Making a Difference Together: Pathways Fund Update 2025/2026

Since 1913, HF Holidays has brought people together through a shared love of walking. The Pathways Fund is one of the ways we continue that tradition today — by giving back to the landscapes and communities that make our holidays so special.

At its heart, the Pathways Fund supports projects that protect the countryside, improve access to footpaths, and help more people experience the physical and mental benefits of spending time outdoors. Thanks to the generosity of our members and guests, 2025 saw a record number of projects supported. In 2026, that commitment continues.

Here’s a look at what your support has already helped to achieve and the impact it’s still to have.

In 2024, we pledged our support to the restoration of Roseberry Topping, the much-loved North Yorkshire landmark close to our country house at Larpool Hall, Whitby.

We’re pleased to report that work has now begun on the first of three pathways supported through the Pathways Fund, following an initial £10,000 donation to the National Trust, with a further £20,000 committed.

The first phase of the project has focused on woodland paths south of the summit and has included:

• Clearing leaf litter and erosion
• Resurfacing paths with new aggregate
• Installing improved drainage
• Stabilising vulnerable areas using timber supports
• These improvements will help protect this iconic landscape while ensuring safer, more enjoyable access for walkers for years to come.

These improvements will help protect this iconic landscape while ensuring safer, more enjoyable access for walkers for years to come.

n 2026, we are delighted to continue our partnership with Fences & Frontiers (F&F) for a third consecutive year. 

F&F works to make the UK a more welcoming and supportive place for refugees and people seeking asylum. Through our partnership, we will again provide a three-night assisted holiday — this time in the Southern Yorkshire Dales — for a group of 12 individuals living with uncertainty and stigma in their day-to-day lives. 

Previous holidays have shown just how powerful these experiences can be. For many participants, it’s their first opportunity to explore the British countryside and enjoy a break from daily pressures. Alongside the physical benefits of walking, these stays offer something just as valuable: time, connection, and a sense of belonging. 

Our relationship with the Family Holiday Charity (formerly the Family Holiday Association) began in 2013, rooted in a shared belief that every family deserves the chance to step away from the daily challenges of life and spend quality time together. 

For many families facing difficult circumstances, a holiday can feel out of reach — yet the benefits to wellbeing can be profound. In December 2025, we were pleased to rekindle this partnership by hosting 10 families from inner-city Birmingham for a festive weekend break in the Shropshire Hills. 

The weekend offered families the chance to rest, reconnect, and create happy memories together at a special time of year. We’re hopeful that, with continued support, we’ll be able to offer another festive break in 2026. 

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

This contribution, made through the purchase of 10 fundraising bricks, will support the renovation of the lifeboat station, scheduled to begin in 2026. The project will deliver: 

• 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. 

Every contribution to the Pathways Fund helps protect the places we love to walk, support local communities, and opens up the outdoors to more people. 

To learn more about the Pathways Fund and how you can be part of its impact, visit 
hfholidays.co.uk/pathways