Pathways Fund

We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Fences & Frontiers (F&F) – the charity that aims to make London a welcoming, supportive, and inspiring place for refugees and asylum seekers to live in and settle.

At the end of April, we hosted our second weekend walking holiday for an F & F group this year, this time at Abingworth House, our stunning property in the South Downs.

Over two sun-drenched days, the group clocked up over 230 miles between them — wandering through vineyards, past the English Idyl that is Petworth House, across a 700-acre deer park, and up to an ancient Iron Age fort.

For refugees and asylum seekers, these holidays are a rare chance to truly escape from daily worries and gain the healing benefits of nature, especially for those still navigating the asylum process.

One participant told us, it was: “A perfect blend of scenic walks, great company, and warm hospitality – my three days at Abingworth Hall were a refreshing escape. We walked and talked, shared meals and beautiful moments – from curling to quizzes — swapping stories with each other and fellow guests.”

Another said, “Collecting memories like these made me feel so grateful.” We're deeply thankful to everyone who supports our Pathways Fund and makes these holidays possible. A special mention goes to Heather and Sarah Davis from HF!

Latst month, Holnicote House in Exmoor welcomed Ukrainian families supported by the Brama Trust Foundation for a memorable four-night Exmoor Family Walking Adventure.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the incredible HF House Team at Holnicote for their warm hospitality, and to the brilliant Kathleen O’Hara for coordinating the visit so seamlessly.

One of the family members who joined the trip shared what the experience meant to them:

“From spotting wild ponies on the moors to scenic walks, charming villages, and relaxing evenings in a cosy country house, Exmoor was the perfect outdoor playground for families. We’re very grateful for the memories and the magic of nature!” Thanks to everyone who helped make this meaningful break possible.

We’re proud to support the incredible work of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) through the HF Holidays Pathways Fund. Thanks to generous member donations, we’ve fully funded the £7,500 purchase of a Titan basket stretcher — a vital piece of rescue equipment used to safely carry injured walkers off the hills.

The dedication of mountain rescue teams like UWFRA is a powerful reminder of the essential role they play in helping everyone enjoy the outdoors safely. It’s an honour to contribute to their work and ensure they have the equipment they need to carry out life-saving rescues.

A heartfelt thank you to Andy Cole and the UWFRA team for their collaboration, and to all of you who continue to support the Pathways Fund. Together, we’re making a real difference.

We had such a wonderful time at Derwent Bank. Honestly, it was truly wonderful! We were made to feel so welcome – everything felt so fancy and lovely. We properly rested and managed several short walks thanks to the hotel’s amazing location. Without the usual need to cook or clean, we had the energy to get outdoors.

I normally can't make it to the Lakes due to my fatigue-related disability, so to explore on my own two legs was a real gift. The surroundings were stunning, the bed was wonderfully comfy, and the kids adored the food. The staff were kind, supportive, and genuinely thoughtful.

I only wish holidays like this were normally within our financial reach – it was such a tonic. Our youngest had rosy cheeks from running around the garden maze in the wind. She absolutely loved it!”

Here ae just a few of the thank you notes our fabulous team at Derwent Bank received!

We are excited to announce that thanks to a £3,500 grant from the Pathways Fund, work is now underway to improve the accessibility of footpaths and replace unsafe footbridges, stiles, and gates along the Dales Way.

The funds will help to replace two rotten footbridges, a faulty kissing gate, and a wooden stile as well as adding hand posts to a stone step stile. Finally, work will include improving the drainage system on a small area of the pathway that often becomes waterlogged. 

Not only do HF Holidays offer guided trail walks along the Dales Way several times a year, but guests regularly use the Wharfedale section of the route during guided walking holidays from Newfield Hall – HF’s country house in the Southern Yorkshire Dales.

The renovations come as great news for any visitors to Wharfdale. HF Holidays Field Advisor Linda Skelton said, “This was a tricky section of the Dales Way due to an unsafe footbridge, stiles and a bog, so the improvements supported by the Pathways Fund should enhance the Dales Way experience considerably, as well as making it much safer.”

If you’d like to donate to the Pathways Fund or have a project or cause you’d like to nominate for funding, contact sarahdavis@hfholidays.co.uk

We’re incredibly proud to announce the agreement of a £9,000 contribution from our Pathways Fund towards the extension and upgrade of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team HQ.

