Mickledore Travel recently handled my arrangements for a 6 day, 44-mile self-guided walking tour…read morealong the Thames River Path. They're in the business of arranging walking/hiking tours and their web site is fun to use in helping you whittle down your options. Once you decide on the number of days you wish to hike and the type of terrain you wish to hike in, Mickledore's web site will show you your options. When you have questions, their staff will quickly respond via email or phone. When you've settled on a hike and made a down payment to Mickledore they'll make your arrangements which include lodging and luggage transport along your hiking route. As your travel date approaches and you make your final payment, Mickledore will send you the details of your trip: dates, lodging, maps, luggage tags, and meals when applicable. Depending on where you've chosen to hike you could possibly handle all of this on your own but Mickledore takes you out of the planning business and sometimes that's worth paying for. To say that this hiking tour was one of my best travel experiences ever isn't an understatement. This rubs off on my feelings about Mickledore in a positive way. The services they provided on this particular trip weren't perfect but I so enjoyed my trip that I'd consider using them again in the future. Here's the details: * Mickledore booked 6 nights of lodging in 5 different locations. Of those, 3 were great or good, 1 was just okay, and 1 was bad. I provided post-trip feedback to Mickledore, as they requested. The route I chose is not as traveled as some of the more popular trails; for this reason I think Mickledore may not have had great data on some of the places they booked me into. * Each morning, your luggage must be downstairs and ready for transport by 8:30 a.m. Each afternoon, when checking in at a new place of lodging, my luggage was waiting. This part went off without a hitch. * In the UK, each place of lodging included a full English breakfast. In 2 places Mickledore had arranged for bag lunches to be included as well. I would not want the bag lunches again. I was hiking through areas that were easy to find food and drink and it is that I prefer. * Mickledore provided a book (outlining the details of the trail), a water-safe map of the trail, printed pages of places to eat/public restrooms/emergency service info and the like. They also have an app on which you can see much of your trip info. The trail I hiked was easy to follow and I'm good at searching out my preferred dining options. The only part of this that I found useful (and mostly just because it was interesting) was the map. * Although they don't verify it, Mickledore requires that travelers get trip insurance. I did and thankfully had no need to use it. Not including trip insurance, the services Mickledore provided for this trip (including the 6 nights of lodging and the luggage transport plus everything else mentioned) ran $967 per person which wasn't cheap but also wasn't at all unreasonable. Mickeldore Travel isn't the only company specializing in organizing self-guided walking tours but in this space, the offerings are similar. If I were planning another trip like this I'd again consider using them.

These guys helped me plan and complete my coast to Coast walk last year! Amazing thank you Rick for…read moreall your information and booking all the stops. How did you know already how long some of the legs would take genius! Again if you are planing UK walking holidays use Mickledore travel!

Visited with a friend with dementia - on Thursday 1st June 2023. The young man who served us was…read morewonderful - great service and brilliant attitude

The local Tourist Information Centre in Carlisle has very helpful, and friendly staff. They are…read moreextremely knowledgeable about everything round about, from local activities, to B&B's, and where to visit. Everythingthat you would expect from a Tourist Information office. The office itself is located in the old Town Hall, which at first glance is difficult for a disabled person to access, however there is a lift provided. Inside, besides local advice, you can also purchase souvenirs, local maps, and book accommodation and local attractions. There is a notice board inside, from which upcoming events can be advertised. For local business' there is also a fax and photocopying service available, for a small fee.

The Newton Stewart Cinema is a real small town treasure…read more The projection was crystal clear, the sound very good and at a reasonable level - no ringing in my ears after I left and no straining to hear the sound. The staff is friendly and I have never come across broken seating or sticky floors when visiting. Lots of space which is a big plus so you don't have to cram in next to another couple if you don't want to. Comfortable well maintained seats and the screen itself is in excellent shape. The concessions and the facilities have always been clean when I've gone in.

