THE HOLIDAY DOCTOR

Questions or concerns about overseas walks? Sorted.

QI’m looking for summer walks in the French Alps which need to be suitable for kids who will be six and five next year (they’ve walked a few Wainwrights). I’m not sure where would be best. What are our options? The Tour du Mont Blanc looks good but are there bits which can be done in sections, with great views of Mont Blanc? Ellie Maccas

ASelf- guiding in the Alps, even with kids, is pretty straightforward in the summer thanks to easy access to cable cars and good, clear signage. The TMB as a whole would likely be too challenging in this instance (it’s 110 miles, with a lot of solid ascent and descent), but if you’re looking for day-walks along the trail with real wow factor, the sections at Le Brevent, Courmayeur and Les Contamines are particularly accessible and absolutely stunning. Also check out the Petits Balcons routes from Chamonix – panoramic promenades where Mont Blanc is in full view most of the way.

Plenty of companies offer guided walking holidays for families in the Alps. KE have an eight- day Family Tour du Mont Blanc Walking Week aimed at teens, and a Chamonix Family Alpine Adventure trip which includes a two- day trek to a mountain hut. HF have two family-friendly Alpine trips in Austria (Zillertal Alps and Stubai Alps), featuring multiple route options on each day, as well as exciting things for the kids like collectible stamp- cards and play areas at the base hotels.

QI’m really tempted by the Tour du Mont Blanc. But how fit would I need to be to do it? Steven Murton

AGordon Steer of World Expeditions says: “With good trip preparation and planning, it is achievable for most fit people. We recommend training in the hills as much as possible, as you will have some ascents and descents of 1000m+ on some days and that can be tough on the legs and knees. If getting into the hills is not an option, gym work, running and cycling are all good training. Aim for 4-5 times a week, as good preparation will make the trip so much more enjoyable and achievable. Once you are there, the views surrounding you will certainly help to keep you motivated – as will a well- deserved bowl of fondue at the end of a great day’s hiking!”

Sarah Davis of HF adds: “The walking days on our TMB holiday are typically six to eight hours, but although the mileage may appear moderate, the ascent and descents can be steep and substantial, and the terrain is often loose underfoot. So we suggest you try to fit in a number of longer walks beforehand, including some in hilly terrain.”

QI’ve done a lot of trips to the Alps and the Himalayas. I’ve always fancied South America but I’m not sure where to start. Where would you recommend? Mountains are a must! Angela Cosgrave

ASouth America has an immense richness of mountain scenery and a good portion of the world’s bucket-list treks – but also amazing places that are a little further off the popular trails. The five- day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is by far the most popular hiking trail (it has to cap its numbers at 500) and is offered in some form by most of the major companies, but for an alternative route, consider the Choquequairo trek offered by KE Adventures and World Expeditions among others, which follows a much tougher path to the incredible lost city of Choquequairo (below) before continuing to Machu Picchu.

World Expeditions’ Gordon Steer adds: “Patagonia has some of the best trekking in the continent. The Torres del Paine Circuit and the W Trek are among our favourites, while the Los Glaciares National Park offers day-hikes to the base of some of the most dramatic peaks in the world. For something a bit more challenging, try the Huayhuash Circuit in Peru, scene of the events of Touching the Void with Joe Simpson and Simon Yates.” (Yates himself works as a guide on some of WE’s more challenging trips.)

QI did a section of the Great Wall of China 13 years ago. I would love to do it again and see how much China has changed in that time... any suggestions? Tim Hewitt

AYou’re right, the country – and parts of the wall – have both changed a lot lately. There have been restoration projects along some sections, and at others, old restorations have been deliberately unpicked to give an authentic flavour of what the dynasties actually left us with. There are in fact several walls, dating from different centuries, so having someone to curate the best options for walking is key. Exodus’ Great Wall trip mixes superstar sections like Jinshanling with wilder, more dilapidated sections way off the tourist trail. It includes six days of point-to-point walking – and plenty of opportunity to see how the world’s fastest- developing nation is evolving around you. Other companies that go to the Great Wall include Mountain Kingdoms and World Expeditions.

QI’d really love to say I’ve hiked in Antarctica. Who offers trips where you can actually walk on the continent, rather than just sail and sightsee? Kevin McCormick

AAntarctica is one of the most difficult parts of the world to access, and thus it’s not very well set up for trekking holidays. But some companies will take you there gladly, including Jagged Globe, Mountain Kingdoms and World Expeditions. The itineraries have to be somewhat flexible though, as WE’s Gordon Steer explains: “The exploratory nature of these voyages means there is no set itinerary and all activities are weather- dependent, but we always make sure that there are walks to suit all capabilities, to give everyone the chance to follow for a few hours in the footsteps of Scott, Shackleton et al.

“If you are feeling adventurous, you can also go climbing to reach higher grounds and viewpoints or go open-air camping for one evening, surrounded by the Antarctic wilderness. It’s just incredible.”

QI’m a slow walker and I’m worried that the pace of group walking will feel too pressured for me. Any advice? Eileen Riordan

AIt was for walkers with your concerns that Ramblers Holidays set up their subsidiary, Adagio. It provides walking breaks at a slower pace, with shorter distances, designed around points of interest where you can pause and savour the experience. Star destinations include Umbria (above), the Italian Lakes and Portugal, while Adagio Plus offers Alpine walks along well-maintained, undulating paths, accessed by cable car.

“Adagio means ‘slowly, leisurely’ in Italian,” says leader Michael Hatch.

“These holidays are designed to deliver walks with that ethos.”

QI have Coeliac disease which means I need glutenfree meals. Are there any travel companies that will make life easier for me? Ann Jameson

AHoliday companies should provide all the dietary advice you may need upfront, and most are geared up to advise on any special requirements from vegan to lactose-free to gluten-free. Awareness of, or attentiveness to, Coeliac disease varies across Europe, but Germany, France and the Republic of Ireland seem to be ahead of the game. Alex Greenwood of KE Adventures says: “Our centres in places like Tuscany or Portugal are great because all the food is cooked fresh each day, and there is plenty of time for the hosts to prepare for any dietary requirement. India and Nepal are good options as most meals are rice-based, with lots of vegetables. High Alpine trips could be tricky as the remote huts tend to base their menu options around pasta and bread. If you’re unsure, our experts can always advise on whether the trip is suitable for you.”

QI’m keen to travel independently but I know the standard of waymarking can vary a lot across Europe. Any hints on the best places for clear signposts if you’re self-guiding? (Obviously I’ll take maps, but I like to be reassured along the way!) David Guthrie

AThere is indeed enormous variety. Greece, for example, is pretty dreadful at telling you where anything is, even when you’re on one of the Europe-wide GR routes. Joe Williams, of Cicerone Guides, says that perhaps the best waymarking on any European trail is on the variant routes of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk, where the omnipresent scallop symbol

( left) will guide you all the way from southern France, across the Pyrenees and down into northern Spain to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

He adds: “Switzerland is also ideal, with great signs, often with walking times indicated. France, Germany and Austria all have excellent signage in most cases. Italy is great in the mountains, a bit more hit-and-miss elsewhere. Spain (away from the Camino) is perhaps a touch behind.”

We also had a fascinating recommendation from reader Annie Goddard: “South Korea is brilliantly set up for walking, particularly with signposting. I walked on Jeju Island last year and each walk has blue and orange ribbons, spaced so that you can almost always see the next one from the one you’re passing.”