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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Walks on the Isle of Wight - 5 of the Best
Stepping ashore on the Isle of Wight feels like landing in a part of England where time has shifted ever so slightly backwards to a point where life was less frenetic. The largest island in England naturally has a long coastline, much of which is lined with coastal paths so that walkers can make the most of the scenery.
Unspoilt sandy beaches are interspersed with sections of white chalk cliff-face which lead to large areas of chalk down. Inland, wooded areas are home to red squirrels, separated from the dominant greys by the protective waters of the Solent. Stroll across landscapes where dinosaurs once roamed and soak up the charming island life.
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Recipes from our Chefs - Sicilian Orange Polenta Cake
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.
João from Derwent Bank in the Northern Lake District gives us his take on Sicilian Orange Polenta Cake – follow the recipe below.
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A guide to the South West Coast Path
The south of England boasts a plethora of unspoilt views. The luscious green of the undulating hills, the shimmer of the sea and the wild flora all make exploring this part of the country something not-to-be-missed and, with the 630-mile stretch of the South West Coast Path guiding you along, you’re sure to have a fantastic time doing so.
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Just Back From…The Algarve
We sent a small group of team members on a walking holiday in Portugal to experience the delights of the Algarve, with the chance to enjoy first-hand the experiences and accommodation we feature on our Eastern and Western Algarve Guided Walking Holidays. Here, guests get to uncover the area’s rich heritage and discover that there’s much more to the region than the stereotype. Yes, there are soaring cliffs, sea caves, golden beaches and scalloped bays, but there’s also layers of history and architecture, salt pans full of birdlife and beautiful walking country. Below, we report back:
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Add-venture Learning Group Trip to Shropshire
In October a group of visually impaired adults, their sighted guides and three guide dogs made their way from around the UK to Longmynd House, Church Stretton in Shropshire for a three-night stay. They were taking part in a Heritage tour: ‘Romans, Monks and Princes of the Welsh Marches’. Their Group Organiser gave us some lovely feedback:
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Walk up an appetite – Welsh delicacies and dishes to try on a walking holiday
Across our country houses our chefs strive to create stunning meals. Wales might be small but it is packed full of stunning sights and incredible landscapes. The country also benefits from a prodigious natural bounty sourced from land and sea, which we like to celebrate in our country houses.
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Latin and Ballroom: An essential guide
It’s never too late to try your hand at something new and, if you’re on the search for something that provides both mental and physical stimulation, dance could be the answer you’re looking for. Not only is it a great way of keeping fit, but ballroom can also improve your cardiovascular and bone health, making this a perfect form of exercise to keep you fit between your walking holidays in Europe.
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HF Holidays Funds The Planting of 1,500 Trees
HF Holidays recently joined forces with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust in order to plant 1,500 young native trees in and around the Yorkshire Dales. The project was funded with £15,000 from the Pathways Fund - HF Holidays’ charitable fund. Trees play an important part in providing habitat for wildlife, slowing and reducing water run-off and absorbing carbon. It’s estimated that 1,500 well cared for trees can absorb around 250 tonnes of carbon in 50 years – that’s the equivalent CO2 emissions from 500 return flights from London to Italy!
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A guide to Shakespeare's Stratford
The bustling, scenic market town of Stratford-upon-Avon is a hive of culture and creativity. The birthplace of Shakespeare, millions of visitors head there each year in pursuit of discovering more about the famous playwright’s life. With so much to offer, from walks along the River Avon to exploring the gardens of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, a walking holiday in England is sure to provide you with a wonderful time; immerse yourself in Shakespeare's World on our 'Just Shakespeare in the Cotswolds' itinerary, which takes in the landmarks associated with the Brad.
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The most romantic walks in the UK
The UK is home to not only some of the most scenic walks in the world but some of the most romantic. Lush, large green spaces, flora and fauna wherever you turn and wildlife and nature at its finest, there really isn’t anything not to love.
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HF Holidays Team Volunteer Days
HF Holidays has always been committed to acting as a responsible tour operator with community being at the heart of everything we do. As part of our commitment to give a little back, we offer our staff one paid day each year to volunteer for a charity of their choice. 2019 has seen the HF Holidays team support a wide range of initiatives.
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A Family Holiday at Freshwater Bay
HF Holidays’ Sarah Szczepanski took her family on holiday to Freshwater Bay House on the Isle of Wight on a Family Walking Adventure Holiday– her first time visiting the island. Here she reflects on their time away.
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Lake District: Keswick & Threlkeld Path Update
In 2015 Storm Desmond hit various parts of the UK with a vengeance. In the Lake District it caused major flooding including along the River Greta where 200 metres of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path was washed away. This is a popular and very accessible path for walkers and cyclists through some of the most beautiful countryside of the northern lakes. Two old railway bridges over the River Greta – Low Pearson’s Bridge and Brundholme Bridge - were destroyed while Rawsome Bridge was left at risk of collapse and had to be closed.
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A Double Celebration for Board Director Robert Locke
100 is a milestone that should always be celebrated. Board Director Robert Locke recently celebrated such a milestone – not his birthday but his 100th HF Holiday!
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HF Holidays Funds 2019 Feel Good Break
For many years, HF Holidays has worked with the Family Holiday Association providing holidays (Feel Good Breaks) to families who would not otherwise get to enjoy any sort of holiday due to their personal circumstances. It’s easy to become complacent about how important holidays away are to our wellbeing; for the families involved, they can be a real lifeline.
