The Wayfarers - Walking Vacations

Five Reasons to take a Walking Vacation This Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:54:00 +0000

The New Year dawns! What better time to decide where to go this year (metaphorically and in reality) and how to get there. At The Wayfarers we believe in taking your vacation one step at a time and here are five good reasons to do so:

1. Walking is the oldest form of human travel and making a journey on foot connects us to our past and allows us to deeply absorb the 'where' of 'where we are'.

2. Walking is good for you. Plenty of scientific studies exist to prove what your body already tells you when you take a good walk! Walking energizes the body and spirit by improving calorie burn, self-confidence and a sense of well-being. If getting in better shape is one of your New Year's Resolutions, then the incentive of taking a walking vacation later in the year gives a good reason to make fitness a priority! Many Wayfarers travelers say that a walking vacation also provides a boost to stay fit on returning home.

3. Walking is good for the environment. Traveling ancient routes not accessible by car and visiting old villages, historic monuments and World Heritage sites on foot - all minimises your impact on the destination and maximises the chance of authenticity.

4. Walking is social. Ambling along a path allows for talking and comfortable silences in equal measure. A walking vacation group soon becomes a small band of friends; couples, families and singles mingle with ease.

5. Walking is pleasurable. The physical act of placing one foot in front of the other repeatedly is soothing and meditative. You get a rhythm going and the stress of everyday life dissipates.

We invite you to join us on the trail in 2012!

Cinque Terre - Life is Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:27:00 +0000

Words by Marina Grego, Pictures by Various Wayfarers!

I love the Cinque Terre Walk for many reasons.

First of all, the area where we walk streches along the Mediterranean Sea.

The landscape is beautiful and the vegetation too.

The brooms and the jasmine bloom in Springtime.

The Autum the leaves colors give a gold shade everywhere.

The fishermans villages are picturesque : every house has a different color,

so it is possible to recognize it from a far distance in the sea.

All in the palette of red , orange , jellow , rusty ...

The food is special and delicious. The cuisine is based on the local products:

the anchovies ( marinated with herbs ) , the pine nuts , the "borragine " ( a green vegetable like chard but more delicate ), the octopus with potatoes , the olive oil and the "limoncello "

( lemon liquer ) ....simplicity and creativity.

I could go on with memories , dreaming.

Colorado Dreaming

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:28:00 +0000

The Wayfarers' New Walk in Colorado - September 30 - October 6, 2012

by Julie Johnson

Last weekend I found myself standing a few feet away from real dinosaur prints, about 100 million years old. There were big ones, and little ones, and I reached over to put my hand on top of one. Wow, I thought, this is fabulous – these are the first dinosaur prints ever found in North America! I walked up to the top of the hill and around the corner and saw the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a naturally acoustic theatre created about 250 million years ago. I remembered the first time I stood on the Red Rocks stage, right where Bono, B.B. King, Elton John, the Beatles and so many of my favorites have performed. The valley between the amphitheatre and where I stood was lined with ranches, some as old as 1860. And as I turned back to my walk on Dinosaur Ridge, I got really excited about the prospect of showing all this to The Wayfarers’ in 2012 for the first ever Wayfarers’ Colorado walk. I put together an itinerary that would be amazing, filling our week in Colorado with my favorite spots.

Colorado is a vast state with lots to offer, so it wasn’t easy to whittle the trip down to one week. Here’s what I decided. First, we go to the beautiful Evergreen area to hike in one of the locals’ favorite trail systems in Jefferson County Open Space. The trails are lined with aspen trees which should be bright yellow in the fall, contrasting nicely with the view of the Continental Divide. Evergreen is one of the first spots in Colorado to host tourism – we’ll be staying in the oldest (and sweetest!) lodge in town, the Bears Inn. On our way to our next town, we stop at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Dinosaur Ridge to get an up close view of one of Colorado’s prettiest and most interesting areas.

Then we head to my home turf, Boulder, where I am the cultural resource manager for the city’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP). Boulder is graced with one of three of the nation’s remaining Chautauquas, a cultural and educational complex from the 19th century in continuous use in it’s original structures. We’ll hike from the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) along a beautiful mesa into the Chautauqua, where walkers will stay at the Mission Lodge. This is truly a special place – I can’t wait to show it to my guests! OSMP has preserved 45,000 acres of land around Boulder, including mountains and plains with about 145 miles of trails in the system. We’ll hike in this glorious location with a naturalist who will tell us about the ecology of our unique ‘ecotone.’ We’ll also meet some ranchers whose families have been farming in the Boulder area since 1860. (We’ll probably even meet some horses and kittens while we’re at the ranch….).

We end the week at the beautiful Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, where we will hike one of my favorite trails at my favorite time of year. It doesn’t get any better than hiking in the fall near Estes Park, unless, of course, you find a ghost during a ghost hunt at the Stanley Hotel.

It will be a wonderful week -- I can’t wait to share it with you!

Join The Wayfarers in Colorado - September 30 - October 6, 2012

Get Fit for the Coast to Coast Walk - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:41:00 +0000

Steph Crabb, Wayfarers Office Staffer, has been busy preparing for her Coast to Coast Walk next month. The Walk is rated 5 and covers up to 15 miles per day on sometimes hilly terrain on foot. Steph wasn't unfit to begin with, but felt that some additional fitness training ahead of her Walk would help her get the maximum enjoyment out of her Walk experience. We asked Steph to fill us in on how she has been progressing with her custom Fit for Trips program.

The Wayfarers : So, Steph, what have you been doing these past weeks to prepare for your Walk?

Steph Crabb: I started with three walks per week of between three and four miles. I gradually increased this with an additional five to six mile walk at the weekend. Now I am walking eight to 10 miles at the weekend. I've also borrowed a friend's running machine to use in case of really wet weather!

TW: How has your Fit for Trips program factored in to your preparation?

Steph: Marcus of Fit for Trips advised a routine to include carrying a backpack with some weight to increase my stamina over the same mileage. Marcus advised the initial walk schedule and exercises.

TW: Have you noticed a difference in how you are feeling overall?

Steph: Yes, my fitness has definitely improved and my weight has dropped. After a short time of following the program I was already feeling more energized.

TW: Have you been doing any other specific exercises?

Steph: I do some warm-up and cool-down stretches as recommended in the program and I make sure my walks cover a varied terrain. I am fortunate to live in an area that offers a lot of varied walking, but if I hadn't the program gives many suggested exercises to mimic the demands of a varied terrain. The length of time it takes me to walk the same distances is improving all the time.

