About us
We are BACKABUSH XPLORERS, the original and best hiking and outdoor activity Meetup group!!!
Who are we and how did it all begin?
Backabush Xplorers is London's longest established hiking and outdoor adventure Meetup group. Our group was originally created back in 2002 (actually before we were on Meetup) by a multinational group of friends who loved hiking and wanted to get more out of our weekends and holidays. We wanted to share our heartfelt passion for the great outdoors and enthusiasm with others. For some years Backabush was an informal, unincorporated association managed by the founders for the benefit of its members.
Our group grew rapidly in those early years and in 2008, following legal advice we decided it would be wise and prudent to become a registered company to protect our organisers and our members. Following this review and the formation of the limited company, our members can now pursue their legitimate activities and aims with complete peace of mind.
Why do we do it?
We love the outdoors! The primary motivation is fun (not profit) which means that our trips offer exceptional value for money. We continue as a group with the same ethos of organising events and trips for the benefit of our members. This is what we love and we are passionate about what we do. We will always endeavour to be budget conscious and price our activities only to cover necessary expenses.
What do we do?
Over the years we have hiked and explored the National Parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty in Britain and abroad. It may all have started years ago with a few hiking friends gathering for a weekend in a scruffy camping barn somewhere rural and pretty but it has developed a lot from there.
Backabush has been hiking and enjoying outdoor adventure for well over a decade now and over this time we have organised literally hundreds of hiking trips throughout Great Britain. We have enjoyed visits to the Lake District, Snowdonia, Scotland, the Brecon Beacons, the Pembrokeshire Coast, Cornwall, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Lincolnshire Wolds, the Cambrian mountains, the Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean, the North York Moors, the New Forest, the South Downs, the Malvern Hills, the Shropshire Hills, the South Downs, the Cotswolds, the Chiltern Hills, the Jurassic Coast, the Gower Peninsula, the Pennines, the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, the Isle of Arran, Glen Shiel, Torridon etc, etc, etc.
National trails and long distance paths in Britain are another favourite of ours and to date we have completed the full length of Hadrian's Wall Path, the West Highland Way, the Cumbria Way, the Herriot Way and Wainwright's Coast to Coast. Although we have yet to complete the full length of many we have also enjoyed hiking sections of the Cotswold Way, Pennine Way, Offa's Dyke Path, Limestone Way, Allerdale Ramble, South West Coast Path, Great Glen Way, Monsal Trail, South Downs Way, Ridgeway, Thames Path and many, many others.
We were also trailblazers when it came to offering exciting outdoor adventures overseas. Back in 2009 we organised our very first foreign trip when we headed down into Africa to climb Mt Toubkal, the highest summit in Morocco. Next we trekked in Nepal, climbing over a 5000+ metre pass linking the Langtang and Helambu valleys. Since these early treks we went on to organise things like via ferrata holidays in the Italian Dolomites, or hiking trips to the French Alps and Jura mountains. We also love 'hut to hut' trekking and have so far completed every step of the Tour du Mt Blanc, summited Monte Perdido in the Ordessa National Park and trekked for days in the French Pyrenees to reach the awe inspiring Cirque de Gavarnie. More recently we even organised trips to Slovakia to seek out winter snowshoeing in the High Tatras and gorge scrambling in the Paradise National Park.
There are many other adventures we could mention. No other Meetup group offers adventure like this!
How do the logistics work?
We know our members are busy people so we do our best to provide a complete package for you. Backabush will research the locations, the hikes, book the accommodation and make a plan for all the meals. If you do not own a car we will help you to find transport or a lift share. You just need to communicate with the organiser who will help to co-ordinate things with you.
With a little co-operation from our members it all works very well and allows us to keep offering new locations and new hikes, year after year. Although we might return to some amazing National Parks quite regularly we always endeavour to find new venues and plan entirely new hikes. If you check out our past events you will see that we offer unrivalled variety in the locations we visit.
What are the hikes like?
On every Backabush trip we try to provide a choice of hikes each day. Obviously we will choose from the most beautiful and best loved hikes in any given area. These hikes tend to be of various length, duration and difficulty. The idea is that each person can choose the hike that best suits their fitness, experience and interests.
It is true that Backabush has a reputation within the Meetup community for offering longer and more challenging hikes but we always also offer more moderate options for those seeking a more relaxed day outdoors. Generally speaking we would say that anyone who can hike for 10 miles in hilly terrain should be fine on our trips. If you have any concerns please don't hesitate to contact us to ask questions.
