Come to our 100th birthday party, says HF Holidays

HF Holidays – the UK’s award-winning walking organisation – is 100 years old this year and to celebrate is holding a simultaneous birthday party at 27 of its holiday locations in the UK and Europe.

“On 31 May 2013, it is 100 years since we were founded as a society to encourage walking for pleasure and health,” says chief executive Brian Smith.

“To celebrate this, we have created special Centenary walking holidays to run simultaneously at our 19 country houses in Britain, and at eight partner hotels in Europe.”

As well as a choice of up to three guided walks each day these packages include an excursion to the best attraction in the area, a grand quiz and a last-night gala dinner plus – in the UK – a ceilidh, as a fun reference to HF Holidays’ early days when evening entertainment consisted of folk dancing and singing!

All Centenary week Guided Walking holidays start on 25 May 2013, and cost from £699 per person to include seven nights’ full board accommodation, a full programme of guided walks including transport to/from walk locations, and sociable evening activities. You can take part in walking holidays in Spain, Italy, France and more locations as part of these celebrations.

Recognising that May is term time for those with school-age children, holidays in August exclusively for families will celebrate the organisation’s centenary at eight locations in the UK and in Europe. Prices start at £699 for adults and £349 for children 11-17, for a seven night guided walking holiday in Britain. Children under 11 are free.

Leisure Activity holidays marking the Centenary – with themes ranging from playing bridge to improving photography skills – are also held in August, with prices from £679 per person. Again, this includes full board, activities, a free excursion, gala dinner and dance.

About HF Holidays

HF Holidays has been helping people enjoy the great outdoors for nearly 100 years. Today over 50,000 people come on holiday with us every year. They come for the walking. They come for the activities. They come for the fun. They come for the food. And they come for the high quality accommodation. It’s why we’re Britain’s biggest walking and outdoor leisure holiday specialists.

Background info:

* Founded in 1913, HF Holidays is a co-operative society arranging walking, outdoor and
leisure activity holidays for 50,000 people each year (for non-members, a £5 associate fee
is payable per holiday).
* Options range from guided walking breaks and self-guided trails in Britain to challenging
ascents Worldwide. The leisure activities range includes art, music, literature and mindand-body holidays.
* HF Holidays is the recommended walking holiday partner of the Ramblers, Britain’s
walking charity (ramblers.org.uk), and supports the work of the Ramblers through
membership initiatives and charitable donations.
* HF Holidays has 20 Houses in the UK’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty as well as independent hotels for overseas holidays.
* HF Holidays’ walks leaders are passionate about walking and keen to share their
experience with guests (after passing a rigorous selection course).
* HF Holidays is committed to Responsible Tourism, contributing to environmental projects
around the UK – such as footpath maintenance – through its Pathways Fund and
supporting local Air Ambulance and Mountain Rescue teams as well as charities in Kenya
and South Africa.
* Voted Best Large Tour Operator by Guardian and Observer readers 2010, 2011 and 2012,
with a 2012 satisfaction score of 98 per cent. Also Best Large Short Break Operator 2011
and 2012.
* In recent research (March 2012) carried out by Which?, HF Holidays achieved
Recommended Provider Status receiving an overall customer satisfaction score of 94%.
* HF Holidays is a member of ABTOT and is ATOL protected.