TW: Are there any other benefits you've noticed?

Steph: In additon to having slimmer waistline?! I've been feeling more energized. I've been getting up early to walk and my sister has been joining me which has been a bonus! We've both enjoyed the early morning walking and talking. It is such a nice time of day! My husband and I have been walking together at weekends, covering longer distances each time. We have been finding new trails in our area that we would have never explored without the incentive of this program.

TW: Would you recommend this type of program for others?

Steph: Yes, definitely! I'm feeling more confident and I am determined to continue my routine when I return from my Walk.

Not only has the fitness training improved my personal confidence, I'm not worrying each day's walking on my upcoming Coast to Coast walk. I'm looking forward to it with a great deal of excitement and anticipation!

TW: Thanks Steph - we look forward to catching up with you on the trail in a few weeks!

Scone Wars - Walking the Line in Devon and Cornwall

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:26:00 +0000

Picture by Angus Begg

By Mike Knutton

There's always been much more than the River Tamar separating Devon and Cornwall, the two English counties jutting out into the Atlantic in the extreme southwest of the country. Traditionally remote from the rest of Britain, they bounced their prejudices off each other and promoted their perceived superiority in areas of human endeavour as diverse as rugby, Celtic credentials, pasties...and now, cream teas.

The scone war has been bubbling beneath the surface, but with a gentlemanly stand-off, for decades. Now, however, the Devonians have fired a provocative broadside by launching a campaign to have the name “Devon cream tea” protected---a bit like wine---within the European Union under what are known as the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) rules.

Never slow to respond to forays from “up country” the Cornish, who already have PDO status for their clotted cream and pilchards (mature sardines) and will brook no challenge to the Cornish pasty, have ridiculed the Devonians for what they claim to be very basic and crucial error in the make-up of the Devon cream tea.

All cream teas worthy of the name are a combination of scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam. According to the Cornish, a cream tea consists of a sliced scone with each half spread with jam and then topped with a “gurt dollop” of clotted cream. Devonians, however, part company after the split scone, and insist that the cream should go on the scone before the jam. On-line voting gave Cornwall 57.4% for jam first and clotted cream on top with Devon trailing with 42.6%. An inquiry at the Ritz Hotel in London supported the Cornish case. Executive general manager (no less) David Collas confirmed that “we at The Ritz, London, would prefer to encourage the 'jam then cream' option as this is the traditional method of preparing scones.”

Now, you may think this is all a storm in a cream tea cup, and indeed after it all passes the gullet it matters little, but so much is at stake that reams and reams of fiery correspondence have been passing through the ether. Ex-pats and tourists wax lyrical as they recall their cream tea experiences in the two counties, but here at The Wayfarers, we decline to take sides. All we would say is join us on our Cornish and Devon walks - or our Pentillie Castle Walk which straddles both counties! - and make up your own mind. Or indeed, join us on any of our walking vacations in the UK as each and every one includes a cream tea.

Coast to Coast in England - A Journey Less Ordinary!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:11:00 +0000

Pictures by Dave Robertson

Editor's Note: Dave and Marilyn Robertson recently returned from the Coast to Coast Walk in England - a trip they arranged to mark their thirty years' wedding anniversary. Thank you, Dave and Marilyn, for sharing your walk experiences and your photos!

She said.... by Marilyn Robertson

The Wayfarer’s call the Coast to Coast Walk a “trip of a lifetime.” I call it a dream come true. Six days of walking through “dingly dales” and lovely pastures, seven charming, quintessentially English hotels and delicious food four times a day! What could be better?

I love the magical moments the The Wayfarer’s include in each trip. One such moment was standing overlooking Lake Windemere, listening to Alan read poems from Wordsworth, whose house we had just visited. Others included my first bite of Wensleydale cheese; watching Alan stare down a bull so we could all cross the pasture safely; seeing a steam engine puffing through the countryside, as we stood high on the hill we had just climbed; seeing Bill and Geraldine emerge over a stone wall and knowing our bountiful and well-deserved, snack was not far off. But my favorite moment by far, was crossing the moor in silence to better appreciate the utter stillness. It was truly a spiritual moment for me and I will carry the memory with me to remember when life gets crazy.

Alan, Bill and Geraldine, our walk leader and managers were wonderful hosts who provided insight, assistance and fun during our walk. Our group was very special for me as we were joined by a friend from our last Wayfarer’s walk. This trip gave us the opportunity to become even closer. Of course, new friends were also made with other walkers on our second trip, as we shared stories and compared blisters.

I have been waiting to take this walk since my last trip with The Wayfarers to Scotland, four years ago. I don’t plan to wait four more years for my next trip! Let’s see, should it be Slovenia or the Ring of Kerry or….

He Said...by Dave Robertson

When I was in high school and in college, I was very fortunate to be able to travel around the world. From camping out in the country side in Great Britain while in high school, to taking tours with my parents throughout Europe, to living in Italy for a year, I was able to experience numerous different ways to travel abroad.

For our 25th wedding anniversary, my wife Marilyn suggested that we take a Wayfarers Walking tour. Perhaps to appease me and to make the likelihood of taking the trip more possible, Marilyn suggested that we take the Loch Lomand, Scotland Western Isles tour with the Wayfarers since my heritage is Scottish and Welsh. Of course, I agreed. Marilyn took care of all of the details, and ultimately, off we went.

For our 30th wedding anniversary, we have just taken the Wayfarers' England Coast to Coast walking tour.

The reason I mention my traveling experiences above is to state that the Wayfarers tours provide you with an experience that you cannot duplicate by creating your own trip, or by taking standard major city tours. The Wayfarer's tour guides and managers are wonderful people who will bend over backwards to make sure that your experience is perfectly suited for you. They know everything about everything on your tour; from the historical significance of the region, to the types of flowers that you see along your walk. They take you through fields, hills, and dales that you would never see but for their walking tours.

The Wayfarers guides also create special moments that are unique to their walking tours. Whether it be walking quietly through the Yorkshire dales so as not to disturb the grouse that will soon be hunted by English royalty, or ending a tour at a local pub that serves the best beer in the region, the Wayfarers will make sure that you maximize your experience.

As to travel arrangements, The Wayfarers Travel Agency in the US office will make sure that your airfare and/or train travel and/or bus travel is perfectly planned for you. And ultimately, the walks are so spectacular that you will end up with memories that will stay with you forever. I hope that the photographs that I have taken will give you a better understanding of the beauty that you will experience on a Wayfarer's tour.