What about safety?
Safety is always our number one priority. Although we can never make the outdoor environment entirely safe there are many steps that can be taken to minimise risk. Our team of outdoor activity leaders have many, many years of leadership experience and have received extensive outdoor training. Between all of our leaders we have years of military experience, ambulance work or mountain guiding.
Our principal leadership team are qualified Mountain Leaders trained at Plas-y-Brenin (the National Mountain Sports Centre) in North Wales and Winter Skills trained at Glenmore Lodge in Scotland. We regularly update our first aid qualifications and carry the required emergency aid equipment for wilderness situations. Some of us have taught or assisted on micro-navigation training courses and all have excellent route finding skills regardless of visibility or weather.
Additional our experience extends to high altitude mountaineering in several continents, be it summiting 6000+ metre peaks in the Andes, conquering the highest mountains in Africa or completing month long high altitude treks in the Himalayas.
We take our 'duty of care' of very seriously and are trained to deal with outdoor emergencies. Sometimes we hire in specific skills as necessary in the form of fully qualified instructors for things like rock climbing, caving, coasteering, kayaking, horse riding, ghyll scrambling or technical mountaineering. For some foreign trips we will either provide logistical support for safe self guided mountain trekking or hire International Mountain Leaders as deemed necessary.
Who joins our trips?
Although most people in the group are in their, 30s, 40s and 50s, age is not an issue to us - a fun loving and adventurous nature is more important. It is not uncommon to have over a dozen different nationalities represented in a single gathering.
Our groups of hikers and outdoor adventurers vary in size but on every trip some people will be regulars and some first timers. Its a great way to make new hiking friends and you need not worry about coming alone as you will always be made to feel welcome.
What we all have in common is a love of all kinds of outdoor activity including hiking, trekking, hill walking, mountaineering, scrambling, camping, canoeing, canyoning, kayaking, rock climbing, scuba diving, caving, coasteering, mountain biking and just about anything else that offers some outdoor adventure.
We are a very active bunch!
We hope YOU will join us sometime soon.
Positive vibes!
The Backabush Crew & Hiking Team
Contact Geoff & Nathan
backabushxplorers@yahoo.com
nathancapay@googlemail.com
BACKABUSH XPLORERS LTD
Company number 06741794
16 Tithe Barn Drive, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2DG
Featured event
LOCH TAY & THE SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS - MUNRO BAGGING IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
This is a trip with one simple goal, summit as many Scottish mountains as possible and have a great time doing it. Join Backabush to take on the highest peaks around Loch Tay and the Southern Cairngorms!
Group size - max 12.
Loch Tay Region - Self catering lodges (twin rooms) nights 1-4
South Cairngorms - Hostel (2, 3 and 4 bed dorms) nights 5-8
Cost - £779
Cost without transport - £679. For those that will drive themselves and don't need a seat in the minibus. (For self-drivers it is also possible to book for a half week. £340 Sat - Wed or Wed - Sun. Just get in touch so I can adjust our accommodation bookings.)
What's Munro bagging? - https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/walking/mountains-hills/munro-bagging
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ITINERARY
On this trip we are aiming to take on some of the best multi-munro routes across 6 hiking days, with one rest and transfer day in the middle. Weather permitting here are our mountain goals:
Hikes in the Loch Tay Region
The Ben Lawers five ~21kms, 1440m ascent. This fine day of ridge walking takes in 5 stunning Munros and is one of the most rewarding days in the Southern Highlands. We'll take on Ben Lawers itself (1214m, the 10th highest mountain in Scotland) along with its neighbours. The going is mostly on good paths across open hillside with some ridges between summits and Loch Tay shimmering below.
The Glen Lyon four ~18kms, 1350m ascent. A superb horseshoe above the remote upper reaches of Glen Lyon, taking in 4 Munros including Carn Mairg and Meall Garbh. The route follows grassy ridges with excellent views down into one of Scotland's longest and most beautiful glens. A long but thoroughly enjoyable day on generally straightforward terrain.
Schiehallion ~13.5kms, 750m ascent. One of Scotland's most iconic and recognisable peaks, Schiehallion's distinctive quartzite cone rises above Loch Rannoch and is a classic hillwalk on good paths.