Mountain Rescue Teams (MRT) are staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by donations. Not only do these dedicated volunteers help rescue climbers and hill walkers who get into difficulty, but they also aid the police force in searches for vulnerable missing people.

Glencoe MRT, which has its base in Glencoe, near Alltshellach – our country house on the shores of Loch Leven – have been working hard to raise a total of £390,000 to extend their rescue centre. With much of the funding secured, they now need approximately £90,000 to complete the project.

Built in the 1990s, the existing HQ has served the team well for over quarter of a century. But with larger rescue vehicles, an expanded fleet, and the ever-growing popularity of the Scottish Highlands, the team needs a larger, enhanced base to see it through the next 30 years.

The upgraded Rescue Centre will accommodate up to 50 people for the organisation of multi-day, multi-agency searches, doubling the current capacity of just 25.

Phase 1 of the work will begin with a new garage and completion is expected in March 2025. We couldn’t be happier to play our part in supporting Glen Coe MRT to continue keeping walkers safe in this stunning landscape.

Watch this space for more news and updates on their progress.

We've agreed to donate £30,000 to help restore the pathways at iconic Roseberry Topping, an iconic landmark straddling North Yorkshire.

Roseberry Topping attracts thousands of visitors each year who seek the challenge of reaching its peak and enjoying views across the Yorkshire coast, North York Moors National Park, and Teesside. The popularity of this landmark, however, has led to significant wear and tear on its pathways, prompting the need for urgent restoration work.

Our donation from the Pathways Fund, along with other donors, will help support the National Trust and North York Moors National Parks Authority in making essential repairs and improvements to the most heavily used routes. The project aims to improve access for walkers, horse riders, and cyclists, ensuring the preservation of Roseberry Topping for future generations.

This is great news for any visitors to Larpool Hall, our nearby country house just a stone’s throw from this popular beauty spot and the seaside town of Whitby.

We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Fences & Frontiers – the charity that aims to make London a welcoming, supportive, and inspiring place for refugees and asylum seekers to live in and settle.

This year, we’ve hosted three assisted holidays: a 3-night guided walking weekend to Abingworth Hall in April, and two 4-night family walking adventures to Peveril of the Peak in May and October. We’re delighted to have welcomed guests and introduced them to the beautiful landscapes of the South Downs and Peak District respectively.

We're delighted to share some photos from the recent trips to Abingworth Hall (left) and Peveril of the Peak (right).

A huge thanks to everyone involved for making these holidays possible.

We're pleased to announce the renovation and extension of a popular public footpath boardwalk on the Isle of Wight thanks to support from the Pathways Fund.

Originally installed in 2018, the boardwalk on footpath GL57 made for easier access through Beech Copse at Godshill but had suffered recent damage from falling trees.

Its repair has made the walk safer and more enjoyable for locals and guests staying at Freshwater Bay House and an additional 20 metres has been added to bypass a consistently muddy section. Special thanks go to our Field Advisor, Angela Potts, for working with the Isle of Wight Council to complete this project.

In October 2023, an HF Holidays Leader informed us that the steps along Footpath 33 in the Peak District needed repairing. As this path had previously been maintained by the HF Holidays Pathways Fund, we were delighted to support it once again.

Now, a new generation of walkers - including guests staying at our country house, the Peveril of the Peak - can enjoy safer and more pleasant walks in this beautiful part of the Peak District.

Be the first to spot the newly installed plaques along the route. Send your photos and stories to footnotes@hfholidays.co.uk

This May, we opened doors to six Ukrainian guests for a 3-night Tread Lightly guided walking break at Longmynd House, our newly renovated country house in the Shropshire Hills. 

Over the Easter weekend, we also welcomed six Ukrainian families at The Peveril of the Peak, our charming country house in the Peak District. 

One of the family members who took part in the trip shared with us just how much it meant to them.

“I want to thank you for organizing a wonderful vacation for all of us. It was incredible. My body is a little tired, but my soul is rested. Unforgettable impressions will remain with us for a long time. Thank you again! And may the universe restore everything to you and to all those related to this journey for the Ukrainians.”

