South Downs.

Over two sun-drenched days, the group clocked up over 230 miles between them — wandering through vineyards, past the English Idyl that is Petworth House, across a 700-acre deer park, and up to an ancient Iron Age fort.

For refugees and asylum seekers, these holidays are a rare chance to truly escape from daily worries and gain the healing benefits of nature, especially for those still navigating the asylum process.

One participant told us, it was: “A perfect blend of scenic walks, great company, and warm hospitality – my three days at Abingworth Hall were a refreshing escape. We walked and talked, shared meals and beautiful moments – from curling to quizzes — swapping stories with each other and fellow guests.”

Another said, “Collecting memories like these made me feel so grateful.” We're deeply thankful to everyone who supports our Pathways Fund and makes these holidays possible. A special mention goes to Heather and Sarah Davis from HF!

At Holnicote House in Exmoor we welcomed Ukrainian families supported by the Brama Trust Foundation for a memorable four-night Family Walking Adventure.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the incredible HF House Team at Holnicote for their warm hospitality, and to the brilliant Kathleen O’Hara for coordinating the visit so seamlessly.

One of the family members who joined the trip shared what the experience meant to them:

“From spotting wild ponies on the moors to scenic walks, charming villages, and relaxing evenings in a cosy country house, Exmoor was the perfect outdoor playground for families. We’re very grateful for the memories and the magic of nature!” Thanks to everyone who helped make this meaningful break possible.

We’re proud to support the incredible work of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) through the HF Holidays Pathways Fund. Thanks to generous member donations, we fully funded the £7,500 purchase of a Titan basket stretcher, a vital piece of rescue equipment used to safely carry injured walkers off the hills.

The dedication of mountain rescue teams like UWFRA is a powerful reminder of the essential role they play in helping everyone enjoy the outdoors safely. It’s an honour to contribute to their work and ensure they have the equipment they need to carry out life-saving rescues.

A heartfelt thank you to Andy Cole and the UWFRA team for their collaboration, and to all of you who continue to support the Pathways Fund. Together, we’re making a real difference.

Thanks to a member nomination, we were delighted to welcome a family to Derwent Bank in the Northern Lake District for a much-needed escape in February this year. One of the parents shared just how special the break was:
"We had such a wonderful time at Derwent Bank. Honestly, it was truly wonderful! We were made to feel so welcome – everything felt so fancy and lovely. We properly rested and managed several short walks thanks to the hotel’s amazing location. Without the usual need to cook or clean, we had the energy to get outdoors.

I normally can't make it to the Lakes due to my fatigue-related disability, so to explore on my own two legs was a real gift. The surroundings were stunning, the bed was wonderfully comfy, and the kids adored the food. The staff were kind, supportive, and genuinely thoughtful.

I only wish holidays like this were normally within our financial reach – it was such a tonic. Our youngest had rosy cheeks from running around the garden maze in the wind. She absolutely loved it!”

Here are just a few of the thank you notes our fabulous team at Derwent Bank received!

Thanks to a £3,500 grant from the Pathways Fund, work is now complete following improvements to the accessibility of footpaths and replacing unsafe footbridges, stiles, and gates along the Dales Way.

The funds helped to replace two rotten footbridges, a faulty kissing gate, and a wooden stile as well as adding hand posts to a stone step stile. Finally, work helped to improve the drainage system on a small area of the pathway that often became waterlogged. 

Not only do HF Holidays offer guided trail walks along the Dales Way several times a year, but guests regularly use the Wharfedale section of the route during guided walking holidays from Newfield Hall, HF’s country house in the Southern Yorkshire Dales.

The renovations are also great news for any visitors to Wharfdale. HF Holidays Field Advisor Linda Skelton said, “This was a tricky section of the Dales Way due to an unsafe footbridge, stiles and a bog, so the improvements supported by the Pathways Fund now enhance the Dales Way experience considerably, as well as making it much safer.”

We were incredibly proud to support a £9,000 donation from our Pathways Fund towards the extension and upgrade of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team HQ.