Marilyn and I are now planning our next Wayfarer's tour. We can't wait.

Great Expectations in the Czech Republic

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:04:00 +0000

By Charlene Toews

When I signed up to take the Czech Walk I really wasn’t sure what to expect. While I had taken 4 or 5 walks in different parts of Europe, they were all self-guided, with simply a support vehicle to move my luggage from day to day. I wasn’t sure what a guided walk would give me that would be worth the price. As the price difference was substantial, it wasn’t totally clear to me when I booked that I would really receive value for my money.

So I started the Czech Walk with more than a little trepidation. Let me say right now that I received FAR more than my money’s worth! I had expected that the guide would simply lead the walk and make sure that we didn’t get lost. Jana Kotalovka did much more than that (all the Wayfarers Guides do as I have since discovered)

Jana is incredibly knowledgeable about history and art, and architecture—and shared all her expertise with us, informally, if we wished, as we walked. She didn’t push her knowledge on anyone. By doing this she enriched the walking experience immeasurably for me. In addition, when we asked her questions about what her life was like growing up under Communism, she was more than willing to tell us about it. I think it was the sharing of her personal experiences that made the trip a very special one for me.

Of course the countryside on this and every walk has been carefully chosen, and every day we had beautiful walks. But I was also amazed by the villages and towns and their fantastic architecture. So much Renaissance history was present that has long since been lost in the West.(one town had a stunning Renaissance painted metal well cover).

I realized that on my previous European hikes I had simply walked through a place - with Jana as our guide, I could experience it. She gave layers of depth, meaning, and context to what we were seeing. In fact I was actually so entranced with the town of Cesky Krumlov that I took a day off hiking and spent the day wandering through the town. Lenka (Walk Manager) kindly came back with the van and took me to the farmhouse lunch that was scheduled that day (and the food was always outstanding on this trip!) It was nice that within the context of a group hike everyone had as much individual freedom as much as could be arranged within logistical imperatives.

Another little unexpected bonus was that we took some short little train rides. It was fun to walk to a little country station out in the middle of nowhere and hop on a—to me, antique train for a short ride to someplace else. I think we did this only twice, but it was very, very enjoyable.

But Jana was definitely the highlight of the trip for me and enhanced the trip beyond all my expectations. It was truly a revelation to me how much a good guide can enhance a walking trip.

Pentillie Castle - Prepare for something Special

noreply@blogger.com (The Wayfarers) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:58:00 +0000

Pentillie Castle

The Wayfarers trip to Pentillie Castle is something quite new and different, instead of wayfaring along from one place to another we going to stay put in one sumptuous place for the whole six nights. Each day we branch out and explore a different place, with options for walking more and alternative activities for guests who don't wish to walk every day.

We plan each detail of every walk with a close cooperation between Walk Leader and one of the Founders of the company. To prepare the special week at Pentillie Castle, Walk Leader Muff Dudgeon worked with Founder Michael West.

Pentillie Castle will be for the exclusive use of our small group for a whole wonderful week! Here are some additional highlights of the itinerary:

Visit to Cotehele, a fascinating medieval house in extensive grounds with a restored working water mill
Walk and visit to Tavistock, an ancient Stannary Town (meaning the town was authorised to stamp and weigh tin coinage), stopping for an authentic Devon Cream Tea
A day spent walking the trails of Dartmoor, taking in the beautifully rugged landscape which inspired the Hound of the Baskervilles
A scenic train ride, and a walk on the Tavy estuary ending at a 16th century pub, voted one of Britain's 50 best pubs by The Independent's 'Information' Magazine

If all that does not whett your appetite then we're lost for words. Ask for our brochure or log into our website to see more on Pentillie Castle.

Get Fit for the Coast to Coast Walk - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:56:00 +0000

Steph in the office and on the trail in Ireland last year. Next stop - Coast to Coast in England!

Our Wayfarers' UK Office staffer, Steph Crabb, works hard all year long keeping our accounts straight in the Operations Office. This September 3, she is thrilled to be joining our Coast to Coast Walk. Steph leads a busy life and doesn't have time to walk hours each day to get ready for her cross country hike with The Wayfarers. She would like to improve her overall fitness as part of her preparation for the trip so she can spend the her walk enjoying the scenery and getting the most out of every mile. Steph will be following a Fit for Trips online fitness program for the next 8 weeks to help her prepare for the Walk. In this new series, we will check in with Steph to see her progress as she prepares for her Walk and catch up with her on the trail in September!

We talked to Steph to find out a little bit more about her plans for the trip and fitness goals.

The Wayfarers: Steph, what are you most looking forward to on the Coast to Coast Walk?

Steph Crabb: It was one of the first Walks that caught my eye when I joined the company five years ago.The whole adventure that I will experience from Grange over Sands across three National Parks ending in Whitby looks very exciting. I walked in Ireland - Ring of Kerry - last year and two of the guests on that trip, Barbara and Brian, absolutely raved about the Coast to Coast Walk.

TW: So you chose to Walk in Ireland last year, not picking the Coast to Coast trip? Why was that? Were you intimidated by the challenge of the Coast to Coast Walk?

Steph: Yes! I thought Ireland would be a good start for me. I had never done this sort of trip before. And also, for a long time I have wanted to visit Southern Ireland. The scenery was breathtaking. The Irish hospitality and food - wonderful! Alan and Geraldine (Walk Leader and Manager) gave such a insightful history in each area we covered.

TW: Do you feel you are a fairly fit person?

Steph: I'm constantly busy, but I definitely need to put more exercise into my routine and planning for the Coast to Coast Walk is giving me the motivation to do this in preparation.

TW: Have you signed up for your Fit for Trips online program?

Steph: Yes - it was very straight forward. Marcus made me feel welcome and is preparing my fitness plan. In the meantime I'm walking several times a week at home in the evenings with my husband and gradually building up my stamina.

TW: Thank you very much, Steph! We'll catch up with you again in a few weeks to see how you are enjoying your Fit for Trips training for the Coast to Coast Walk!
**************************

Fit for Trips 8 week custom fitness programs - come free with all of our 4 and 5 rated Walks in 2011. (a $169 value)

We have a few spaces left on our Coast to Coast Walk - September 3 - if you would like to join Steph on the trail!

Coast to Coast - do you feel over-rated?

noreply@blogger.com (The Wayfarers) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:37:00 +0000

Fitness and Walk Ratings are two subjects that come up frequently at the offices of The Wayfarers and we'd like to hear your feedback on them...

