Inn to Inn Walking Tours?

We hiked the length of Hadrian’s Wall, coast to coast, 3 years ago. We hired a baggage transfer service, which drove our suitcases to that night’s pre-arranged B&B, so we took small daypacks with us on the trail. We booked the B&B’s for each night before leaving the USA, but that meant we needed to reach that night’s destination, and not decide on a whim to stay elsewhere. The route is defined, and pretty well signed, but one section near Carlisle had gotten disrupted by heavy storms, and required a work-around to get back on track.

The route wasn’t that far from civilization, and passed through occasional towns, so getting a taxi or other ride (or the B&B) for a lift wasn’t out of the question. Carrying food was one approach, but eating at a restaurant, or the cafe at many of the museums along the route, was possible, too.

Having good rain gear, and waterproof footwear should be part of your wardrobes.

We did a short section of Hadrian's wall and also used a baggage transfer service. It worked quite well.

Thanks for this info. Sounds like a good trip! Definitely will plan for rain gear as even summer time is likely to have drizzle.

We did a 4 day hike to/from Bath a few years ago and it was amazing. It was mostly on the old Right-of-ways and you had to carefully read directions. It almost felt like a treasure hunt. We used Cotswold Walks (https://www.cotswoldwalks.com) and they were wonderful. We walked in mid-June and used rain gear a couple days I recall. A few years later we walked the West Highland Way in Scotland, and booked that through Contours Holidays (https://www.contours.co.uk). Both companies booked very nice, quaint places, transported luggage, and answered any questions we had. I'm sure either one will customize one of their standard tours, if possible. We love the walking holidays so much, we are hoping to do one in Luxembourg/Belgium in October.

Are you looking for a local company that will organize it for you? Planning the route, providing maps, booking accommodations at the inns, arranging for luggage transport? We have used Celtic Trails for that, walking in Shropshire and in Wales. I would also suggest looking at Mac’s Adventures; they have an excellent reputation for this.

We walked 3 sections of the Hadrians Wall path from a base in Haltwhistle, but to be honest—-it was not as interesting for a multi-day trip as the walking we have done in the areas mentioned above (Wales and Shropshire), or in the Lake District or Cornwall/Devon coastal areas.

The latter two we did with HF Holidays, not as inn-to-inn walks but based for 3-4 nights at a single (very nice) country house. HF Holidays is a member-owned cooperative that owns or leases country houses all over the UK, and offers 3, 4, or 7-night holidays with guided walks, usually at 3 levels ( easy, moderate, and “leg-stretching” each day. Non-members (like us) are welcome for a small additional fee. We have found the accommodations, the food, and the Guiding to all be excellent, and we enjoy the camaraderie of the other guests (mostly British).

They offer “family” holidays at certain locations ( including two in the Lake District), and I wonder if one of these might work for your multi-generational group? Everyone could choose their own level of walk, and there are other activities on offer for all ages as well. Take a look:

https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/walking-holidays/uk-guided-walking/family-walking-holidays

Use the “view all options” button to see the Lake District locations. We have been to the Derwentwater house (right on the lake near Keswick) and loved it. We now have reservations at the Coniston house for September. The York Moors and Peak District look like good options too, if the dates work better for you. With beautiful and varied terrain.

Here is the brochure for the North York Moors holiday—-they are based in Whitby, a pretty little coastal town with a ruined abbey to explore and Captain Cook history. Walks follow coastal paths or inland, your choice.

https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/holidays-and-tours/4-night-north-york-moors-family-walking-adventure?format=pdf&vid=1316

Are you thinking specifically of Inn Travel? If so check out their website here:

https://www.inntravel.co.uk/walking-holidays/uk

Although they do seem to stay at hotels as opposed to inns or pubs. No matter, you’re never far from a pub!

Alternatively, there are a couple of walks in different parts of the country (chiefly in the north it would seem) that do have the objective of visiting pubs en route which go under the name of The Inn Way.. A search for ‘The Inn Way’ will let you access descriptions of the routes and link you to several companies that will all do the standard ‘book and baggage transfer’ deal.

As a final suggestion, the Dales Way, which runs from Ilkley in Yorkshire to the shores of Windermere at Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District is a ‘semi official’ long distance trail which, if memory and experience serves, it’s possible to stay at different pubs along its length. DM me if you need further information on this!

Hope you get fixed up with something that meets your needs!

Ian

I have no experience with RS tours, but if you're going to see The Cotswolds I always advocate walking.
There is the Cotswold Way which starts in Bath and ends in Chipping Campden in the North.
The first town, Cold Ashton is a day's walk from Bath with lovely scenic views. Depending upon when you embark there is a BnB a few miles short of Cold Ashton. After CA I do not know what the path is like but there are many towns along the way to Chipping Campden.
Beware the Cotswolds are hilly, and when I walked I was surprised just how strenuous some parts were. But if you take supplies and walk at a leisurely pace you can still make it to Cold Ashton and it's very rewarding.
As

We did three UK walking tours - England Coast (St Bees) to Coast (Robin Hood Bay), Scotland West Highland Way and a short Lake District loop trip, all booked through Countours Walking Holidays. It felt more like a Pub to Pub walk in that the local pub (singluar) was often the source of our evening meal and point of walkers on the same route reliving the day's adventure.

Countours provided the overnight B&B lodging, route maps, guides and information and luggage transport service. They were also helpful on advice including transprtation to the start and from the finish of the walk. Their FAQ page may be a help:

https://www.contours.co.uk/faqs

What is a self-guided walking holiday?

From the door of each night’s accommodation, you’ll follow our maps
and guidebooks on foot through the countryside — with complete freedom
to walk at your own pace, stop for breaks when you like, choose your
own meals and linger as long as you want at the sites that interest
you most.

That’s because a self-guided holiday is built around you. There’s no
need to choose from a limited selection of dates and you won’t join a
group of strangers. Gather your walking companions from amongst
friends and family, pick a trail, select the itinerary that best suits
your pace and let us know your dates. We’ll arrange everything for you
and provide all the details so you can act as your own guide.

Read on for all the specifics.