How our route planner works
The choice is yours
Our Route Planners allow you to build your own itinerary. The planners have a range of available accommodation and distances . And the advanced map version is loaded with points of interest such as museums, galleries and stately homes. The planner is free to use. The route planners are available for the Thames Path and the Ridgeway.
We offer packages where we arrange the accommodation on your behalf and then move your bags. You can use the route planner to build a package; or you can choose from any of our suggested itineraries which you will find on each of our walks. Or, if you would like us to create an itinerary for you, simply message us stating which section you would like to walk, when you would like to go and how many miles per day you would like to walk.
We also offer a “baggage transfer only” service. You book your hotels and tell us your itinerary and we’ll move your bags.
And we have an online shop where you can obtain maps, guidebooks and other useful items if walking the Thames Path.
Finally, we run a series of webinars during the off-season so that you can find out more about our wonderful walks.
More about the Route Planners
We offer you the chance to build your own walking package using our route planner. This allows you to choose how far to walk and where to stay. The route planners show distances between all points to the nearest 1/10th of a mile.
We have pre-selected a range of establishments to suit different budgets. Aside from pubs and hotels of differing prices, we also offer bed and breakfasts, some self-catering accommodations such as a summer cabin; and the use of sport and educational institutions including the Oxford University, the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey and the London School of Economics.
The price depends on the category of accommodation you choose and is the same regardless of whether you use the route planner, a suggested itinerary or we create the itinerary for you.
You don’t have to start at the beginning. You don’t have to end at the end. And you can walk in any direction. The choice is yours.
How to Build your Walking Holiday Itinerary
Here’s a short video of how to build your itinerary using the Thames Path as an example. All our journey planners work in the same way.
To build your itinerary, complete the following 3 sections of the route planner: (note: if you want to save an itinerary you will need to register on the site; otherwise you can “continue as a guest”.)
Your Walk & Hotels This asks for basic information to help plan your route. You will be asked to select your starting point and which direction you plan to walk (upstream or downstream).
There are 2 methods available in building your itinerary: you can use the standard method which contains “drop downs” for start and end points as well as drop downs for accommodation close to those points. Or you can use the map route planner which is a visual representation of the route. The map version displays information about cafes, restaurants, public transport and points of interest which are not shown on the standard planner. You can toggle back and forth between the two versions. Further information on how to use the map planner can be found here.
In both versions, a selection of suitable accommodations will appear for your first night. Once you have selected your accommodation, you will be moved onto your next day. Places with available accommodation (“break points”) within your daily walking capacity will appear. By selecting a break point, you can view the available accommodation.
Keep going until you reach where you want to get to.
After completing the Journey Route Details, you must complete the Info Required section. This allows you to put a title on your itinerary in case you want to have multiple versions. We ask for the number of walkers and your start date.
Finally, on the No. of rooms section we ask you for room details (singles, doubles, twins etc) and whether you have any allergies or special requests.
You can save your details at any time. By clicking on Journey Itinerary, you can view your itinerary and request to have it emailed. The itinerary will provide an estimate of the total cost. This will exclude various discounts that may be applicable.
What Happens Next?
If, after finalizing your itinerary, you wish to proceed let us know as soon as possible and we will start contacting the hotels to check availability. We cannot guarantee that your chosen itinerary will be available exactly as requested. However, we will endeavour to get as close to it as possible.
We will then re-issue your final itinerary with a final price, including any discounts available. If you choose to accept this itinerary, we will send you an invoice for the deposit – which is always 20% of the final price.
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Detailed Guidance
This narrows the range of break points that become visible as you build your itinerary. The default setting is 12 miles per day which you can increase or decrease.
Most people start at the “source” and make their way downstream (which is generally west to east) towards London and the “mouth” of the river. But you can also walk upstream from wherever you want to start.
These are natural places to start or finish a walk. We only list break points that have nearby accommodation.
The cost of your holiday is based on the standard of accommodation you choose. Accommodation is split into three categories: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The costs are:
Bronze £95 per person per night
Silver £125 per person per night
Gold £160 per person per night
This assumes double occupancy and including transportation of one bag (max 20kg) between hotels. You don’t have to keep to one category throughout your itinerary.
We can organize transport from airports and train stations. The price will be quoted separately.
Whilst dogs are welcome, most hotels charge extra. A dog supplement of £25 per dog per night is therefore charged. Your choice of hotel may need to be changed to use dog-friendly hotels. We will advise you of this. The charge includes transfer of a dog bag each day, so that your best friend can enjoy their favourite bowls as well as food and treats. If your dog eats fresh food (as opposed to dried food) we can keep these stored in our freezer and have it dropped off in your dog bag each day.
The price is inclusive of one 20kg bag per person. Enter number of bags here so we know if there are additional bags being carried. For parties of 2 bags or more, we will apply a discount of £5 per bag.
This is the day before you start to walk as we assume you will stay in accommodation the night before you start to walk. So, if your walk starts Monday, your start date is Sunday.
Where family rooms are requested, the itinerary will not be costed as special arrangements may need to be in place. Please use the journey planner to build an itinerary and we will revert with a special price.
The single supplement applies to anyone occupying a room as a single occupant whether alone or with another group.
Single supplement is:
Bronze £60
Silver £75
Gold £90
If you want to add a rest day, simply select the same hotel for your next night. We offer the following discounts for rest days:
Bronze £25
Silver £30
Gold £35
We have a minimum itinerary of 2 nights
We operate from April to October.