Fitness Levels: we actually have our own Steph, European Accounts Manager, going on the Coast to Coast walk in September and she's started her training, not because she's unfit, but because she wants to enjoy the walk to its maximum. Later this week, we will be posting the first in our series following Steph's progress to prepare.

We'd like to hear more about what you do to get fit for one of our walks. Do you know bout the Fit forTrips program, are we doing enough to prepare you, do you think you're fit enough?
Walk Rating System: We can give many facts and figures about our Walks, but we have found over the years that gauging the physical challenge of each Walk is subjective. We rate our Walks in relation to each other, based on distance and terrain and feedback from the field.
After many years of using a 1-3 rating system, this year we decided, based on consistent feedback from Walk Leaders, Managers and guests, to change to a 1-5 rated system for the sake of clarity and greater precision. The Coast to Coast is one of the most vigorous Walks we operate and it is also a firm favorite with our guests. Although we have given it a rating of 5 on the new Walk Rating System, it isn't any more difficult than it was in previous years.

Have we done enough to explain our new Walk Rating System? Do you think you can manage a Level 5 walk like the Coast to Coast or would you find a Level 1 walk too easy?

We depend on the feedback we get from Walk Alumni - our Wayfaring Friends (Walk Alumni) and Prospective Friends. We look forward to hearing from you!

Scrapbooking with The Wayfarers

noreply@blogger.com (The Wayfarers) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:06:00 +0000

We going to start a new section on our Blog, it's going to be about what you can do with our website.

Did you know our website can...

Write Reviews
on ANY of our walks... when you get back from that wonderful vacation, you can just head over to your Account and view a list of all the walks you have been on^*. Select the one you wish to review and drop us a line.

We'd love to hear your experiences...
Share Photos
We've built into our website a really simple way for you to share your photos. Visit any Walk you like or have been on and select 'Scrapbook' from the left hand menu.

You can write a short snippet or add a link to your Facebook Album, or Flickr account or ANY link you like... that relates to the trip, for example, an article you've seen on the New York Times.

And don't worry we have all the privacy issues covered, you can choose to share your scrapbooking with just people who've been on the same walk as you, just members of The Wayfarers or with everyone.

Wayfarers Friends are starting to return from their vacations; we have just completed the Founders Walk in Alsace and that will be running again on the 4th of September.

* If the Walk you've just taken is not listed when you log into your Wayfarers' website account, contact us and we'll add it.

Walk this Way - On the trail with Wayfarer Glen Sullivan

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:08:00 +0000

Photos by Ellen Barone

We caught up with Wayfarer, Glen Sullivan, recently returned from his 15th trip, to find out what keeps him coming back!

The Wayfarers: Can you tell me a bit about yourself, how and when you first heard about The WAyfarers and what was special about your first walk?

Glen Sullivan: In college, I'd done a semester abroad in England, and really wanted to go back, but didn't have the chance until I was in my mid-30's. Just as was planning my return, I saw an article in the Travel section of the L.A. Times that talked about The Wayfarers -- this was way back in 1985, The Wayfarers second season in business. The description sounded delightful, and I signed up. I found that The Wayfarers walks were a wonderful combination of nature, landscape, culture, and exercise. What I specifically remember is Founder Chris Hague telling us all week that on Friday we'd have an amazing hilltop view down onto Salisbury and the magnificent 800 ft. spire of Salisbury Cathedral. Of course, on Friday it was raining cats & dogs and you couldn't see 100 yards in front of yourself. They eventually rescued us from the exposed ridgeline and drove us into Salisbury in the van .

TW: What is your favorite Walk and why?

Glen: I hesitate to "rank" Walks -- I've done 15 and never had a bad one. But the Cornwall walk does stand out for its natural beauty. The coastal path is stunning, especially if you like seacoast scenes, and on my walk we had wonderful sunny days that really added to the views.

TW: What is the funniest thing that has ever happened on a Walk?

Glen: Well, there was the high-powered lawyer from Washington, walking right in front of me, who thought he could leap over a big puddle, but had his feet slide out in front of him and did a classic solid backdive into the big puddle. Caked in mud. Then there was Alan Pinkney crouched down, running through a field of mature crop, sticking his head up from time to time, so only his head was all you could see across a sea of green (and that's how the photo came out).

TW: How have the Walks enriched your understanding and appreciation of the places you've visited?

Glen: You get to see "up close and personal" a lot of the traditional aspects of life in other countries, especially countryside living. Like the Dartmoor/Exmoor walk I did this June, when we visited the workshop of two women who make traditional Devon mud bricks and build things with them -- and also use this craft to create modern artwork.
TW: Where do you want to Walk next and why?

Glen: I'm not sure. I thought I had conquered the world and could die happy the day in 2009 when I put my toes in the North Sea, having walked every step of the challenging Coast-to-Coast Walk. But life goes on, and so does the fun. Maybe Loch Lomond and the Western Isles are on my wish list because I've never been to that bit of Britain, although I've been to a lot of places in Britain.

South Africa Airfare Sale - Book by June 21

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:23:00 +0000

SAA has put South Africa on sale!
HURRY, book by June 21st!

Take advantage of these incredibly low fares to South Africa and experience rich culture, beautiful scenery, exotic wildlife, majestic vineyards, delicious cuisine and so much more. As a matter of fact, Cape Town was recently selected as the #1 destination in the entire world by TripAdvisor®! And there is no better way to get there than on SAA.

Fly from New York/Washington to Johannesburg or Cape Town for $1,080* roundtrip (excludes taxes & fees). With our award-winning in-flight service, you will feel like you are in South Africa the moment you step onboard.

Contact Wendy Houle, The Wayfarers Travel Desk, for more information: 1-800-611-4763

Book The Wayfarers' South Africa - Wonders of the Western Cape Trip and get Wendy's expert Travel Service for Free. (Offer for all new reservations as of June 2011)

We Have a Winner for the South Africa Competition!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:19:00 +0000

Martin and Camille in 1994 on their first Wayfarers Walk - in Wales!

Congratulations to Martin Begley of Oregon! Martin was the first person to correctly answer our 'South Africa Big five' Contest question correctly and wins a Wayfarers logo sunhat.

