How to… slow down on a walking holiday
The golden rule. Don't rush!
Like ‘slow food’, ‘slow travel’ is having a moment, and walking holidays are the perfect way to embrace it.
The golden rule? Don’t rush. A slow walking holiday isn’t about ticking off as many kilometres, villages or restaurants as possible. It’s about giving yourself enough time to experience where you are – one path, one conversation and one meal at a time. And withi that is mind here are 10 ways to enjoy slow travel on a walking holiday.
Walk fewer kilometres
Don’t feel you have to cover huge distances every day. A shorter walking day gives you more time to stop at villages, explore local sights, swim, take photographs or simply sit and enjoy the view.
Stay longer in one place
Rather than changing accommodation every night, base yourself in a village or small town for two or three nights. You’ll get to know the place beyond its tourist attractions and discover where the locals eat and shop.
Eat what’s local
Make local produce the star of your meals. Look for regional cheeses, bread, fruit, seafood, meats and seasonal vegetables rather than familiar international dishes.
Visit a local market
Markets are perfect for slow travel. Wander through the stalls, chat to producers and pick up picnic ingredients for the trail. You might even discover a regional speciality you’ve never tried before.
Make lunch an event
Instead of wolfing down a sandwich while walking, find a beautiful spot and unpack your picnic. Take your time, enjoy the scenery and perhaps finish with a local pastry, fruit or cheese.
Eat at family-run restaurants
Seek out small, independently owned restaurants, trattorias, tavernas and village cafés. These places often showcase traditional recipes and locally sourced ingredients far better than tourist-oriented chains.
Talk to the people you meet
Slow travel is about connections as much as places. Chat with your host, the baker, farmer, café owner or fellow walkers. Ask about local food, traditions and places worth visiting.
Try a food experience
Build a cooking class, winery visit, olive-oil tasting, cheese-making experience or farm visit into your walking itinerary. It gives you a deeper understanding of the landscape and its produce.
Put your phone away
Resist the temptation to document every kilometre. Take a few photographs, then put the phone away and listen to the birds, smell the vegetation and notice the changing landscape around you.
Follow the seasons
Choose your destination partly around what is being harvested or produced when you visit. Spring asparagus, summer berries, autumn grapes, mushrooms or winter citrus can turn a walking holiday into a delicious journey through the seasons.
