Self-guided walking holidays in Britain’s most beautiful landscapes
Mickledore Travel is based in Keswick at the heart of the English Lake District. We are one of the leading specialists in self guided walking holidays in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands.
We provide a friendly, professional and flexible service, making the arrangements that suit you, leaving you free to enjoy your holiday.
A flexible service
We provide a flexible service making the arrangements that suit you, leaving you free to enjoy your holiday.
One of the leading specialists
We are one of the leading specialists in self guided walking holidays in the UK, providing a friendly, professional service.
100% financial protection
Your payments are fully protected against our financial failure.
25+ years experience
Mickledore began in 1997, providing holidays in the Lakes for Dutch visitors. We’ve grown steadily since then, and now have customers from every corner of the world.
Independent client feedback from AITO
Current rating: 99%
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Phil, September 2025
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Jan, July 2025
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Jill, September 2025
Mickledore Blog
My Top 7 Highlights on the Isle of Wight
I have visited the Isle of Wight over 30 times in the last 40 years, so I like to think I know it fairly well. Summer holidays as a child were spent paddling in the shallow calm waters of Sandown bay, while as an adult I have enjoyed chasing sunsets on the beaches of West Wight, as well as dancing to the Rolling Stones in a dusty field at the annual Isle of Wight music festival. But it was only back in 2019, when I first walked the coastal path around the entire island, that I fully realised just how much more I had to discover on this compact diamond in the sea. These are my top seven highlights. 1. The food! The island has its own micro climate, boasting more hours of sunlight than most of the UK. So not only do you stand a good chance of keeping your waterproofs in your bag, but the extra warmth ensures perfect growing conditions for some fabulous local produce. Isle of Wight tomatoes, grown in old glasshouses at the Tomato Stall, are widely known as being incredibly sweet and juicy, recommended by chefs and sold across the UK. Meanwhile at the…
Walking Holidays in Scotland – Big Landscapes, Quiet Corners and Coastal Paths
Scotland has an almost magnetic pull for walkers. Few places offer such a striking sense of space and contrast: quiet lowland farmland and coastal paths sit just hours from vast Highland glens; Roman roads and medieval abbeys lie under the same skies as some of Britain’s most dramatic mountains. At Mickledore, we’ve spent decades helping walkers explore Scotland on foot, and time and again we’ve seen just how rewarding this landscape can be. It’s a place that reveals itself slowly and generously, with each day adding another layer of scenery, history and atmosphere. From gentle, characterful routes to more dramatic long-distance trails, Scotland lends itself particularly well to self-guided walking holidays, offering the freedom to walk at your own pace, with everything carefully arranged behind the scenes. As a Scot myself, I take an immense pleasure from seeing our walkers enjoying my homeland. Three Distinct Regions, One Remarkable Country Broadly speaking, Scotland’s walking routes fall naturally into three regions: the rugged Highlands, the rolling hills of the Southern Uplands, and the often-overlooked Central Belt. Each offers a different perspective, and together they create one of the most varied walking destinations in Britain. The Highlands – Iconic Trails and Expansive Views…
How Self-Guided Walking Holidays Work – and Why They’re So Enjoyable
At first glance, the idea of a self-guided walking holiday can seem a little contradictory. Organised, yet independent? Structured, yet flexible? In practice, that balance is exactly what makes it work, and why so many of our walkers come back for more. At Mickledore, we’ve spent almost 30 years creating and supporting self-guided walking holidays across Britain and beyond. In that time, we’ve seen just how well this style of travel works – combining the freedom to walk at your own pace with the reassurance that everything behind the scenes has been carefully taken care of. It’s your journey. We simply make it easier. Walk at Your Own Pace, On Your Own Terms One of the biggest draws of a self-guided holiday is the freedom it offers. There’s no group to keep up with, no set departure date to squeeze into, and no guide deciding when it’s time to move on. You choose who you travel with, when you go, and how each day unfolds. Some mornings begin early, with quiet paths and soft light. Others start more slowly, with a second cup of coffee and further reading of your guidebook before heading out. Along the way, you might pause…