Rest & Transfer Day - A chance to recover, explore Pitlochry, and make the scenic drive east to Braemar in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. HOWEVER, if the sun shines, we always make the most of it, hiking in Scotland is all about maximising the conditions.
Hikes in the Southern Cairngorms
Lochnagar ~16kms, 900m ascent. One of Scotland's most celebrated mountains, immortalised by Lord Byron and beloved by King Charles. The route from Loch Muick takes in the magnificent corrie and summit plateau of this great Cairngorms peak. Dramatic cliff scenery and a truly memorable mountain experience.
The Glen Shee Eastern Six ~22kms, 1150m ascent. Starting a hike at the top of the highest public road in the UK almost feels like cheating but it does make it possible to summit 6 Munros on this circuit with less up and down than it takes to climb Ben Nevis on it's own. This is one of the most productive days of Munro bagging in Scotland.
An Socach, Beinn a' Bhùird or The Linn of Quoich - For our final day we have a host of amazing walks to choose from. The possibilty for more Munros is always there but in the case of severe wind and rain on any of our hikes we may need to adapt our plans. In our experience it is more than likely that one of these 6 hiking days will be better spent low down enjoying some of Scotlands amazing forests and rivers.
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ACCOMMODATION
Loch Tay Region, nights 1-4 - We have booked holiday lodge accommodation just 10 minutes from the town of Pitlochry. Our lodges are right on the bank of the River Tay. The lodges have self-catering kitchens and social space for us to enjoy our evening together. Beds are in shared twin rooms.
Southern Cairngorms, nights 5-8- A comfortable and well-equipped hostel in the village of Braemar, with self-catering kitchen facilities and a comfy lounge for board-games. The village also has several pubs and restaurants for those who prefer to eat out.
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TRAVEL TO SCOTLAND
We will pick you up from Glasgow Airport on Friday 29th May (approx 15:00, exact time TBC after flights are released). Alternatively you can meet us at our lodges in the village of Logierait.
We will drop you off back at Glasgow Airport on Sunday 6th June at approximately 13:00, exact time TBC.
Catching the train from London is a great option. There is a regular shuttle bus to the airport from the centre of Glasgow, its actually quicker and easier to catch the shuttle and meet us at the airport than for us to drive in and out again on the one way system through the city traffic.
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DIFFICULTY - This will be a physically tough trip so please take a look at the hike statistics above and be sure that you are up for some big days out on the hill. The terrain is mostly on good paths but the days are long with significant ascent. Some sections will require a reasonable head for heights but we will not be doing any scrambling.
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WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- 8 nights accommodation (4 nights lodge, 4 nights hostel, shared rooms).
- 6 days of guided hikes. Our leaders are qualified Mountain Leaders and first-aiders.
- All transport in Scotland and transfers from Glasgow. (unless not required)
- Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
- Meals - all accommodation has self-catering facilities and there are restaurants and pubs nearby. We will have the chance to stock up on supplies at the supermarket.
- Travel to Glasgow.
- Travel insurance.
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HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:
To confirm your place on this trip use internet banking - your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip.
Full payment or a 50% deposit will reserve your space on this trip with the balance due 12 weeks before departure on or before the 06th March 2027.
Please use MUNROS as your payment reference. The account details are:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622
The following terms and conditions apply to all trip reservations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/
Only payment secures your place. Please email nathancapay@googlemail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks. :)
Upcoming events
29
- £619.00
THE LYSEFJORD CIRCUIT - HUT-TO-HUT IN NORWAY
Location not specified yetLysefjord is one of the most beautiful places in Norway. Its huge granite cliff face reflects the light unusually more than its neighbours which is how it earned its name, meaning the light fjord.
Nights - 7
Accommodation - Mountain Cabins, Guesthouse & Hotel
Cost: £619Our plan is to complete a full lap of the Fjord on The Lysefjorden Rundt Trail in 6 hiking days. The trail is 52 miles and has almost 6000m of ascent, staying in a mixture of mountain cabins and hostels along the way. This is a very challenging trail, not due to distance but because it involves alot of very steep up and down on slippery, exposed trails often aided with cables so you must have confident footwork and a good head for heights to the join this trip.
