Many of the HF Holidays' team are keen walkers and have a wealth of experience which we use to develop the best walking holidays for you. Below are just a few of the staff involved in providing the vast range of holidays we are proud to offer.
Sherie Walker
Born and brought up in a family-run hotel, she loves her job dealing with our European hotels. This also gives her scope for her penchant for languages. Proud of her Scots heritage, she grew up in Speyside, walking in the Cairngorms. Once a Scottish Universities champion, skiing remains her favourite sport and she likes to visit the Alpine ski-slopes most winters. However, she now prefers the calm of cross-country skiing and likes to do this in Norway where she also enjoys the friendship and culture of the people. At home in the Lake District, Sherie spends her free time walking in the fells with her golden retriever, Oscar. Their favourite tramping ground is Barton Fell above Ullswater.
Andy Berlyn, our Head of Walking Operations, walks for fun and the enjoyment of seeing nature and industrial archaeology up close. His collie cross dog accompanies him on many of his walks with his favourite being a route from Haweswater into Swindale - probably one of the nicest dales in the Lakes and a superbly scenic walk away from the crowds. Further afield, Andy can personally recommend a number of our European and worldwide holidays, with Bryce Canyon on our USA's Grand Canyon & Monument Valley holiday scoring top marks.
Geraldine Fardon
Geraldine is a Walks Leader and leads many of our Classic Walking holidays in Britain, Europe and around the world, although Whitby is her favourite location to lead walks in Britain. Many of our guests have enjoyed walks she has led, commenting especially on her sociable nature and her ability to successfully lead all levels. Geraldine is just one of 865 Leaders who enjoy helping you get the most from your holiday.
Steve Backhouse
Our European Walking Product Manager has been busy visiting new destinations in his search for even more spectacular locations to feature in future brochures. Bonassola and Norcia in Italy were amongst those checked out in 2004 for their walking appeal. Steve's roots are on the Hampshire coast, so it's not surprising that his favourite locations are coastal ones: Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight and Corsica. Steve's enthusiasm for walking goes beyond the call of duty; he completed all the 214 Wainwright summits in the Lake District, with a fitting finish on Little Mell Fell last year. If you are wondering how a walking buff relaxes, Steve recently enjoyed a long weekend on the Isle of Arran, followed by a week of walking and relaxing on Crete.
Siobhan Beck
As Leader Operations Manager Siobhan manages the team who look after all the volunteer walking leaders. She enjoys walking and last year visited the Dolomites, she said "Via ferrata is fantastic, as is the area, I am keen to return for more. I recommend it to anyone who would like to do a bit more than walk up a mountain but doesn't fancy climbing." Having also walked in the Andes (Ecuador), Spanish Pyrenees, North America (Washington State), Morocco, Greece, Belize and most of the UK, she is one of the more experienced members of the team. The Howgills are her weekend get away with great walking, fantastic views and peaceful surroundings. When not walking Siobhan is a fledgling gardener and loves sea kayaking especially off the west coast of Scotland.
John Croxford The manager of our Country House accommodation Alltshellach in the Scottish Highlands is an absolute outdoor enthusiast and a popular host, winning our House of the Year again in 2003. His walking achievements read like a guidebook to hiking and scrambling; not long ago he climbed Triglav in Slovenia, which is 9,547ft high, Skye's Cuillin Ridge, Torridon and Glen Coe are just some of his favourite haunts. John rates walking in Tasmania as his favourite location outside his beloved Scotland. "In Tasmania, they excel at customer care," he explains, "which coupled with exhilarating walks and great views means our guests can enjoy the perfect holiday."
Dave Weatherley Dave is a Walks Leader and has a wealth of experience and enthusiasm from his role as an outdoors instructor. He excels at navigation and leadership, holding awards from summer, winter and European Mountain Leadership as well as the Gold Award for National Navigation. He leads our walks regularly and his particular favourites are in the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands. He also enjoys passing on his knowledge of the mountain environment to those who walk with him.
Gillian Mininch
Self confessed 'Moroccophile', Gillian has been with us for 11 years and she now looks after the recruitment of our volunteer walk Leaders . With 865 Leaders on the panel, hers is a busy job and the best antidote to a stressful job is travelling. She enjoyed trekking in Morocco, skiing in the French Pyrenees, winter walking in Torridon and a sightseeing trip to Barcelona last year. She's now looking forward to mountaineering trips to the Julian Alps in Slovenia and the French Pyrenees. If that's not enough she's also an active member of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
Walking holidays for walkers by walkers - backed by 90 years experience
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