HF Holidays Blog
With over 100 years experience, HF Holidays knows the best ingredients for holidays in the great outdoors.
Keep up to date with all the latest news from HF Holidays and the great outdoors.
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What are the best walks in the Lake District?
The Lake District in Cumbria is the most iconic national park in the UK and unsurprisingly it attracts around 16 million people every year.
You can discover mountains, lakes, rivers and coastline and it should come as little surprise, then, that authors like Beatrix Potter and Alfred Wainwright were inspired to write about the region.
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How to tell bird songs apart
One of the joys of spring and just being outdoors is the burst of bird song it brings, but telling birds apart by sound alone can be tricky for beginners. HF Nature Leader Russell Hedley takes us through the repertoire of some of the UK’s most familiar songsters and the tricks he uses to tell them apart, so you can get your ear in.
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A Walk in the (National) Park - An HF Quiz
So, you think you know the UK and it’s National Parks? Take a turn through our quiz to see just how well you recognize the UK’s protected ‘breathing spaces’ and see what you score in our just-for-fun quiz.
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Photography Tips For Taking Better Pictures of Birds in Your Garden
Looking to get great garden bird shots while at home? HF Leader and wildlife photographer Dan Ransley shares his top tips and photography secrets for capturing better photos of birds in your garden. Many woodland species and wild visitors to our gardens can make eye-catching pictures, so, grab your camera, don’t overlook the photographic opportunities right under your nose and enjoy photography from home.
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6 of the best travel books about nature
Nature writing offers vicarious enchantment, letting us explore the outdoors and immerse ourselves in a landscape, even when we can’t travel or find time to get outside. It lets us walk with writers who find meaning in trails they stalk and encounters they have, often framed through a personal lens or experience#.
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10 things to replace leading an HF Holiday: HF Leaders during Lockdown
Like so many other people around the world, the Covid-19 outbreak has had a huge impact on the lives of our Leaders. While they’re usually leading guided walking holidays all around the UK and Europe, or hosting Special Interest breaks at our UK country houses at this time of year, our network of Leaders here share how they are currently filling their days and finding joy while at home in lockdown.
This is what the HF team have been doing:
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6 of the best of Britain in Autumn
Autumn. The stuff of childhood memories. Scuffing leaves with your shoes; the sharp tang of a chill in the air; the delicious luxury of lying in bed on the first properly cold morning of the year while all outside lies under a hard frost. Raincoats drying in front of open fires.
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12 icons of the world to explore online
Travelling the world provides many life-enriching experiences. Amazing wildlife, incredible views and historic monuments are all waiting to be discovered. These wonders provide the motivation for us to travel – moments to be savoured and memories to be made.
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6 Classic Travel Literature books to seek out
While the explosion in social media and online sites makes the world feel all the more accessible, there’s something magical about letting a compelling travel tale transport you to a place. These 6 classic travel books by some of the most celebrated travel writers should inspire your wanderlust
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8 of the best nature, outdoor and travel series to stream right now
There’s no doubt that we’d all rather go out and be in the outdoors than watch someone else do it, but there’s also room for inspiration, especially when someone is providing you with a dramatic view you wouldn’t otherwise see.
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The best UK hiking regions for wildlife enthusiasts
Whilst walking anywhere in the world you’ll feel completely engulfed by the nature that surrounds you. Every area has its own story to tell and has its own feeling. When walking the UK, you’ll find a large range of wildlife ready to greet you and making every area its own. In this article, we look into some of the best UK hiking regions for wildlife enthusiasts.
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6 of the best travel books about walking
6 of the best travel books about walking Travelling on foot is an acknowledged way of seeing a country slowly and intimately, and has inspired a whole tradition of great writing. Countries all over the world are crisscrossed by paths and byways. These trails are marked by the passing of feet and capture the history of a place. Walking the storied trails and exploring the landscapes they traverse lets you immerse yourself in a place. And if you can’t make the journey, what better way to discover a destination than by reading about others who have traipsed places near and far?
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Recipes from our Chefs - Welsh Liqueur Fondants
At all our UK country houses food plays a central part. Meals are varied and tasty, with a strong emphasis on ingredients from the area and seasonal produce. Here our chefs take the opportunity to share some of their creations with delicious recipes from the HF kitchens for you to try at home.
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Recipes from our Chefs - Focaccia
Sean from Dolserau Hall in Southern Snowdonia gives us his take on a sweet potato, roast garlic, rosemary, honey and pumpkin seed focaccia – follow the recipe
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How to pack a hiking backpack
Packing a hiking backpack can be tricky and fitting everything you need for a day trekking around Europe in one bag can often become an art. Whether you are new to hiking or you are a seasoned pro, there are some items that are crucial and essential to a great day walking, and others that can simply be left at the hotel.