There are so many highlights on this stunning tour of the fjord. As well as the incredible Norwegian views and landscapes, we will see;
- Pulpit rock or Preikestolen, a vertigo inducing cliff top plateau 600m above the water
- The hanging boulder of Kjeragbolten
- The 4444 steps of the Florli staircase, the longest wooden staircase in the world
- The infinity pool of Fantapytten, where the brave can take a plunge!
ITINERARY
Arrival Day - Fly into Stavanger and check into our hotel.
Day 1 - 12.5kms, transfer 1.15hr to the trail-head and hike to the fjordside hostel at Florli
Day 2 - 18.5kms, 1600m ascent. From Florli to the self- service Langavatn mountain hut via the Kjerag plateau including the 4444 steps
Day 3 - 12.5kms to the top of the Oygardsstolen zig zags past the famous hanging boulder. Accommodation in the village at the Lysebotn lodge.
Day 4 - 20 kms. Transfer to the road end then hike to the unserviced Bakken Gard Hut. This is a long day and finishes with some basic scrambling aided with cables.
Day 5 - 15 kms and 1500m ascent & descent. A narrow and exposed trail undulating heavily. Accomodation at the renovated Priekestolen basecamp hostel.
Day 6 - 9 kms to our finish at Høllesliheia via the infinity pool of Fantapytten. Transfer 45 mins back to Stavanger back to the comfort of our hotel
Departure day - Catch a flight home or travel onwards to keep the adventure going in ScandanviaThis is not the Norwegian wilderness, the Lysefjorden Rundt connects popular sights and beauty spots where we will be sharing the trail with plenty of others. The privilege as a hiker, however, is to walk the stunning trails in between the busy areas, over the rugged hill tops to the mountain cabins where we will leave the tourists behind.
ACCOMMODATION
In Stavanger we have booked comfortable twin hotel rooms and in Lysebotn, Florli and Preikestolen we will be in hostel type accommodation with restaurants at our accommodation or nearby.
The Langavatn hut is a 'self-service' cabin, which means they have an unstaffed food store where we can buy provisions but we will need to cook them ourselves.
The Bakken Gard hut is 'unserviced' which means we will have to carry in our food for that nights dinner which can be purchased the day before. There is a fully equipped kitchen for us to use.
We will need to bring a sleeping bag liner for use at all the huts, duvets are pillows are provided but no bed linen.
Please note that although we always try to allocate seperate male and female dorms, due to the mixture of accommodation that this trip requires it will not always be possible.
DIFFICULTY
There are two main challenges on this trail, the vertigo and the ascent. There are some steep and exposed sections on the trail so if you don't have a good head for heights then this trip is not for you. We also need to be prepared for lots of up and down on steep trails, our biggest day has 3000m of elevation change. We will also need to carry our clothes and toiletries with us on the trail as luggage transfer is not possible.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 6 days of guided hiking on the Lysefjord Rundt. Mountain Leader qualified and certified first aider.
- 2 nights shared twin room hotel accommodation in Stavanger.
- 2 breakfasts at our hotel.
- 5 nights accommodation in mountain huts or hostels in shared dorms.
- Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Regulations 2018.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Meals
- Bus transfers in and out of Lysebotn (approx £18pp for each bus)
- Taxi transfers from Stavanger to the start of the hike and back from the end point - I will organise these and let people know a rough cost closer to the time.
- Luggage transfer (not possible on this trail)
TRAVEL TO STAVANGER
Saturday is the only day without direct flights from the UK to Stavanger so this trip will start and finish on Friday. Here are the recommended flights. If you would like to book alternative flights please make sure to be in Stavanger on Friday 31 July. We will be back in Stavanger at around 18.00pm on the 6th August.
Outbound - Friday 31 July
Norwegian DY1335
Departs London Gatwick 10:30
Arrives Stavanger 13:10Return - Friday 7 August
Norwegian DY1334
Departs Stavanger 08.45
Arrives London Gatwick 09:50HOW TO BOOK
To confirm your place on this trip use internet banking. Please use NORWAY2 as your payment reference. The account details are:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/Only payment secures your place. Your RSVP is not sufficient for us to hold a place for you. Please email nathancapay@googlemail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks. :)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We consider safety to be our number one priority and while we never take unnecessary risks, we do recognise that any outdoor activity involves a danger of personal injury or death. Remember that you should be aware of and accept these risks as you are responsible for your own safety and you should not undertake anything beyond your abilities. It is also your responsibility to be correctly equipped for the weather and activity you have chosen to participate in.