Gateway to the Galloway Hills Newton Stewart was founded in…read morethe 1650s by William Stewart, son of the 2nd Earl of Galloway. Originally named the 'new town' of Stewart, later compounded to Newton, this bustling and friendly town had royal charter from King Charles 11, giving permission for a market and an annual fair. A later incarnation as Newton Douglas, after a successful local industrialist, was short-lived. The town sits on the banks of the River Cree, famed for its salmon and other wildlife. The River Cree runs into Wigtown Bay, a spectacular nature reserve, known for its wildfowl; the vistas to the north are dominated by the Galloway Hills rolling up towards Ayrshire and the Galloway Forest Park (http://www.qype.com/place/209510-Galloway-Forest-Park-Newton-Stewart) (now designated a Dark Sky Park, one of only four in the world). There, you will find walks and rugged hikes to suit all abilities. Within the confines of the town, there is a wealth of living history, from the historic shop fronts to the 1930s Cinema (http://www.qype.com/place/198137-Newton-Stewart-Cinema-Newton-Stewart) , now a community-owned organisation, showing the latest films and live theatre, and the Newton Stewart Museum housed in the former St John's Church on York Road. The town has always been the market centre for the surrounding area, and its octagonal auction house (http://www.qype.com/place/2069812-Galloway-Dumfrie-Public-Auction-Newton-Stewart) still remains important for ram and cattle sales.

I always use this agent as they are not tied to a certain few holiday companies which I find gets…read moreme a better priced holiday. The staff are all well trained and are very honest when advising on each resort. They offer travel insurance and a Bureau de Change too. The shop layout is good with the brochures displayed well. Once you have booked a holiday with them you are automatically kept informed throughout the year of any special promotions or offers they will be running in advance of them actually happening.

I remember the much smaller tourist office in the middle of town so I was amazed by this vast…read moreimprovement when I was back in Dumfries a week ago. It's really huge and full of beautiful things - gifts, cards, crafts, maps, an exquisite tapestry hanging along one wall. There are interactive displays as well and everything is very eye-catching and enticing. The staff there were friendly and helpful. I go into tourist information centres in every town I visit and this has to be one of the best - if not THE best I've come across!!!

The tourist office is on whitesands in the centre of Dumfries, by the river and you get to it…read morethrough a very small courtyard. (It is signposted).The staff are extremely helpful, and as with all tourist offices, there are numerous leaflets and displays about local interests - small gift shop on the premises too. They give out free maps of Dumfries if you need one, and the maps themselves are easy to read and understand. Also have post cards of the local area which is useful, as not always easy to find in Dumfries.

Here for a concert. The space was large and lofty. The accoustics perfect. It was the best spot to…read moresee this music live.

The ancient borough of Cockermouth occupies a beautiful and advantageous situation in the heart of…read morea most picturesque and highly-cultivated country, on the south side of the river Derwent, and at the mouth of the Cocker, whence is derived its name, 8 miles E. of Workington, 7 miles S.E. of Maryport, 14 miles N.E. of Whitehaven, 27 miles S.W. by W. of Carlisle, and about 305 miles N.W. of London. Camden, who visited Cockermouth in 1582, describes it as a populous, well-trading market town, neatly built, but of a low situation, between two hills, upon one of which is the church, and upon the other, over against it, (which is evidently artificial) a very strong castle, on the gates whereof, are the arms of the Moltons, Umfravills, (Nevills) Lucies, and Percies. Bishop Nicholson, who wrote in 1685, says, the houses are built of stone, and slated mostly with blue slate; they comprise two streets, one above the river Cocker, in which is the Moot Hall, Market-house, Corn-market, and Shambles. The old Moot Hall and the wooden Shambles, being a great nuisance to the place, were taken down in 1829, and in the same year the present convenient Court-house, or Town-hall, Bank, and News Room, were erected by subscription, at a cost of £1300 raised in shares of £26 each, exclusive of the materials of the old Moot Hall, which were given by the earl of Egremont. They form one handsome range of white freestone buildings, on the west side of Cocker bridge, which was built, in 1828, on the site of the old one, at a cost of £2600, including the expense of removing several houses, for the purpose of widening the entrance on both sides of the river. It is 160 feet long, and connects the eastern and south-western parts of the town. The Derwent bridge, which has two arches 270 feet in length, forms a continuation of the road from Maryport. Besides being intersected by the Derwent and Cocker rivers, the town is also refreshed by two smaller streams which rise a few miles east, and are a great convenience to the manufacturers of Cockermouth and neighbourhood. A new market-house was erected at the top of Market-street, in 1837, by subscription, towards which the late earl of Egremont gave £200