The Macs Adventure tour list expands at a high rate every year as our products team work their socks off to find the most outstanding walking and cycling regions in the world. Not just find them, but then craft them into a delightful trip, full of backup, to ensure you have a hassle-free adventure every time. While our offering expands, there will always be those stalwart favourites, which people keep coming back to. When you are thinking about which adventure to partake in this year, you could do a lot worse than checking out the top 10 and taking it from there. So without further delay, here are the shining stars of 2018.
1 - The West Highland Way
This monster of a trip has been number one in the charts since Macs Adventure came into existence and for good reason. It is the greatest walking trip in the UK, combining stunning scenery which evolves as the journey progresses, excellent accommodation, friendly people, lovely food & drink. As you walk into the highlands, the ground rises up around you, forming some of the most beautiful landscapes in the whole country. For more information, download our free West Highland Way guide, or check the West Highland Way on our website.
2 - Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc is France's most popular hiking experience and one that should be on everyone's bucket list. Walking through 3 countries, around the Mont Blanc Massif makes for mightily impressive Alpine views. There is the opportunity to stay in Alpine mountain huts and join in the celebration as everyone discusses their days on the trail, watching the sunset with a cold drink. The scenery is joyous and will forever imprint itself on your memory. For more information, check our website or sign up for one of our Tour du Mont Blanc Webinars.
3 - Camino de Santiago
For anyone looking for a more spiritual experience, the Camino de Santiago is our most popular pilgrimage. Taking over a month to cross the north of Spain, the path crosses high mountain paths, meanders through vast plains and takes to you some of the most enchanting villages, towns and cities in Spain. However, the camaraderie on the trip is the most unique thing about it. Coming together with walkers from around the world, united in the desire to get to Santiago, discovering each other's reasons for taking the trip. This is where the magic of the Camino lies. For more information, download our free Camino de Santiago Guide or check out the Camino pages on our website.
4 - Coast to Coast
The highest new entry, but a trip that we have been selling for over 10 years is Alfred Wainwright's outstanding trek across England, the Coast to Coast. Starting from St Bees on the west coast of England, the route takes you through three National Parks as it winds its way across Northern England to finish up in Robin Hood's Bay on the east coast. Walking through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North Moors National Parks means that you are getting some of England's finest scenery as well as passing through some beautiful wee villages like Grassmere and Kirkby Stephen. For more information, download our free Coast to Coast Guide, or check out the Coast to Coast page on our website.
5 - Great Glen Way
The highest climber on the chart this year is the Great Glen Way. This was the second trip that Macs Adventure ever operated and like the West Highland Way, we have made it our own. We know every footstep, every B&B owner, every pub along the way and we will ensure you enjoy every second of your trip. Walking along the Highland fault line past three of the most dramatic lochs in Scotland, switching between placid canal paths and rugged mountain paths, the Great Glen Way explores some of the best scenery in Scotland.
6 - South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is the longest trip in the UK that we offer. It takes 6-weeks to walk the entire coastal path around the south-west of England, but handily we have split it up into week-long sections, to make it more manageable. The trip varies in its scenery, going from sheer drama to pristine, peaceful beaches and idyllic fishing villages. Each section of the trip has its own highlights, but each of them has a little sprinkling of everything, so you are never disappointed in which section you walk.
7 - Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall Path takes you along the parts of the historic wall that once divided Scotland and England it's still a firm favourite with Macs Adventure customers. Hadrian's Wall Path takes you from Coast to Coast across northern England following the wall, which is Europe’s largest surviving Roman monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will encounter some of England's wildest and most beautiful scenery as well as taking the time to visit the rich history of the area.
8 - The Cotswold Way
Taking one of our many adventures walking in the Cotswolds is to discover quintessential England. It is the England of stereotype, honey-coloured villages, still built and maintained in traditional ways. Cream teas and rolling green countryside. The rise in popularity of the Cotswolds is not only down to the remarkable history and scenery but the warm welcome of its people. While in the past, the paths have been tricky to follow, the new Macs App, means that you will be able to walk the routes without your head in a map.
9 - The Highlands and Isle of Skye Rail & Hike
Jumping into the top ten this year is our classic Highlands and Isle of Skye Rail and Hike holiday. Rail and Hike is the ultimate way to cover a large area and get out into the wilds to sample some of the off the beaten track areas on offer. This route takes in a little part of the Great Glen Way, Inverness, Highland Perthshire and of course, some of the most iconic walking in the country, up in the north of Skye. It is also bookended by Scotland's two major cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, so for a snapshot of Scottish beauty, this is an ideal trip to go for.
10 - Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Boat
Holland is an ideal country for a cycling holiday, the most appealing part being that it is flat. If you add to this a floating hotel that follows you down the canals and waterways from Amsterdam to Bruges, you have a cracking holiday in store. Crammed full of sites, from the Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is windmill heaven, to the stunning architecture and incredible vibe of Ghent and Bruges, this is a wonderfully relaxing trip and fully deserves to push its way into the top ten.
If you would like any more information on any of these trips, don't hesitate to contact one of our specialists at info@macsadventure.com and they will be more than happy to help.