Mountain Rescue Teams (MRT) are staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by donations. Not only do these dedicated volunteers help rescue climbers and hill walkers who get into difficulty, but they also aid the police force in searches for vulnerable missing people.

Glencoe MRT, which has its base in Glencoe, near Alltshellach, our country house on the shores of Loch Leven. 

Built in the 1990s, the existing HQ had served the team well for over quarter of a century. But with larger rescue vehicles, an expanded fleet, and the ever-growing popularity of the Scottish Highlands, the team needed a larger, enhanced base to see it through the next 30 years.

The upgraded Rescue Centre will accommodate up to 50 people for the organisation of multi-day, multi-agency searches, doubling the current capacity of just 25.

Phase 1 of the work completed in February 2026 and our donation has been paid. We couldn’t be happier to play our part in supporting the Glen Coe MRT to continue keeping walkers safe in this stunning landscape.

We've agreed to donate £30,000 to help restore the pathways at iconic Roseberry Topping, an iconic landmark straddling North Yorkshire.

Roseberry Topping attracts thousands of visitors each year who seek the challenge of reaching its peak and enjoying views across the Yorkshire coast, North York Moors National Park, and Teesside. The popularity of this landmark, however, has led to significant wear and tear on its pathways, prompting the need for urgent restoration work.

Our donation from the Pathways Fund, along with other donors, will help support the National Trust and North York Moors National Parks Authority in making essential repairs and improvements to the most heavily used routes. The project aims to improve access for walkers, horse riders, and cyclists, ensuring the preservation of Roseberry Topping for future generations.

This is great news for any visitors to Larpool Hall, our nearby country house just a stone’s throw from this popular beauty spot and the seaside town of Whitby.

We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Fences & Frontiers – the charity that aims to make London a welcoming, supportive, and inspiring place for refugees and asylum seekers to live in and settle.

This year, we’ve hosted three assisted holidays: a 3-night guided walking weekend to Abingworth Hall in April, and two 4-night family walking adventures to Peveril of the Peak in May and October. We’re delighted to have welcomed guests and introduced them to the beautiful landscapes of the South Downs and Peak District respectively.

We're delighted to share some photos from the recent trips to Abingworth Hall (left) and Peveril of the Peak (right).

A huge thanks to everyone involved for making these holidays possible.

We're pleased to announce the renovation and extension of a popular public footpath boardwalk on the Isle of Wight thanks to support from the Pathways Fund.

Originally installed in 2018, the boardwalk on footpath GL57 made for easier access through Beech Copse at Godshill but had suffered recent damage from falling trees.

Its repair has made the walk safer and more enjoyable for locals and guests staying at Freshwater Bay House and an additional 20 metres has been added to bypass a consistently muddy section. Special thanks go to our Field Advisor, Angela Potts, for working with the Isle of Wight Council to complete this project.

In October 2023, an HF Holidays Leader informed us that the steps along Footpath 33 in the Peak District needed repairing. As this path had previously been maintained by the HF Holidays Pathways Fund, we were delighted to support it once again.

Now, a new generation of walkers - including guests staying at our country house, the Peveril of the Peak - can enjoy safer and more pleasant walks in this beautiful part of the Peak District.

Be the first to spot the newly installed plaques along the route. Send your photos and stories to footnotes@hfholidays.co.uk

This May, we opened doors to six Ukrainian guests for a 3-night Tread Lightly guided walking break at Longmynd House, our newly renovated country house in the Shropshire Hills. 

Over the Easter weekend, we also welcomed six Ukrainian families at The Peveril of the Peak, our charming country house in the Peak District. 

One of the family members who took part in the trip shared with us just how much it meant to them.

“I want to thank you for organizing a wonderful vacation for all of us. It was incredible. My body is a little tired, but my soul is rested. Unforgettable impressions will remain with us for a long time. Thank you again! And may the universe restore everything to you and to all those related to this journey for the Ukrainians.”

As always, we are very grateful to our guests for their generous donations to the Pathways Fund. A special thank you goes to HF Holidays Leader John Nolan for putting us in touch with Kath O’Hara – a facilitator who helped us reach out to families in need of a well-earned break.

