Writing and walking have always gone hand-in-hand. From Wordsworth and Rousseau to Leigh Fermor and Macfarlane, many literary greats have sought inspiration from the almost meditative act of walking, of placing themselves intimately in the landscapes.

So, as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations, walking holiday specialists Inntravel, are sponsoring this year’s Hay Festival, one of the world’s greatest literary festivals (22 May -1 June 2025), which brings together a roster of some of the world’s finest writers for a series of talks and events in Wales’ ‘Book Town’.

And, it’s where Inntravel will be holding two ‘Wayfaring Walks’ as part of this year’s event, one led by Kate Humble and the other by Phoebe Smith, on which small groups of travellers will be invited out into the surrounding Welsh countryside.

Inntravel will also be offering Festival-goers the chance to win their own walking holiday, and on the Inntravel stand their expert team will be on hand to suggest the finest walking holidays, literary themed or otherwise, to book in 2025 and beyond.

For 40 years, Inntravel has led the way in self-guided walking holidays. They uncover and curate destinations around Europe to offer crafted holidays complete with on-call support.

Their focus is on a sustainable, immersive form of travel which embraces local food and culture, along with welcoming, privately-owned hotels that benefit communities.

Each holiday bears the familiar hallmarks of an Inntravel trip whether authentic hotels, charming villages or unspoiled landscapes, and a set of fascinating cultural route notes and maps to act as a trusty guide.

Literary Inspired Holidays from Inntravelinclude:

The Oxbridge Dream
From Oxford’s Dreaming Spires to the riverside town of Marlow and the rolling hills of the Chilterns, this walking trip follows the Thames Path through the section of the river that inspired the Wind in the Willows.

With stops in Oxford’s historic pubs, where writers such as Carroll, Tolkien and Lewis clinked pints, to the village of Cholsey where Agatha Christie is buried. Price: from £1,405pp based on 2 sharing, including 6 nights’ B&B accommodation and 3 dinners.

A Host of Golden.....
The fells of the Lake District are among the most written about regions in the world, from Wordsworth and Potter to Ransome and Rebanks.

Inntravel’s Lake District Walking - Windermere to Grasmere is an ideal introduction to this literary landscape, with the holiday finishing in Grasmere, where Wordsworth is buried.

New for 2025, walkers stay at The Swan Inn, which was previously known as the Cherry Tree, and is mentioned in Wordsworth’s Waggoner. Price: from £1,085pp based on 2 sharing, including 6 nights’ B&B and 2 dinners.

All holidays come with maps, walking routes and detailed cultural notes.

For more information, contact Inntravel www.inntravel.co.uk 01653 617000.