HF Holidays Press Release December 2020

HF HOLIDAYS DONATES OVER £50,000 TO PATHWAY PROJECTS

HF HOLIDAYS PATHWAYS FUND HAS HELPED SUPPORT SEVERAL LOCAL WALKWAY REPAIRS IN 2020 WITH GRANT DONATIONS

Leading Walking & Activity Tour Operator HF Holidays has continued to make valuable contributions to authorities and organisations carrying out essential work to the footpaths and walkways, used by walkers and HF Holidays walking breaks.

The HF Holidays Pathways Fund has for many years, helped to protect and improve the countryside where HF Holidays' guests walk. This has been achieved through generous donations from HF Holidays' members and guests. In addition, the fund provides holidays to those who could not otherwise afford one.

During an extremely challenging year for charities and local fundraising projects, HF Holidays has ensured vital donations were still met to local fundraisers and projects to enable volunteers and organisations to proceed with planned repairs and improvements.

The aims and objectives of the Pathways Fund are to preserve and improve the amenities and safety of the environment in which HF Holidays' walks take place. These are achieved by allocating grants, and other funding, to individuals, organisations or groups for specific projects which cannot be readily funded from other sources.

2020 Projects include:

Keswick to Threlkeld Railway trail in the Lake District

HF Holidays donated £20,000 towards the reconstruction of the Keswick and Threlkeld path in the Lake District, which was destroyed during Storm Desmond in 2015. 

This was the largest donation ever made from Pathways Fund to one single project; a 5 year multi-million plan spearheaded by The Lake District National Park Authority. Main funding was received from Highways England, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and the Lake District Foundation and supported by the local community, businesses, residents, visitors and organisations, to rebuild a new section of the route constructed to replace the trackbed which was washed away during Storm Desmond, when floodwater from the River Greta engulfed the trail and surrounding farmland.

HF Holidays country houses overlooking Derwent Water and Coniston Water remain two of the most popular locations for their range of walking holidays.

Great Ridge Pathway - near Peveril of the Peak

Further donations were made to Moors for the Future Partnership, which commenced work on a high-quality footpath restoration scheme on the Great Ridge in Edale, helping to reduce the impact that footfall and erosion has had on the popular walking route and have created a naturalistic footpath that matches the landscape.  

Part of the BMC's Mend Our Mountains campaign, other fund partners include Oglesby Charitable Trust, the Ramblers and the Peak District National Park Authority, which enabled further restoration work to take place.  A Pathways Fund plaque will be displayed on a new gate at the bottom of Back Tor, to commemorate the work and donations made.

Smardale Gill Viaduct

Another Pathways Fund grant was made to support the re-opening of Smardale Gill Viaduct; a popular pathway, which also features on a Guided Walking programme from HF Holidays country property Thorns Hall in Sedbergh.

The permissive path over the top of the iconic Smardale Gill Viaduct had been closed for a year due to necessary work to up-grade its hand-rails.  The work, identified during an inspection in 2019, is now complete and the viaduct is open for walkers.

The Northern Viaduct Trust who carried out the project was also supported with funds by Yorkshire Dales National Park Sustainable Development Fund, Westmorland Dales Love Your Landscape Fund, the Hadfield Trust, and Railway Ramblers.

Finally, HF Holidays partnered with Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) earlier in 2020 to plant 1500 trees in and around the Yorkshire Dales.

The partnership is the first step of HF Holidays strategy to drive sustainability throughout the organisation and actively offset travel carbon emissions and promote sustainable tourism.  The tour operator has pledged £15,000 from the HF Holidays Pathways Fund, to plant 1,500 trees.

The trees have been planted to create a unique area in Ormsgill Woodland in Malhamdale, which is in close proximity to HF Holidays' own country house, Newfield Hall located in the famous Dales; a very popular location with HF walkers and guests who enjoy exploring Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Pen y Ghent each year.

Previous projects donations include £10,000 Scafell Pike, footpath repair on the most popular route - the Brown Tongue to Hollowstones path and £5,000 for Cader Idris, Snowdonia – helping to fund the repair of eroded Moelfryn and Mynydd Moel footpaths.  For detail on more projects see here https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/pathwaysfund

-ENDS –

Notes to Editor:

Contact: Hannah Garcia, PR & Partnerships, hannahgarcia@hfholidays.co.uk

• All prices correct at time of going to press and subject to availability and change.
• Founded in 1913, HF Holidays is the largest UK travel Co-operative Society.
• HF Holidays has 18 country houses in the UK's National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as independent hotels for overseas holidays. 
• Sociability is at the heart of every HF Holiday.
• Most HF walking holidays are led by a team of volunteer leaders
• HF holidays are ideal for solo travellers, couples or small groups.
• Families have an exclusive programme of holidays available, during the school holidays.
• Larger groups (8 or more people) such as groups of friends, large family groups, members of clubs /societies can enjoy special savings.
• Guests do not need to be a member of the HF Holidays Co-operative in order to join their holidays; all are welcome. There is a non-member fee of £20 per person.
• HF Holidays are suitable for all fit and active adults including solo travellers, couples or small groups. There are also some dedicated UK holidays for families with children. Guests travel as part of larger group, making them a great way to meet and socialise with new people. Larger groups (8 or more people) such as groups of friends, large family groups, members of clubs /societies can enjoy special savings
• The HF Holidays Pathways Fund provides assisted holidays to those who could not otherwise afford one. In addition, since 1998, the fund has helped to protect and improve the countryside where HF Holidays' guests walk. This is achieved through generous donations from HF Holidays' members and guests.
• HF Holidays has a host of accolades under its belt including: Staycation Award for Family Friendly Venue 2019, Which? Recommended Provider for Escorted Tours 2019, Silver Travel Awards Best Activity Tour Operator 2019, Telegraph Travel Awards Runner Up 2019, Feefo Gold Service Award in 2019, Which? Recommended Provider status for 2012 - 2019; voted Best Large Tour Operator by Guardian and Observer readers 2010-2014; and Best Large Short Break Operator 2011-2014.
• HF Holidays is committed to responsible tourism and is a member of ABTOT and ATOL protected. 
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