Following a year-long build, the much-needed new £1 million headquarters of the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) has finally opened on the outskirts of Brecon. The team of volunteers originally launched their public appeal in June 2022 in the hope of raising £1.1million, so we're delighted that the £7,000 donated by the Pathways Fund in 2022 has helped them to reach their goal.

The new premises has been designed to help the team respond quicker to emergency calls, store life-saving equipment properly, and conduct more training exercises as a full team. Gemma Rodgers, our House Manager at Nythfa House in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) was lucky enough to attend the grand opening by TV presenter, Kate Humble, who lives in the region and is the official ambassador for the campaign.

Thanks to a £5805 contribution from our Pathways Fund, we are proud to announce completion of repairs to the popular N451 footpath between Skelgill Bank and Cat Bells – the favourite fell of our founder, TA Leonard, and home to a memorial plaque in his honour.

With our support, the Lake District Foundation’s Fix the Fells project has helped improve accessibility to this spectacular spot by resurfacing the walking route and protecting it from erosion and damage.

Fix the Fells is an initiative that aims to monitor, maintain, and repair the 350 paths that cover more than 400 miles in the UNESCO-listed Lake District National Park. Check out the before and after photos.

Thanks to a £14,500 donation from the HF Holidays Pathways Fund, repairs to a much-loved Cotswolds footpath have now been completed. The well-trodden route between Bury Grange and Salmonsbury Camp is a popular dog walking spot for residents of Bourton-on-the-Water but had recently become almost impassable due to years of use and erosion.

The path also forms part of the North Cotswolds Diamond Way and features in several walks we offer from our Cotswolds country property, Harrington House.

In collaboration with Gloucestershire County Council, we’ve funded a full repair of the route and the former muddy track is now a smooth path that will help make the great outdoors easily accessible to all.

In recognition of the generous donations from our guests and members to the Pathways Fund, our logo is now proudly displayed by the finished works.

Check out the before and after pictures above.

To improve the Cotswolds National Landscape, HF Holidays has purchased two Stihl brush cutters to clear the ground around existing worn paths and provide better access. The work will be undertaken by Cotswold Voluntary Wardens in the North Cotswolds. This will benefit all walkers, especially our larger holiday groups. We're delighted to partner with the North District Cotswold Wardens on this important project.

We are delighted to have recently hosted a family on their first HF Holidays adventure to Cornwall. The parent shared with us what an amazing holiday they had.  

“Being around other families meant I could allow my child to enjoy the group walk. The staff at Chy Morvah (our country house in St Ives) were fantastic and Wayne the manager went above and beyond to provide alternative food when my child didn’t like what was on offer. 

My son walked a lot with the walking leaders, asking lots of questions and I found the whole experience very rewarding. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this possible.” 

On the last weekend of August, we hosted our very first assisted holiday in partnership with Fences & Frontiers – a charity that aims to make the UK a supportive and inspiring place for refugees and asylum seekers to live in and settle.

We welcomed 12 participants in the scheme and two of the charity’s volunteers to Abingworth Hall - our characterful country house in the South Downs. Coming from as far as El Salvador, Iran, and Kurdistan, the group enjoyed a three-day guided walking break with our HF Holidays Leader, Gill Holmes.

Gill said: “I was lucky enough to be leading at Abingworth last weekend with the first Fences and Frontiers group funded by the Pathways fund. The group had a great time and mixed well with the other guests.”

To date, the charity has been limited to offering breaks in London and the surrounding areas only. But our pilot partnership with Fences & Frontiers will now enable them to offer annual trips to some of the most beautiful parts of the British countryside. We’d like to thank everyone involved for making this weekend such a success.

In early April we hosted our second assisted group holiday for families affected by the war in Ukraine. The Peveril of the Peak – our characterful country house in the Peak District – welcomed six Ukrainian families who enjoyed a three-night stay and a wonderful weekend of guided walking.

As always, we are very grateful to our guests for their generous donations to the Pathways Fund. A special thank you goes to HF Holidays Leader John Nolan for putting us in touch with Kath O’Hara – a facilitator who helped us reach out to families in need of a well-earned break.