A seasoned Wayfarer, Marty plans to wear his hat on his next walking vacation with The Wayfarers in Sicily later this year. He says, " We started Wayfaring in 1994 as a reward to my caregiver (Camille) and self in surviving a bone marrow transplant after struggling with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a couple of years. While in the hospital during that time I had read Peter Mayle’s “A Year in Provence”, in knowing I enjoyed the thought of slowly absorbing the European countryside, Camille saw a Wayfarer’s ad in Sunset Magazine; so, why not? Interestingly, nine walks later (with two more coming in October), we still haven’t done the Provence Walk. Maybe, the free one after a dozen completed? How fitting!"

Marty's correct answer to the contest question:

Q: How many and which of the Big Five can you see in the video (see previous blog post for video).

A: 1-Rhino, 7-Elephants, 1-Water Buffalo, 2-Lions, and zero Leopards!

Join The Wayfarers in South Africa in November for your chance to see some of the Big Five in their natural habitat.

Competition - Watch the South Africa Video

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Get a glimpse and win a prize.

Watch the South Africa Video for your chance to win a prize.

How many and which of the Big Five can you count in this fast moving video of Pictures taken on a Wayfarers' South Africa trip?

The first person to send a correct answer will win a logo sun hat from our Get Ready to Walk Shop. Simply contact is via the website or send an email to photos@thewayfarers.com.

Find out more about our South Africa Walking Tours.

Happy Feet - Swinton Spa Walking Massage

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:04:00 +0000

After a long day walking, what could be better than a foot massage tailored to ease and invigorate tired muscles? The Spa at the Swinton Park Hotel, half-way point on The Wayfarers Coast to Coast Walk in England, now offers a special Walking Massage to help keep feet happy. The treatment starts with bubbles in a foot spa with essential oils to revive your tired feet. You will then have a relaxing foot massage. To finish you will be treated to a spritz of Italian Vital Leg spray designed to refresh and invigorate your feet. This wonderful treat for feet will leave you relaxed and re-vitalised.

30 minutes - £25

Carrig Country House, Featured in The Wayfarers' Ring of Kerry Walk, Joins Ireland’s Blue Book

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Pictured from left: Mary Slattery, John Brennan (President of Ireland's Blue Book Collection), Frank Slattery and Head Chef Patricia.

Congratulations to Frank & Mary Slattery, owners of Carrig House, and their team at Carrig Country House Hotel for their recent membership in the prestigious Blue Book Collection. The Wayfarers' Ring of Kerry Walk in Ireland ends with two nights at the hotel. Of course you are more than welcome to extend your stay there!

President of Ireland’s Blue Book John Brennan announced at the association’s recent annual general meeting that Carrig Country House in Co. Kerry is the new addition to the Blue Book collection for 2011.

Brennan said “We are delighted to welcome Carrig Country House into the Blue Book collection. Set on the picturesque Caragh Lake, on the Ring of Kerry, Carrig Country House is a place where you can "escape from it all", relax and enjoy some of the most beautiful and unspoilt scenery in Ireland. It is a wonderful addition to the Blue Book collection.”

Founded in 1974 Ireland's Blue Book is a collection of Irish country house hotels, historic hotels, restaurants and castles. Included in the collection are Ballymaloe House, Dunbrody House, The Merrion Hotel and The Park Hotel Kenmare amongst others.

The award- winning Carrig Country House is owned by Frank & Mary Slattery. Originally built c. 1850 as a hunting lodge, Carrig House’s previous owners include Lady Cuffe, Lord Brockett Snr, Sir Aubrey Metcalf and Senator Arthur Rose Vincent before it was bought by Frank & Mary Slattery in 1996.

Commenting on their membership of the Blue Book collection, Frank Slattery said,

“We are delighted to be invited to join the Blue Book, whose members are household names and like, Carrig Country House, are dedicated to delivering a first- class service and a memorable hospitality experience to all of their guests”

According to Michelle Maguire, marketing manager with Ireland’s Blue Book,

“Whether you wish to just laze, read and sip an Irish whiskey by the open fire or partake in outdoor pursuits, such as golf, fishing, water sports, beach horse riding, hiking in the magnificent hills or tour the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, Killarney National Park or World Heritage site Skellig Michael, Carrig Country House is the ideal location.”

About Carrig Country House:

The award winning Carrig Country House is a 17 bedroom property set in 4 acres of gardens( 935 species ) that sweep down to it’s own private jetty on Caragh Lake, with stunning views across to the magnificent Mac Gillicuddy Reeks.

A former Victorian hunting lodge the AA five-diamond property is totally secluded yet central for exploring the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Killarney National Park or World Heritage site Skellig Michael. It is adjacent to many beautiful beaches and has 15 golf courses within a 1 hour drive. The nearest Dooks Golf Club ( 10mins. ).

It’s acclaimed Lakeside Restaurant offers an extensive menu featuring wonderful fresh fish from the nearby Atlantic and the best of Irish meat and vegetables from local farms.

Jane Eyre Movie Locations Feature in The Wayfarers 2011 UK Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Plus: Free Visit Britain/Yorkshire.com Guide to Planning Your Visit to Jane Eyre Country included in The Wayfarers iPad App

Long before this month’s release of director Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre) and screenwriter Moira Buffini’s (Tamara Drewe) bold new film version of Charlotte Brontë’s beloved Jane Eyre, The Wayfarers had created a seven-day walk through the wild heather-filled moors, towns and villages that inspired the Brontë sisters to create Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

In its exclusive Brontë Trail walk, The Wayfarers brings literature fans up close and personal with landmarks well-known from Jane Eyre. Walkers pass by North Lees Hall in Peak National Park, the private manor that inspired Charlotte to create Jane Eyre and which was used in various film adaptations as Thornfield Hall, where Jane works as governess for Mr. Rochester. The private guided tour of Haddon Hall will take on new meaning to movie fans this year, as the 12th-century medieval manor house is cast as Thornfield Hall on-screen in Focus Features’ Jane Eyre, which opens in New York and Los Angeles on March 11th and in additional cities throughout March.

The movie stars Mia Wasikowska as Jane, Michael Fassbender as Mr. Rochester, Jamie Bell, Golden Globe Award winner Sally Hawkins, Holliday Grainger, Tamzin Merchant, Imogen Poots, and Academy Award winner Judi Dench. Throughout the week-long program, walkers will discuss the novel and film with experts and also get the inside scoop on anecdotes from the filming of the new movie. The walk is scheduled June 19-25 and August 21-27 and is priced $3595 per person. To prepare walkers for their upcoming trip, The Jane Eyre Country Pocket Guide, produced by Visit Britain and Yorkshire.com to showcase the land that inspired the original Brontë novel and provides a backdrop to the new movie, is included in the free Wayfarers iPad and iTouch app, available from iTunes.