13 attendees - £749.00
THE KUNGSLEDEN - TREK THE SWEDISH ARCTIC (BANK HOLIDAY)
Kiruna, SEJoin Backabush to trek into the Arctic, stay in remote cabins and relax in woodfired saunas with glacial valley views.
Cost - £749. Group size – 14. Accommodation - 1 Hostel (twin rooms), 2 Serviced mountain stations and 4 remote mountain huts.
Lying within the Arctic Circle, the King's Trail runs through Sweden's most beautiful mountain scenery, traversing the land of the Samí people and the midnight sun. Listed as one of the "World's Best Hikes" by National Geographic, the trail passes through a magnificent and ever-changing panorama of snowy mountains, deep glacial valleys, open fell, expansive lakes and alpine forests.
Our six-day hut to hut route is about 105 kilometres long and will take us from Nikkaluokta to Abisko, passing by the rugged Laponia mountains and traversing the Tjäktjavagge, a 30km glacial valley with magnificent views along its entire length. The terrain is beautifully stark and remote, however benefits from a network of scenically located ‘fjällstugor’, Swedish staffed wilderness cabins with self catering kitchens, and traditional saunas.
We have secured bookings for our group in one of these charming cabins each night. All provide comfortable dorm rooms with beds and bedding (you will need to bring your own sleeping bag liner). Most of the cabins also have a small shop where you can buy basic supplies like expeditions meals and other non perishable food. We will also stay in a larger 'Mountain Station' at either end of the trail where we have the option of a delicious 3 course meal at the restaurant and a breakfast buffet in the morning.
Sweden benefits from a much milder climate than most other regions that lie so far north due to the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream. In summer we can expect predominantly high-pressure weather systems bringing stable weather.
Swedish Lapland is often referred to as Europe’s last great wilderness and is home to a remarkable group of wild animals including brown bear, wolferine, arctic fox, moose and many others. This is also Sápmi, home of the Samí people whose close relationship with the reindeer has underpinned their existence sine the last ice age.
ITINERARY:
Tue 25 Aug – Arrival in Kiruna, overnight in a Kiruna-based hostel
Wed 26 Aug – Bus to Nikkaluokta (1.5hr), start of the trek - Nikkaluota to Kebnekaise (17.9km). Dinner incl.
Thu 27 Aug –Kebnekaise to Sälka (24.4km)
Fri 28 Aug - Sälka to Tjäktja (12.5km) (short additional hike to peak with amazing views possible from hut)
Sat 29 Aug - Tjäktja to Alesjaure (13.1km)
Sun 30 Aug – Alesjaure to Abiskojaure (20.3km)
Mon 31 Aug - Abiskojaure to Abisko (13.3km). Our final destination is Abisko where we have our final night of accommodation at the Abisko Turistation. Dinner incl
Tue 1 Sept - From Abisko trains run back to Kiruna for our journey home. I will provide details of exactly what transport options to book from Abisko to connect with recommended flights.
DIFFICULTY:
The trek does not involve technical mountaineering and elevation profiles are moderate however some days will be demanding due to their length and rocky trails. You will need to have a good level of hiking fitness, capable of walking a maximum of 15 miles (24.4km) with up to 500m ascent/descent.
We will also need to carry our clothes and toiletries for the 6 days of hiking as well as some limited food supplies. This means we need to be prepared to carry bags weighing up to around 12kg at the start of the hike.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
*A guided trekking experience. Qualified Mountain Leader and certified first aider.
- 2 x 3 course evening meals at the mountain station restaurants.
*1 night hostel accommodation (breakfast incl) in Kiruna at the start of the trip (shared twin rooms) - 4 nights Swedish mountain hut accommodation (shared rooms)
*2 nights in the larger serviced mountain stations (shared rooms) - Logistical planning and support (advice on flights, trains, buses, food supplies, equipment etc)
*Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 2018
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
- Flights & airport transfers
*Bus transport to the trailhead from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta (around £20) - Public transport from Abisko to Kiruna Airport after the trek
*Meals not specified in the itinerary - Sleeping bag liner
*Travel insurance with remote rescue cover.
