Make a break for freedom

HF Holidays is well-known for walking and leisure activity holidays, but the long-established specialist is aware that some walking and activity enthusiasts may prefer to explore the great outdoors independently.

To address this, HF Holidays last year launched Freedom Breaks, offering its 17 houses in the UK as bases for independent holidays – and bookings for 2009 are already up 27%.

This success is due not only to a recent boom in UK holidays, or even a trend towards more frequent short breaks, says Chief Executive Brian Smith, but the ‘dual nature’ of the holiday concept.

“Freedom Breaks offer the best of both worlds for those who love the countryside,” says Smith. “You can go off and do your own thing every day - but then enjoy the company of other guests at dinner and in the evening. Few hotels provide our winning combination of a superb location with good home-cooked food, sociable evenings and friendly staff who are passionate about the great outdoors.”

The organisation says this approach results in high guest satisfaction levels: 94% of guests surveyed recently said they plan to holiday with HF Holidays again in the near future.

Guests on Freedom Breaks enjoy full use of the facilities – from swimming pools to WiFi access and bars to drying rooms – at each HF Holidays house, with full board during the stay. Each guest (or couple) receives an Ordnance Survey Explorer map of the locality and a specially-written guide to walks, cycle routes, golf courses, activities and places of interest nearby.

Arrival and departure days are flexible, with a three-night stay costing from £204 per person (twin share).

At Monk Coniston in the Lake District HF Holidays is celebrating a recent £600,000 renovation programme by a special Freedom Breaks price in mid-August. This means a seven night stay starting from any date between 10 and 14 August is just £379 per person full board, a saving of £155 per person.

For more information and reservations, log on to hfholidays.co.uk.