To be fully immersed in local culture and customs, The Wayfarers’ guests enjoy accommodations in rustic inns and manor houses and dine in traditional pubs and restaurant. Favoring small group sizes, most Wayfarers’ walks average 8-10 participants. Packages include all accommodations, meals and trail snacks, wine with dinner, entrance fees, guides, van transport for moving luggage and resting walkers, and all taxes and gratuities at hotels and restaurants.

Wayfarers’ Literary Walks

England: The Brontë Trail

The Brontë Trail explores the region that inspired Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë’s literary works in the 1800s. Beginning in Haworth and ending in Chatsworth, Jane Eyre fans will admire Britain’s most evocative literary landscapes including Yorkshire’s Haworth Village, home of the Brontë sisters. Named one of the “Top 50 Trips of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler, this walk features a visit to the Brontë Parsonage Museum, the Brontës’ childhood home, and the location where Charlotte Brontë penned Jane Eyre. The Victorian and Gothic spirit of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights is present throughout the region’s ruined farmhouses, picturesque valleys, and remote plains. Other highlights include tours of the literary- and film-inspiring North Lees and Haddon Halls (the latter seen on-screen in the bold new Jane Eyre movie opening this month) and an enlightening pre-dinner talk by Brontë expert Ann Dinsdale. Walk Rating: 2, Easy/Moderate.

Offered June 19-25, August 21-27. Priced $3,595; $420 Single Supplement.

Stride into 2011 - New Trips Filling Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:23:00 +0000

New Wayfarers’ Walks - 2011

England: Pentillie Castle

Visitors will live like lords with a six-night stay at the historic Pentillie Castle, which sits on the banks of the Tamar River and borders the counties of Devon and Cornwall. Among the walk’s many fascinating features are a stop at historic Plymouth, notable as the departure point for the Pilgrim Fathers; a visit to one of Sir Francis Drake’s former homes; and wild walking in Dartmoor, home of the “Hound of the Baskervilles,” and famed ponies. Non-walking breaks will find guests enjoying croquet or boules on the 2000-acre estate’s magnificent grounds or wandering through the expansive American Gardens and parklands which date from 1809. Rating: 1.

Offered September 18-24, October 2-8. Priced $3,895; $695 Single Supplement.

Wales: Pembrokeshire Coast

Walkers will meander along Wales’ 186-mile Pembrokeshire coast path and dine with the Welsh Poet Laureate Gillian Clarke, learning even more about the local land and seascape. Photography- and poetry-inspiring backdrops along the coastal path include panoramic views from rugged cliff tops and expansive beaches. A visit to the national cathedral of Wales in St. Davids, a 5000-year-old New Stone Age cromlech, and Dylan Thomas’ boathouse on the Teifi Estuary round out the highlights of this seven-day walk, which features guest host Pamela Petro, author and artist. The Wayfarers will treat guests to an overnight stay between the September 18 Snowdonia walk and the September 25 Pembrokeshire Coast walk if both walks are booked. Rating: 3.

Offered September 25-October 1. Priced $3,795; $535 Single Supplement.

France

: Alsace -- Founders’ Walk

Visitors will wine and dine their way along the renowned Alsace Wine Trail, tasting the best of Franco-Germanic cuisine and spirits amidst fairy-tale scenery. Walkers will trek through forests near Obernai and the Vosges Mountains, peer at the Black Forest in Germany from atop a medieval fortress, and visit the most concentrated area of feudal castles in Europe on this seven-day walk. The June 5-11 departure is hosted by The Wayfarers’ Co-Founders Christopher Hague and Michael West. Rating: 3.

Offered June 5-11 (Founders’), September 4-10. Priced $3,895; $575 Single Supplement.

Italy: The Dolomites

Those looking for a more challenging course will enjoy this seven-day walk through the northern Italian Alps which ventures through pastures, trails and riverside pathways while affording views of 9840-feet high snow-capped peaks and the Dolomites’ unusual pink-hued rock steeples. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Dolomites also takes walkers to lunch via cable car connection and an optional visit to an open-air World War I museum at Cinque Torri (Five Towers). The Wayfarers will treat guests to an overnight stay between the September 11 Dolomites Walk and the September 18 Venice and The Veneto Walk if both Walks are booked. Rating: 5.

Offered July 3-9, September 11-17. Priced $3,895; $535 Single Supplement.

Italy: Sicily- Agrigento, Marsala and the Isle of Mozia

Hosted by The Wayfarers’ Co-Founders Christopher Hague and Michael West, this walk tours Greek temple ruins in Segesta and Selinunte, explores the mountaintop town of Erice, and travels the remote coastal paths of the Zingaro Nature Reserve. Additional tour highlights include a visit to the famed Florio winery in Marsala, a privately chartered boat ride through Isola Grande, and lunch on Mozia, a former Phoenician colony. Rating: 3.

Offered October 2-8 (Founders’). Priced $3,995; $535 Single Supplement.

Also new this year, The Wayfarers offers a special Bella Sicilia Walk Package for those who book The Wayfarers’ two Sicily Walks (Agrigento, Marsala and the Isle of Mozia ¬– Oct. 2-8 and Ragusa, Siracusa and Mt. Etna – Oct. 9-15). Reflecting a $490 discount, the package also includes ground transportation between the walks and a one-night hotel stay at Cefalu. The package for the two-week program is priced at $7,500, with a $995 Single Supplement.

Also new, back-to-back UK/Scotland, Scotland/North Ireland, Wales, and Italy walks include a free overnight stay between walks.

Refreshed Wayfarers’ Walks – 2011

Several favorite walks have also been updated with exciting new features for 2011. The Jane Austen Country walk now features a private dinner at Chawton House at the very table used for meals by Jane and her friends; walkers can now visit Londonderry during the Northern Ireland: Giant’s Caus eway, The Glens of Antrim and Donegal walk; the itinerary for the Italy: Sicily- Ragusa, Siracusa and Mt Etna walk now includes Siracusa, Pantalica and Ortygia; and the beautiful New Mexico walk adds an additional day with two nights in magical Taos.

More information regarding the new 2011 walks and updated itinerary features can be found at www.thewayfarers.com.