TRAVEL:
Recommended connecting flights with Scandinavian Airlines (Operated by SAS Connect) to Kiruna:
Outbound - Tuesday 25th August:
SK 1530 London Heathrow LHR 06:40 – Stockholm Arlanda ARN 10:05
SK 1042 Stockholm Arlanda ARN 11:40 – Kiruna KRN 13:15Inbound - Tuesday 1 September:
SK 1045 Kiruna KRN 13:45 – Stockholm Arlanda ARN 15:20
SK 533 Stockholm Arlanda ARN 18:20 – London Heathrow LHR 19:55An earlier return flight may not be possible to reach using public transport.
If you choose to book alternative travel you will need to arrive in Kiruna on or before Tuesday 25th August.
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:
To confirm your place on this trip use online banking. Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip. Please use KUNGSLEDEN as your payment reference. The account details are:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/
Only payment secures your place. Please email nathancapay@googlemail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We consider safety to be our number one priority and while we never take unnecessary risks, we do recognise that any outdoor activity involves a danger of personal injury or death. Remember that you should be aware of and accept these risks as you are responsible for your own safety and you should not undertake anything beyond your abilities. It is also your responsibility to be correctly equipped for the weather and activity you have chosen to participate in.
14 attendees - 2 x 3 course evening meals at the mountain station restaurants.
- £459.00
GERMANY’S FAIRY-TALE BLACK FOREST (BANK HOLIDAY)
Schwarzwaldhotel Gengenbach, In d. Börsiglache 4, Gengenbach, DEBackabush is going to Germany’s enchanted Black Forest (Schwarzwald), one of Europe's most beautiful hiking regions, for the August bank holiday.
Cost - £459 twin share or £589 single occupancy. Group size - 16. Accommodation - 4 star hotel and breakfast.
Known for its forested hills, gorgeous valleys and picturesque villages, the Black Forest is an ideal walking destination with an excellent network of well-maintained trails. The area gets the most sunshine in Germany and late August is a perfect time to hike here, with pleasant temperatures and the grape harvest starting in the vineyards.
Our base will be the charming, medieval town of Gengenbach, located in the idyllic Kinzig Valley between forested hills and vineyards. This picture-perfect town is full of pastel coloured historic timber-frame houses, traditional German restaurants and beer terraces.
From here we have easy access to numerous local hiking trails by means of the Black Forest railway, one of the most scenic railway lines in Germany. During our three full days of hiking, we will have the chance to explore the diverse scenery of the Central Black Forest region.
Our hotel will provide us with the KONUS Guest Card which provides free 2nd class travel on all public transportation (trains and buses) throughout the Black Forest region for the duration of our stay (from check-in up to and including our departure day). Train journeys to/from our hikes will be between 15-35 minutes.
ACCOMMODATION:
We have booked comfortable rooms in the 4 star Schwarzwaldhotel Gengenbach, a short walking distance from the train station. The hotel offers a wellness area including a heated indoor pool, Finnish sauna and steam room.
ITINERARY:
Thu 27 August – Arrival, time to explore Gengenbach
Fri 28 August - Oberharmersbach to Wolfach via Brandenkopf, the highest peak of the Central Black Forest (946m) (20km, 850m ascent/descent)
Sat 29 August – Hausach to Hornberg along a ridgeway with series of peaks on the Westweg long distance trail (20km, 1000m ascent, 860m descent)
Sun 30 August – Triberg's famous waterfalls, cicular hike (18km, 540m ascent/descent)
Mon 31 August – Departure
Please note this hiking itinerary is provisional and subject to change due to weather conditions and other factors.
DIFFICULTY:
This trip does not involve technical mountaineering but the hikes will be challenging due to their length/elevation profile so you will need to have a good level of hiking fitness, capable of walking up to up to 12.5 miles (20km) and 3300 feet (1000m) ascent/descent.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- 4 nights accommodation in a 4-star hotel
- 4 breakfasts
- KONUS card offering free local public transport
- An itinerary of organised hikes for our 3 full hiking days
- Qualified Mountain Leader and first aider
- Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 2018
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
- Lunches/ dinners (we will buy lunch supplies locally and sample the local cuisine at restaurants for dinner)
- Flights & airport transfers (see details below)
- Travel insurance
- Local tourist tax (expected to be 3 euros per night)
- Entrance fees (minimal fees expected for the waterfalls and observation tower)
RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS:
The Black Forest is well connected with 4 different airports in the vicinity.
