With spring comes new beginnings, longer days, and - most importantly - more time on the trail. The northern hemisphere hiking season has officially begun, and active holiday specialist World Expeditions and its European brands, UTracks, Walkers' Britain & Europe and Coast to Coast Packhorse is kicking it off with a series of reasons to lace up your boots or stick on your cycling helmet and get out there.

From new National Trails to milestone National Park birthdays, and set-jetting inspiration to brand new tours, here's a host of suggestions to inspire you to get active in 2026:

The Coast to Coast Becomes a National Trail

England's iconic Coast to Coast route has officially been designated a UK National Trail. For more than 50 years, this much-loved journey devised by renowned fell walker and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright has guided walkers from the Irish Sea at St Bees to the North Sea at Robin Hood's Bay. Recent work across the route has focused on improving paths, enhancing safety and introducing consistent waymarking, and walkers can now follow the trail more easily than ever, with new signage marked by Wainwright's distinctive initials: AW. Walk, run or cycle the trail – section-by-section or in its entirety – with one of many guided or self-guided itineraries, with accommodation and luggage transfers all taken care of:

• NEW! Walkers' Britain & Europe is one of the few tour operators still to offer a guided version of the trail, and in 2026 have introduced a succinct, 10-day highlights version of the tour - Best of the Coast to Coast in Comfort. The tour features all the best bits of the route from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, staying in premium accommodation and with additional activities such as a farm visit and a steam train across the North York Moors. Departures 11-20 June, 7-16 August and 18-27 Sept 2026, from £2,850pp.
• The Complete Coast to Coast Walking Adventure (18 days) with Coast to Coast Packhorse – self-guided tour, daily departures until end of September, from £2,052pp.
• The Amazing 4-Day Road Cycling Adventure (4 days) with Coast to Coast Packhorse – self-guided 180-mile route taking in the trail, from £570 pp

The King Charles III England Coast Path Officially Launches

Following the entire coastline of England, the King Charles III England Coast Path is now one of the country's most remarkable long distance walking routes and the longest managed coastal route in the world. Encircling more than 4,000 km of shoreline, it offers walkers uninterrupted access to dramatic cliffs, sweeping beaches, saltmarshes, fishing villages and historic harbour towns.

• A Taste of the South Downs Way self-guided (5 days) – Walkers' Britain & Europe: See iconiccoastal views of Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, sample English sparkling wines at the Rathfinney Estate, and enjoy a 2-night stay in Saxon village Alfriston; daily departures year-round, from £660pp.
• South West Coast Path: Padstow to St Ives self-guided (8 days) – Walkers' Britain & Europe: Take in dramatic cliffs and golden beaches, visit the galleries of St Ives, and explore Padstow and its famous culinary scene; departs daily until end of October, from £902pp.

75 Years of National Parks

Marking 75 years since their 1951 designations, several of the UK's most beloved National Parks celebrate a milestone birthday in 2026. From Snowdonia's (Eryri's) nine mountain ranges and hundreds of miles of pathways steeped in culture and local history, to the Lake District's scenic hiking routes, dramatic fells and literary traditions, explore some of the UK's most treasured trails on foot.

• NEW! Hiking the Snowdonia Slate Trail self-guided with Walkers' Britain & Europe (7 days) takes you through the heart of Snowdonia National Park, where industrial heritage meets breathtaking landscapes; departs daily until end of October, from £890pp.
• NEW! A Taste of the Lake District on Foot self-guided with Walkers' Britain & Europe (6 days) explores the highlights of the national park, with plenty of time for tea and scones, and relaxing by the pool at a handpicked hotel; departs daily until end of December, from £790pp.

Race Across the World or Follow the Path of Pilgrims

Two new travelogue series hit the BBC later this month providing some serious adventure set-jetting inspiration. Starting on 2 April, series 6 of Race Across the World will see five teams embark on a 12,000km journey across Europe and Asia, traversing Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. Then, later this month, series 8 of Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island, will follow seven celebrities – including Patsy Kensit and Jayne Middlemiss – as they walk 390km from Whitby to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, including the St Cuthbert's Pilgrim route, exploring their own spirituality journeys along the way.

• Walk Northumberland Coast Path & Lindisfarne self-guided with Walkers' Britain & Europe (7 days): Replicate the pilgrims' journey on a self-guided tour departing daily until end of September, from £860pp.
• Via Francigena: Rome to Terracina self-guided with UTracks (7 days): Take inspiration from the celebrities' holy walk and try out Francigena's little-known southern section, from Rome to the coastal town of Terracina, tracing a centuries-old cultural artery between northern Europe and the heart of Italy that was first mapped in 990 AD by Archbishop Sigeric. Departs daily from April to end of October, from £990pp.
• Ancient Silk Road Cities - The Five Stans guided tour with World Expeditions (23 days): Create your own race across Central Asia with this epic tour across the Five Stans: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, travelling overland with local guides and exploring UNESCO-listed cities, glittering mosques, ancient fortresses, colourful markets and dramatic mountain ranges. Departs 19 Apr-11 May, 3-25 May, 17 May-8 Jun and 31 Aug-22 Sept, from £4,390pp.

