September 2021

GLAMPSITES
ABOVE: Derw Lodge in Anglesey
CANOPY & STARS
other venues is encouraging people to
wrap up and get outside. Building on this
knowledge, by offering a country getaway
that is cosy and close to some bracing
walks, glamping accommodation providers
would be able to tempt people back in the
colder months.
The survey also showed that two-thirds
of the routes were near water – be it sea,
lakes, ponds or rivers. Other findings
showed the importance of getting up on
high to put problems in perspective, with
hills or mountains the focal point in 15% of
walks, and the value of trees with a further
13% centred on woodlands.
According to the survey, the average
walk length was 2.6 miles and most
took just over an hour (65 minutes). This
suggests that owners could benefit from
promoting their venues as being close
to river trails, hill walks and woodland
rambles.
ACCOMMODATION FOR WALKING
FESTIVALS
Glampsites also have the opportunity
to providing alternative, boutique
accommodation for walking festivals and
food events. Many of the walking festivals
were forced to cancel in 2020, which was a
great blow to the organisers (the majority
volunteers), as well as to local businesses.
As most don’t have the resources to ‘go
virtual’, for 2021 we worked with a score of
these festivals to create a presence on the
Outdooractive website and app. This has
enabled them to maintain their profile and
for walkers to still visit the locations and
enjoy self-guided routes suggested by the
organisers.
We have also been promoting the festivals
to our user base of outdoor enthusiasts,
which is getting a good response. As the
travel bans are lifted across Europe, we
can see more people travelling to take part
in walking and cycling holidays and all
these visitors need somewhere to stay for a
number of nights.
CREATE YOUR OWN ROUTES
Accommodation that is memorable, with
“IT IS ALSO
POSSIBLE FOR
A GLAMPSITE
TO EMBED THE
ROUTES ON
THEIR OWN
WEBSITE SO THAT
VISITORS CAN
SEE WHAT IS ON
OFFER AND PLAN
THEIR ACTIVITIES
BEFORE THEIR
WEEKEND AWAY”
good walks on the doorstep, will be popular
all year round. Keen walkers and cyclists
have been sharing their favourite routes for
many years now, so it is easy for owners to
select some near to their sites – or capture
their own favourite and secret places, simply
by recording the route in the app while
they walk and uploading photographs and
descriptions. They can also add points of
interest, such as their glampsite, and bits of
information about themselves. These routes
are hosted on Outdooractive and made
accessible to the international community.
It is also possible for a glampsite to embed
the routes on their own website so that
visitors can see what is on offer and plan
their activities before their weekend away.
This is particularly good if you have groups
of friends or families staying – knowing if
the routes are muddy or wheelchair friendly
ahead of time can make a big difference to
their enjoyment.
WORKING WITH TOURISM
Long-distance pathways are a distinctive
feature of the UK and provide an attraction
both for British and overseas visitors. Not
many countries have the wealth of public
footpaths and cycle routes that we enjoy in
the UK, and these are all across the country.
DISCOVER SUFFOLK AND SUFFOLK COAST AND HEATHS AONB
At the end of 2021, Natural England is set to
announce that it has secured approval for all
sections of the England Coast Path.
England’s 2,748 miles of coastline is one of
the most varied and beautiful in the world,
and many people are choosing to walk it in
sections, something that is being supported
and promoted by regional tourism
authorities.
We have worked with the South West
Coast Path Association, North York Moors
National Park and Visit Suffolk, among
others, to promote self-guided circular
walks in areas featured in the TV series, Kate
Humble’s Coastal Britain.
There is a strong drive to encourage
people to get off the beaten track and
explore beautiful countryside that is less well
known.
Malcolm Hodgson, national trails officer
at the North York Moors National Park, said:
“It’s good that more people recognise the
beauty of North Yorkshire after seeing it on
TV – but there’s plenty else to discover on
this coastline.
“By having the local routes on
Outdooractive, we’re hoping visitors can
discover some of our lesser-known trails,
including hidden gems such as farm
hideaways and other rural retreats.”
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