(shortest transfer times by train/bus to Gengenbach in brackets)
- Karlsruhe / Baden Baden - Ryanair from Stansted (1hr 10min)
- EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg - BA from Heathrow, Easyjet from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stansted (2hr 20min)
- Stuttgart - BA & Eurowings from Heathrow (2hr 28min)
Outbound flights: It is recommended to book a morning or early afternoon flight on Thu 27 August to arrive in Gengenbach in good time. Please take into account the train/bus schedule when booking your flight.
Inbound flights: It is recommended to book a late afternoon or evening flight on Mon 31 August to ensure you have enough time to get to the airport. Earlier flights may be possible (please consult train schedules).
Train/bus transfer costs vary with one way prices between 10-30 EUR depending on the airport. Consult Google Maps or the Deutsche Bahn website to find bus/train connections/prices.
Contact the organiser if you need help finding suitable flights/ airport transfers.
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:
To confirm your place on this trip use online banking. Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip. Please use BlackForest as your payment reference. The account details are:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We consider safety to be our number one priority and while we never take unnecessary risks, we do recognise that any outdoor activity involves a danger of personal injury or death. Remember that you should be aware of and accept these risks as you are responsible for your own safety and you should not undertake anything beyond your abilities. It is also your responsibility to be correctly equipped for the weather and activity you have chosen to participate in.
16 attendees - £449.00
COASTAL TRAILS OF THE CINQUE TERRE - ITALY
Location not specified yetJoin Backabush for a 4 night stay hiking the ancient coastal paths of this UNESCO site and National Park on the Italian Riviera.
These are the picturesque villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore that make up the Cinque Terre National Park. The area could hardly be more visually striking, the trails are filled with amazing views across terraced vineyards and colourful coves.
Group Size - 16. Nights - 4. Accommodation - Guest House, twin share rooms. Cost - £449
DIFFICULTY:
This trip is suitable for everyone with reasonable fitness, the hikes are moderate in difficulty up to around 9 miles each day with a lunch stop at one of the famous villages for some focaccia before we continue along the coast to the next village to finish the hike with a limoncello spritz in the afternoon. Lovely!
Trains link our accommodation in La Spezia to all of the villages in the National Park and it is by far the easy way to get around in Cinque Terre. As there is a train station in every village along the trail, our hikes can easily be joined or left in the middle of the day, so the itinerary is completely flexible for people to take a morning enjoying cafe culture or an afternoon wandering the narrow streets.
ACCOMMODATION:
We will be staying in a modern guest house, conveniently located in the neighbouring coastal town of La Spezia. It has all the expected facilities like en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioned rooms. La Spezia is larger than the villages of Cinque Terre but still easy going with a great choice of bars and restaurants for evenings of pesto and local seafood.
Our guest house is near the railway station and we will ride between 7 and 25 minutes to and from our hikes each day.
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
*Guest house accommodation in twin share rooms
- Full itinerary of guided hikes
*Backabush trip leader (qualified Mountain Leader) - Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 2018
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
*Flights (see below)
- Airport transfers (we will take the local train)
*Trains in Cinque Terre - Blue trail entrance fee
*Meals - Travel insurance
RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS:
There are daily flights to Pisa from London, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester. Trains run from Pisa to La Spezia every 30 mins and can be booking online with Trainline, Omio or Trenitalia. It will be easy to meet us at the accommodation anytime on Saturday 12th September, check in is from 4pm. You can walk from the station to the hotel in just a few minutes.
On the 16th of September we will need to check out of our hotel at 11am before we head home. Please feel free to book your return flight for any time on the 16th September.
TRANSFERS:
The train journey between Pisa Airport and La Spezia is roughly 1hr 30 and approx £25 return. Service specific tickets can be purchased online but the regional trains do not sell out and offer no advanced discount so we recommend purchasing your ticket on arrival from the ticket desk at Pisa Airport, this allows for any flight delays.
HOW TO BOOK:
To confirm your place on this trip please send payment with online banking, using CINQUETERRE as the payment reference.
Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space. The account details are:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/Please email nathancapay@googlemail.com when you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. CIAO!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We consider safety to be our number one priority and while we never take unnecessary risks, we do recognise that any outdoor activity involves a danger of personal injury or death. Remember that you should be aware of and accept these risks as you are responsible for your own safety and you should not undertake anything beyond your abilities. It is also your responsibility to be correctly equipped for the weather and activity you have chosen to participate in.
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