New Tours

From a flexible tour traversing the volcanic island of Madeira from east to west and north to south, to a trip exploring Azerbaijan's unique blend of ancient history and modern culture, a host of new adventure and walking tours offer exciting ways to experience lesser-visited destinations outside of peak season:

• NEW! Madeira Island Walking: East to West self-guided with Walkers' Britain & Europe (15 days): From Machico, known as the island's first settlement, this extended, flexible itinerary combines hikes across the whole island for a deeper insight into Madeira's ever-changing landscapes – from volcanic ridges to peaceful valleys and dramatic Atlantic coastlines. Departs daily until end of October, from £2,030pp
• NEW! Capri and the Amalfi Coast Guided Walk with UTracks (8 days): From the vibrant streets of Naples and the elegance of Capri to a walk to the crater of Mount Vesuvius, the ruins of Pompeii and the dramatic Amalfi Coast, this new walking holiday showcases the very best of southern Italy through a series of rewarding day walks. Departs 5-12 July, 27 Sept-4 Oct and 25 Oct-1 Nov, from £1,432pp.
• NEW! Azerbaijan Highlights guided tour with World Expeditions (8 days): A land shaped by Silk Road trade, this new trip reveals Azerbaijan's contrasts – from the Caspian coast and Baku's ancient walled city to the snow tipped Caucasus foothills, mud volcanoes and ancient petroglyphs. Departs daily until end of December, from £1,790pp.
• NEW! Best of Nova Scotia by Bike self-guided with World Expeditions (8 days): Following historic railway corridors, this new cycling tour moves through charming harbour towns, open valleys, and landscapes shaped by centuries of maritime and Acadian life, with highlights including the Rum Runners and Harvest Moon Trails, UNESCO World Heritage sites and the postcard-perfect Peggy's Cove. Weekly departures until end of September, from £2,290pp.

A New Team Member – Lizzie Cooper, UK PR Manager
This month, the World Expeditions UK office welcomes a new PR Manager, Lizzie Cooper. Lizzie will be overseeing the UK PR for the group, as well as European and North American PR for Walkers' Britain & Europe. Lizzie will be sharing regular news and updates as well as getting out to meet the media at various events and looks forward to discussing adventurous press trip ideas with journalists and influencers for 2026 and beyond! She can be reached on pr@worldexpeditions.co.uk.

For more information and bookings please contact:

World Expeditions: www.worldexpeditions.com, 0800 0744 135/+44 (0) 20 8875 5060

UTracks: www.utracks.com, 0800 0744 135/+44 (0) 20 8875 5069

Walkers' Britain & Europe: www.walkersbritain.co.uk, 0800 008 7741/+44 (0) 20 8875 5070

Coast to Coast Packhorse: www.c2cpackhorse.co.uk, +44 (0)1768 371777

Sherpa Van: www.sherpavan.com, +44 (0)1748 826917

* Travel to the starting point and from the finishing point of each trip not included in trip prices *

- Ends -

PR/media contacts:

World Expeditions | UTracks | Walkers' Britain & Europe  | Coast to Coast Packhorse  | Sherpa Van

020 8875 5060

Lizzie Cooper pr@worldexpeditions.co.uk

Gordon Steer gordon@worldexpeditions.co.uk

Els van Veelen els@walkersbritain.co.uk

Carina Lightbody carina.lightbody@phsv.co.uk

Notes for editors:

• One of the first operators in what has become a popular area in travel, since 1975 World Expeditions has established itself as a leader in adventure holidays and cultural journeys.
• Meticulously designed for those travellers who want to 'take the paths less travelled', more than 1,200 stand-alone itineraries are available across its portfolio, spanning all continents.
• Always innovative, it was the first travel company to offer cycling holidays in India (1977), China (1978) and Vietnam (1990) and trekking trips in Mongolia (1980), Tibet (1981) and Japan (1999).
• As of 2011 it is the only commercial company to offer the 150-day Nepal traverse of the Great Himalaya Trail, while in 2019 it became the first operator to offer selected sections of the Transcaucasian Trail in Georgia and Armenia.
• An advocate of responsible travel, World Expeditions operates exclusive eco-campsites in the Himalaya (Everest, Annapurna) and Australia (Red Centre, Tasmania).
• The European division of World Expeditions, active holiday specialists UTracks and Walkers' Britain & Europe, offers walking and cycling trips in more than 40 countries.
• World Expeditions remains independently owned and a truly global company, with seven offices around the world, including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
• In total, the World Expeditions Travel Group consists of 18 travel brands, also including Australian Walking Holidays, Great Canadian Trails and On Water Expeditions.