Shake off the Winter Blues with a Wayfarers Reunion in Estes Park - March 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:26:00 +0000

Estes Park Getaway.... March 13 - 15, 2011

Hosted by Julie Johnson, The Wayfarers Alaska Walk Leader

With Veteran Wayfarer Walker Louise Halfpenny and Newport Team Leader Judy Allpress

Dear Friends,

I don’t know about you, but I find it so easy to give in to the winter blues…..it’s cold, it’s dark, all I want to do is curl up in a little ball and sleep until it’s time to pack up for my Wayfarers’ Alaska walk in August. But if I did that, I’d be missing some of the most beautiful months and recreation opportunities! So come join me in Estes Park, Colorado, one of my very favorite playgrounds. We will stay at the world famous Stanley Hotel and we’ll enjoy snowshoeing, ghost hunting, shopping and of course dining!

Here is our itinerary:

• We’ll meet Sunday afternoon, March 13th, in the lobby of the world famous Stanley Hotel for a Welcome Drink. If it isn’t too cold, we’ll enjoy the amazing view of the Rocky Mountains from the hotel’s veranda.

• That evening we ‘ll enjoy dinner at the Estes Park favorite, The Dunraven Inn. This restaurant has been owned and run by the same family for many years. Feast on some of their homemade pasta without guilt, as we’ll be snowshoeing in the morning!

• Intrepid Wayfarers who want to burn some of the calories from the previous evening’s meal will join me for several hours of snowshoeing. Don’t worry – no previous skills are needed – if you can walk, you can snowshoe and you’ll see the beauty of winter in the mountains as you never have before. If you don’t feel up to snowshoeing, the small town of Estes Park has some terrific year-round shopping opportunities and you’ll find the locals are very friendly!

• After lunch, we’ll be treated to an historic tour of the Stanley Hotel, which was built in 1910. Author Stephen King was inspired to write “The Shining” while he and his wife stayed in Room 217. King later directed the television version of the book which was filmed at the hotel. The tour is fun and you’ll learn about all the ghosts at the hotel…..don’t worry, they’re friendly, unless you’re staying in the Honeymoon Suite…..

• After the tour, we’ll convene for a Wine & Cheese hosted by The Wayfarers and a WALK TALK about our new trips for 2011 with a photo presentation. The Stanley is our venue for dinner in their cozy restaurant known for its cuisine.

• We leave the hotel Tuesday morning, but if you’d like to stay longer, there’s plenty to do in this beautiful area. If you need some suggestions, I’ll be happy to help!

Call or email our office in Newport, Rhode Island, to reserve your place on our Estes Park Winter Getaway. 1-800-249-4620 or walk-info@thewayfarers.com

Dates: March 13 - 15, 2011

Cost: $560 double occupancy or $ 745 for a single room

Includes:

* two nights at the Stanley Hotel

* welcome drink

* two dinners, one lunch, two breakfasts

* snowshoes rental

* transportation in Estes Park

* the ghost tour of the hotel

* services of trip leader

* all taxes and tips

The fee does NOT include transportation to and from Estes Park. If you are flying to Denver, a shuttle operates from Denver International Airport to Estes Park. (Allow two hours travel time from the airport to Estes Park. The shuttle costs from $45.00 per person one way.)

Weather and Packing:

Weather in Colorado can be pretty changeable. While you should be prepared for cold (temps in the 20s) weather with snow boots, coats, scarves, gloves, etc., the temperatures can go as high 50 F in March! Our sunshine is pretty strong, so you will need sunscreen even in the winter, and dress in layers as you may need to shed them as the day goes on.

More Info:

The Stanley Hotel

Estes Park shuttle

E-mail The Wayfarers - walk-info@thewayfarers.com

'Appy Christmas from The Wayfarers

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:05:00 +0000

One of the first adventure travel companies to embrace the power of digital technology and the excitement surrounding the iPad as an emerging lifestyle medium, The Wayfarers has introduced a vivid and informative app for iPad users in conjunction with Yudu, a leading international digital publishing company.

Now available free for downloading at the iTunes Store, The Wayfarers iPad app has launched with its first edition: an electronic version of the 2011 Brochure, brought to life with striking photos, video and seamless linking to the website for more information. The inaugural edition includes video previews of upcoming Walks with guest hosts Ellen Barone and Pamela Petro.

“Travel and the versatility of iPads go hand in hand, so we’ve created an app to fit," notes

Michael West, co-founder of The Wayfarers.

"Like our Walks, which change and improve based on our guest input, we look forward to tailoring future editions for our app based on what our guests and potential new guests tell us they would like to see."

Find The Wayfarers iPad app in the iTunes Store - under iPad Travel Apps. If you have iTunes installed on your computer - the direct link is here.

About Alsace - Notes from the Travel Desk

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy W) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:59:00 +0000

By Wendy Houle, The Wayfarers Travel Desk

Alsace is an area that really took me by surprise when I was there. It has an interesting mix of two cultures, German and French. Located at the foot of the Vosges mountains, the countryside consists of gently rolling hills covered in grape vines and dotted with some of the cutest small villages you have ever seen. The storybook-like villages are wonderfully ornate (and old!) and the woodframed buildings all have red and white geraniums cascading from their windowboxes. The wine that I tasted was delicious and crisp (more German than French) and the food had a definite German flair as well. I was last there during the fall, just in time for the "Choucroute Festival" (Sauerkraut) and ate more sausage and sauerkraut than I had ever had in my life, even with my German grandmother.

Alsace is also a cultural area and contains many very interesting museums. One of my favorites was the vintage car museum in Mulhouse. As a guest of the French tourist board, I was driven to dinner one night in an old Bugatti racing car, an experience of which my husband is very jealous. Also in Mulhouse is the national train museum, the largest in Europe, and well worth a look as the collection of engines and railcars is extremely interesting for its historical value. Colmar, where our walk ends, is one of the prettiest French towns I have ever visited. Called "Little Venice" it has a series of canals running through the center of the town. Colmar has a host of interesting sites and museums to visit and is the hometown of Frederic Bartholdi, the designer of our own Statue of Liberty. Be prepared to hear more than a little about Bartholdi during a visit there.

All in all, the Alsace region showed me a whole new and different side of French culture, one I had never experienced before. The walking is not awfully difficult and the cultural history of the area is very compelling.

The Wayfarers 2011 Alsace Walks depart on June 5 and September 4. Christopher Hague and Michael West, The Wayfarers Founders, host the June 5 Walk.

Contact Wendy Houle for expert advice on making the most of your travel plans - before and after your Wayfarers Walk. A seasoned traveler with a particular knowledge and love of all things French, Wendy delights coming up with creative ideas that her travel clients would not have known about otherwise. She'll surely have some good recommendations for foodies - as an accomplished amateur gourmet cook, Wendy loves nothing better than seeking out the best of each country's cuisine and bringing back new recipes to try at home.