As always, we are very grateful to our guests for their generous donations to the Pathways Fund. A special thank you goes to HF Holidays Leader John Nolan for putting us in touch with Kath O’Hara – a facilitator who helped us reach out to families in need of a well-earned break.

Following a year-long build, the much-needed new £1 million headquarters of the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) has finally opened on the outskirts of Brecon. The team of volunteers originally launched their public appeal in June 2022 in the hope of raising £1.1million, so we're delighted that the £7,000 donated by the Pathways Fund in 2022 has helped them to reach their goal.

The new premises has been designed to help the team respond quicker to emergency calls, store life-saving equipment properly, and conduct more training exercises as a full team. Gemma Rodgers, our House Manager at Nythfa House in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) was lucky enough to attend the grand opening by TV presenter, Kate Humble, who lives in the region and is the official ambassador for the campaign.

Thanks to a £5805 contribution from our Pathways Fund, we are proud to announce completion of repairs to the popular N451 footpath between Skelgill Bank and Cat Bells – the favourite fell of our founder, TA Leonard, and home to a memorial plaque in his honour.

With our support, the Lake District Foundation’s Fix the Fells project has helped improve accessibility to this spectacular spot by resurfacing the walking route and protecting it from erosion and damage.

Fix the Fells is an initiative that aims to monitor, maintain, and repair the 350 paths that cover more than 400 miles in the UNESCO-listed Lake District National Park. Check out the before and after photos.

Thanks to a £14,500 donation from the HF Holidays Pathways Fund, repairs to a much-loved Cotswolds footpath have now been completed. The well-trodden route between Bury Grange and Salmonsbury Camp is a popular dog walking spot for residents of Bourton-on-the-Water but had recently become almost impassable due to years of use and erosion.

The path also forms part of the North Cotswolds Diamond Way and features in several walks we offer from our Cotswolds country property, Harrington House.

In collaboration with Gloucestershire County Council, we’ve funded a full repair of the route and the former muddy track is now a smooth path that will help make the great outdoors easily accessible to all.

In recognition of the generous donations from our guests and members to the Pathways Fund, our logo is now proudly displayed by the finished works.

Check out the before and after pictures.

To improve the Cotswolds National Landscape, HF Holidays has purchased two Stihl brush cutters to clear the ground around existing worn paths and provide better access. The work will be undertaken by Cotswold Voluntary Wardens in the North Cotswolds. This will benefit all walkers, especially our larger holiday groups. We're delighted to partner with the North District Cotswold Wardens on this important project.

We are delighted to have recently hosted a family on their first HF Holidays adventure to Cornwall. The parent shared with us what an amazing holiday they had.  

“Being around other families meant I could allow my child to enjoy the group walk. The staff at Chy Morvah (our country house in St Ives) were fantastic and Wayne the manager went above and beyond to provide alternative food when my child didn’t like what was on offer. 

My son walked a lot with the walking leaders, asking lots of questions and I found the whole experience very rewarding. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this possible.” 

On the last weekend of August, we hosted our very first assisted holiday in partnership with Fences & Frontiers – a charity that aims to make the UK a supportive and inspiring place for refugees and asylum seekers to live in and settle.

We welcomed 12 participants in the scheme and two of the charity’s volunteers to Abingworth Hall - our characterful country house in the South Downs. Coming from as far as El Salvador, Iran, and Kurdistan, the group enjoyed a three-day guided walking break with our HF Holidays Leader, Gill Holmes.

Gill said: “I was lucky enough to be leading at Abingworth last weekend with the first Fences and Frontiers group funded by the Pathways fund. The group had a great time and mixed well with the other guests.”

To date, the charity has been limited to offering breaks in London and the surrounding areas only. But our pilot partnership with Fences & Frontiers will now enable them to offer annual trips to some of the most beautiful parts of the British countryside. We’d like to thank everyone involved for making this weekend such a success.

In early April we hosted our second assisted group holiday for families affected by the war in Ukraine. The Peveril of the Peak – our characterful country house in the Peak District – welcomed six Ukrainian families who enjoyed a three-night stay and a wonderful weekend of guided walking.

As always, we are very grateful to our guests for their generous donations to the Pathways Fund. A special thank you goes to HF Holidays Leader John Nolan for putting us in touch with Kath O’Hara – a facilitator who helped us reach out to families in need of a well-earned break.