Walkers show no signs of hanging up their boots

A survey of HF Holidays’ customers – many of whom are aged 50 plus – reveals that far from hanging up their boots and sitting out retirement, some guests claim to head out into the countryside every day.

Over 1000 customers of the company – which is the UK’s leading Walking and Leisure Activity holiday organisation – took part in a survey on walking habits.

11 per cent of respondents said they walked every day; 26 per cent walk two or three times a week and 63 per cent walk once a week.

‘Getting out into the countryside’ and ‘keeping fit’ are the prime motivators, with ‘to relax and de-stress’ and ‘walk the dog’ other reasons given for walking.

“Walking is the most popular activity in the UK,” says HF Holidays’ chief executive Brian Smith. “And strong demand for 2010 holidays suggest that an increasing number of people are taking up walking as a way to keep fit and enjoy the great outdoors.”

The survey reveals that 17 per cent of HF Holidays’ guests have taken up walking within the last five years, but 70 per cent have been walking for 10 years or more.  Bird-watching, wild flowers and heritage are other motivators.

With almost 50,000 customers a year, HF Holidays guests are also getting through a fair few pairs of boots.

Well over 50 per cent ‘rotate’ two or three pairs of boots, but 58 respondents have four to five pairs and four individuals owned up to an Imelda Marcos-style obsession with six or more pairs in the cupboard, buying a pair ‘every time a new model comes out’.

But when it comes to disposing of old boots, most HF Holidays’ guests are frugal and thoughtful folk: 27 per cent wear their boots until they fall apart and 32 per cent donate unwanted boots to charity shops while others ‘do the gardening’ in them.  Some of the more imaginative uses are as plant pots on windowsills or in the garden and even as bird boxes!

The full range of Walking & Outdoor Holidays, including walking in Britain, Europe and Worldwide, can be found on the company’s website - hfholidays.co.uk.

New guided walking holidays for 2010 include Montenegro (seven nights from £659 including flights and half-board), America’s most famous National Parks (14 nights from £3,695 including flights and some meals) and Sri Lanka (17 days from £1,745 including flights and half-board).