Toll Free (US & Canada) 1-800-644-4763

Get Out There, Get Fit, Take a Hike

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:14:00 +0000

I'm too busy. I'm stressed. I hate going alone. Sound familiar? Our fitness partners at Fit for Trips recommend trading the excuses for a hike.

No matter what activity your next adventure involves, a good level of fitness can help prevent injury and greatly enhance your experience. Whether your trip is easy or challenging, the fitness pros at Fit for Trips recommend weekly hikes as a fun way to get ready for any of our walks, hikes or treks.

Find a hike that is similar to what you expect to encounter on your trip. Do your best even though elements like altitude and steep grades may not be common features in your part of the country. If you’re unfamiliar with the hiking landscape in your region, here are a few resources to help you find local trails that are right for you. LocalHikes.com rovides hike reviews and information for trails in or around most metropolitan
areas in the U.S. No registration is required.

Want some company on the trail in North America and beyond? The folks at Meetup.com have over 1800 hiking friendly groups world-wide. With 125,000 members and 75 years experience, The Ramblers in the UK offer a multitude of ways to get walking and volunteering along the way to bring benefits to yourself and your local community.

The Fit for Trips activity clubs database allows you to use filters to search all sorts of outdoor groups in your area, to include hiking. In addition, AllTrails.com boasts an extensive list of hiking groups, as well as a comprehensive user friendly trail finder. AllTrails.com also lists trails purposed for other activities such as trail running, mountain biking, and snowshoeing. Registration for the site is free.

The most complete list of trails and information can be found at Trails.com. The site has topographic maps, trail guides, and outdoor gear available for purchase. All this comes at a price, however. Registration is $49.95 per year. Many areas of the country also have local websites that feature in-depth trip reports and trail information provided by knowledgeable hiking locals. A quick internet search will reveal any hiking resources in your region.

With the help of these hiker-friendly sites you’ll be able to find a trail and attain a new level of fitness. For those who want to upgrade their fitness preparation, check out Fit for Trips pre-trip fitness programs prepared especially for The Wayfarers' walking itineraries and see what a customized Fit for Trips Training program can provide for you at home or at your gym.

About Fit for Trips: Fit for Trips has partnered with The Wayfarers to provide customized pre-departure fitness programs for active travelers wanting to be in optimal physical condition for their next adventure. In 2011, all The Wayfarers' four and five rated trips come with the opportunity to register for free for a custom four-week Fit For Trips program (a $169 value).

For more information on trip-specific programs visit Fitfortrips.com

Simonseeks.com Recommends The Wayfarers

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:41:00 +0000

Simonseeks.com - voted website of the year 2009 by thegoodwebguide.co.uk and known for its expert-rated hotels, travel guides and itineraries recommends The Wayfarers tour of Ireland in a recent article about activity vacations in Ireland.

Inspired by passion for travel and personal frustration at not finding enough travel guides to suit his needs, Simon Nixon, Internet entrepreneur and founder of Moneysupermarket and Travelsupermarket, now seeks to create the most successful quality travel guide site ever. In his own words, he says, 'I've built the site for me – but I’m sure many other people will also find it useful!'

Simonseeks.com encourages everyone who knows anything about anywhere - from celebrities and travel journalists to user-contributors - to write their own guides while a team of editors vets contributions to maintain a high standard of information and presentation. We think it's a great idea!

Jane Austen Made My Vacation: Beth Pattillo Tells All!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:14:00 +0000

The Wayfarers visiting a church, Jane Austen Country

By Julie Johnson: Julie, a life-long Jane Austen fan, is The Wayfarers US Operations Manager and Alaska Walk Leader.

Q & A with Beth Pattillo, author of Jane Austen Ruined My Life has just returned from the Jane Austen walking vacation. Between research and deadlines, we caught up with Beth to chat about her love of Jane Austen, writing, travel and her next book....

In preparing for my trip next week to visit Jane Austen Country, I searched my library to see if there was anything related to her that I would like to read again – the first that came to mind was “Jane Austen Ruine d My Life,” by Beth Pattillo. It’s a fun yet poignant story that leads the main character on a scavenger hunt designed by a “secret” Jane Austen Society. Turns out that the hunt takes our heroine, Emma (of course!) to many of the places I’d be visiting on our Wayfarers Jane Austen walk.

When I learned the author, Beth Pattillo, had been on the same walk earlier this season, I knew I wanted to chat with her!

Julie Johnson: How did you find out about the Wayfarers?

Beth Pattillo: I found the Wayfarers online when I was looking for Bronte-related tours. Sadly, I was too late to get a place in the Bronte tour last fall, but the wonderful folks at Wayfarers told me about the new Jane Austen tour. Since I'd written two Jane Austen-related novels and was contracted for a third, the trip was right up my alley.

JJ: Was this trip different from your other trips to England?

BP: Two years ago, I did a one day 'Jane Austen' tour through Hampshire with the help of a very kind guide. It whetted my appetite for a more in-depth experience. The walking tour allowed me to experience all the wonderful Jane Austen sites at a more leisurely pace. It also allowed me to get a taste of what Jane Austen's own 'walking' life must have been like. Walking the paths where she walked was truly inspiring!

JJ: Have you been able to put your finger on why Jane Austen's work inspires you? Why it seems to be so enduring through the generations?

BP: Jane Austen continues to inspire us and to endure because of her complex and relatable characters. We all know people like Fanny Dashwood (horrible and self-serving) or Anne Elliott (put-upon but patient despite all that). Austen's plots also hold up well not only in the novels themselves but as they are adapted to stage and screen. Truly a master of her craft!

JJ: Has this Wayfarer trip sparked your interest in writing another Jane Austen-inspired novel?

BP: I went on the Jane Austen Country tour to research my next novel, The Dashwood Sisters Tell All (Guideposts Books, Spring 2011). I wanted to write about sisters, and so my characters will follow in the footsteps of Jane and Cassandra Austen. They will also encounter handsome men who could be scoundrels or heroes, a secret diary that may lead to the biggest Jane Austen secret ever, and a mysterious woman who leads a secret Jane Austen society. It's a tough job, having to travel to Hampshire and London for research, but I'm happy to take one for the team. ; )

You can find Beth’s book, “Jane Austen Ruined My Life,” on the Wayfarers reading list.