HF Holidays News Release 09 September 2021

HF HOLIDAYS DONATES OVER £50,000 TO MOUNTAIN RESCUE SERVICES AND LOCAL PATHWAYS REPAIR PROJECTS FOR 2021

HF'S PATHWAYS FUND SUPPORTS ESSENTIAL WALKWAY RESTORATION AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT TO SERVICES AND ROUTES NEAR TO THEIR COUNTRY HOUSES

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 on 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.

2021 Projects include:

ABERDYFI SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM

HF Holidays was delighted to be able to support a local rescue team near to its own country house in Dolgellau, Snowdonia which brings many walkers and holiday makers to the area.  The donation is to help with the vital search and rescue service the Aberdyfi SART provide, and the reassurance it gives to walkers and climbers around the area; many of whom holiday with HF Holidays throughout the year. 

Funds amounting to £16,582 will be greatly welcomed. The money will be used to replace their existing analogue radio system to a digital one to improve quality and scope, enabling the team to provide their service with better communications over a wider area coverage.

On receiving the recent Pathways Fund donation Aberdyfi SaRT members, Ian Pilcher, Fundraising Officer and Graham O'Hanlan, Treasurer, visited the local HF Holidays country house and the Team to demonstrate the new equipment and speak with guest walkers.

“This has been a fantastic boost to our project at a time when fundraising opportunities for the Team have been severely restricted and money is tight all around." said team Treasurer Graham O'Hanlon. "We know that there are lots of deserving causes out there and are grateful that HF chose to support us. This money will enable us to build a robust digital communications network to move us forwards in our operational communications in the years to come."

Aberdyfi SaRT, Ian Pilcher, Fundraising Officer

BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (BRWT) received a donation of £7,000 to help with the vital services the BMRT provide, and the reassurance it gives to walkers and climbers around the area; many of whom holiday with HF Holidays throughout the year. 

The money will be used to purchase essential safety equipment and clothing for team members including 60 safety helmets, waterproof trousers, and buoyancy aids. The team is involved in rescuing climbers and hill walkers who get into difficulty, as well as assisting the police in searching for vulnerable missing persons in the Brecon Beacons National Park and beyond.

The BMRT's Fundraiser Kevin Harding, recently visited Nythfa House in Brecon to recognise the generous donation and is often involved in supporting the house by providing safety talks to HF Holidays guests, walking in the National Park.

Kevin Harding said: “Brecon Mountain Rescue Team are grateful to HF Holidays for supporting the team by granting funds for the team to purchase essential safety equipment. This is great news for our voluntary search and rescue team. HF Holidays have done us proud, and we value greatly the partnership that has developed between our organisations.”

KIRKBY STEPHEN MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team was the third mountain rescue team to receive funds to the sum of £6,300 from HF Holidays.  The donation is to help with the vital search and rescue service

KSMRT provide, and the reassurance it gives to walkers and climbers around the area; many of whom holiday with HF Holidays throughout the year and stay at their nearby country house, Thorns Hall in Sedbergh. 

The funds have been used to purchase essential equipment including Pulse Oximeters to carefully monitor casualties, an additional ECG Monitor, a lightweight Titanium stretcher and CAA Drone Pilot training for 6 potential pilots.

On receiving the recent Pathways Fund donation KSMRT members, Peter Miller, Treasurer & Trustee and John Murray, Team member (as well as an HF Holidays Leader), and Jim Wardrope, Medical Officer, visited HF Holidays country property, Thorns Hall, Sedbergh to recognise the generous donation.

Peter Miller commented: “This donation will make a huge difference to our ability to find and treat casualties in the hills, enabling us to keep up with new search technologies, along with better methods for patient care and easier ways of transporting them. The titanium stretcher, which is considerably lighter than our current models, has already proved its worth in the evacuation of a casualty with a lower limb injury near Kirkby Stephen.”

Further 2021 projects include:

COTSWOLD WAY ASSOCIATION – LECKHAMPTON HILL

HF Holidays' Pathway Fund has funded a major project on the Cotswolds Way to improve accessibility to enable better passage for wheelchair and mobility scooter users and families with pushchairs.  The section of repair will take place at the Leckhampton Hill escarpment area of outstanding natural beauty, which is barely passable and has resulted in the passers-by having to use a neighbouring SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) which is not only causing damage but increasing the risk of minor injuries.

The completed project will allow ALL users (walkers, families and disabled users) to have access to the majority of the Leckhampton Hill escarpment. Essentially it will involve re-ramping, smoothing and grading a 2-3-metre-wide path on both sides of the gates. The work will involve some 150 tonnes of limestone dust and Cotswold stone and is expected to cost £7,500. Works will commence 13 September 2021 and in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Cotswold Way celebrations later this month, and will be made in accordance with Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire Public Rights of Way Office specifications

YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY – COAST TO COAST

The Wainwright's Coast to Coast route has become one of the most popular long-distance trails in England and is a popular classic trail for HF Holidays guests and leaders. The Pathways Fund is supporting repairs to Aunty John's Coast to Coast restoration, a section just west of Keld Village. 

This restoration project is now in its second phase following previous works in May 2019 when the Pathways Fund donated £14,480 to restore sections of the walking route. This latest phase and further donation of £6,940 will see 160 linear metres of reclaimed stone flags being laid across wet areas of the moor and restoring around 110 metres of shallow drainage ditches to allow another section to drain as before to restore a natural grass surface to create further hardwearing surfaced sections across sensitive parts of this very popular long distance walking route.

For more 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
• Founded in 1913, HF Holidays is the largest UK travel Co-operative Society.
• HF Holidays has 17 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.
• 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: Which? Recommended Provider for Escorted Tours status 2018 - 2021, Feefo Platinum Service Award in 2019, 2020 & 2021, Silver Travel Awards Best Activity Tour Operator 2020, British Travel Awards Silver Small Best Special Interest Holiday Company 2020, AWTE Company of the Year 2019, Staycation Award for Family Friendly Venue 2019, Telegraph Travel Awards Runner Up 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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