Terms & Conditions

What is included in the pilgrimage, and what is not included

This is set out in the description of each pilgrimage. Please ask for clarification if you are unsure on any aspect.

What to pay and when

When you enquire about booking a Hope Walking pilgrimage with us, we will acknowledge your enquiry by email and send you our bank details to make payment. When we have sufficient numbers to confirm the pilgrimage, we will send you the joining arrangements by email. We are unable to make refunds for cancellations as loss of a booking may affect viability of minimum numbers. If you are able to identify someone to replace you on that pilgrimage on the same terms as the original booking, we will happily transfer the booking to them at no cost.

Where no one can take your place or if you prefer, we always endeavour to offer our pilgrims an alternative Hope Walking pilgrimage within the following twelve months, wherever possible.

All bookings are considered to be provisional until the full payment has been received. All monies you have paid Hope Walking for your pilgrimage will be refunded in full should we have to cancel the walk due to weather warnings or leader indisposition. We are sadly unable to refund any travel or accommodation you may have booked around the pilgrimage.

For our muti day pilgrimages, 50% deposit is required on booking with full payment one month before. Should you need to cancel after that time, if you are able to identify someone to replace you on that holiday on the same terms as the original booking, we will transfer the booking to them at no cost. If any element of the trip is reclaimable from suppliers and we are still at minimum numbers, we will return what balance we can to you.

As a single woman for the past twenty years, our founder Faye struggles with the concept of the ‘single person supplement’. It is a hard fact of hospitality life for our accommodation suppliers however, that they need to charge the full room rate despite hosting only one guest. We empathise and only pass on the additional charge to us reluctantly in such cases. You are of course welcome to invite a friend or a fellow pilgrim to share your room and reduce costs to you both.

Accuracy of information and variation of plans

We try hard to ensure that the information about your pilgrimage on our website is accurate, but we reserve the right to make adjustments and changes if necessary or appropriate. Sometimes these unforseeable variations happen on the day, such as churches being closed or ministers called to urgent parish needs. We cannot take responsibility for any changes to our planned pilgrimages caused by our suppliers or any party we work with or through, but we will make every effort to minimise any variation to the holiday as described. Such variations do not enable a refund to be made.

Where any significant change is required and known in advance however, such as change of walk location, length or standard of accommodation, we will contact you to enable you to choose whether to accept the change, switch to a different pilgrimage with us, or cancel with full refund of any costs you have paid us.

Our pilgrimages are all outdoor walking experiences and will take place rain, wind or shine. Some details may occasionally need to be varied, for example due to weather forecasts, temporary conditions on the route, or events and experiences on the day. Your walk leader will have the final say on any decisions and changes required on the day.

If the weather conditions are so severe as to render the walk unsafe, your walk leader will alert you to the walk cancellation as soon as possible so please make sure we have your mobile number. All monies you have paid Hope Walking will be refunded in full should we have to cancel, or your place can be transferred to your chosen next available pilgrimage should you prefer. We will email you soon after, asking for your bank details to be able to process these refunds, as our business bank account does not store these.

Kit and fitness

It is important that you come prepared for walking and the expected conditions. Please ensure you always have suitable footwear for the specified terrain, a walking pole/s on hilly or muddy routes for support and dress for the forecast weather. A day rucksack with a drink, food where stipulated in the walk details, your personal first aid kit and any medications you need is essential. Should you not have your essential medication with you on a walk, we are unable to guide you under the terms of our insurance and your place will reluctantly be forfeited with no refunds. Any other items you need will be specified on the walk details. Please ask if you require additional guidance on what to wear and what to bring with you.

The description of your pilgrimage sets out the general demands the walk will make on you – distance to walk each day, broad pace, general terrain - it is essential you ensure this is right for you and within your capabilities, as a reduced pace may affect not only other walkers enjoyment, but our ability to offer the full itinerary and the safety of the entire group. We will be happy to discuss any concerns. It is also essential that you let us know if you have any health problems or medical condition that may affect you during the holiday. Where possible, your leader will provide or request a backstop walker and volunteer to stay with a pilgrims who is unable to complete the walk. This cannot be guaranteed, depending on group size and location. In such instances, pilgrims will be left in a safe place until transport can be arranged.

Time keeping

If you arrive late for the start of any pilgrimage, such that we have to set off without you, we will endeavour to make arrangements for you to catch up with us at some feasible point. Those arrangements will be at your cost and risk, and no refund or compensation will be payable for the part of the schedule which you will miss. Nor will any refund or compensation be paid if it is not possible to agree and make a reasonable arrangement for you to join the group.

Amendment or cancellation

Amendment or cancellation by you: if you need to amend your booking, we will make every effort to accommodate this as described above.

Amendment or cancellation by us: If we cannot run a pilgrimage because minimum booking numbers have not been reached, we will refund in full any payment you have made within 14 days. If we have to cancel for any other reason, we will refund in full any payment you have made to us. We are unfortunately not able to compensate you for any additional costs you may have incurred whatever the reason for the cancellation, for example your travel and any related accommodation. We therefore recommend you take out your own holiday insurance which covers such eventualities.

Travel insurance

We strongly encourage you to take out your own travel insurance so that you are covered should any relevant risk occur, such as transport delays preventing you from joining the walk on time. You should check that this will include any activities detailed in your holiday description and will cover you should you have to cancel because of Covid or any other medical issues.