Linked to each route page you will find a picture of the Route Adviser, the person who lives in the area, suggested the route and developed it with us. A list of all our advisers is on this page.

 

But no walk could ever reach our brochure until it has been rigorously tested and graded by Simon (with map, mobile and beer, above, in the Czech Republic after a morning’s walk).

 

The final stage is undertaken by our doughty “pioneers”. Friends and early customers, these are people who set off to test the newly created walk using Simon’s directions, maps and the notes we have created. They pick up the final hitches so the route is ready for you!  At regular intervals thereafter, we send out these Trusties to check the inevitable changes, and to suggest ways the routes can be improved.

 

New Route Advisers and pioneers needed

 

The critical attributes of a potential Route Adviser are that he or she must live in the area, have a strong interest in its landscape and culture, be able to think flexibly, have the inclination to put in the hard work that is needed to plan the route, and time to look after our clients should anything go amiss during their holiday.

 

If you know someone who lives somewhere lovely in Europe, as a native or an ex-pat, and who might be interested in becoming a Route Adviser, ask him or her to contact Simon, at On Foot, by Email or telephone.

 

New Pioneers are also needed.  If you have been on one of our walks and would like to test new (or re-test existing) walks, and have an enjoyable time in the process, contact Simon.

 

Our team at home

 

Our friendly team is just a call or an email away so please contact us to discuss any route or travel-related issues. You will normally be able to talk immediately to someone who has first-hand knowledge of the route you are interested in.

 


Mary, Simon, Debbie and Sarah.

 

 

Route Advisors (and how we work)

 

Istria (Croatia)
Hilltop towns of north-west Croatia
Route designed by

Vladimir Benas

Vladimir (Vlado) has worked in the tourist industry for the last 40 years both with groups and independent clients as well as special interest tours and activities. He and his family now run a travel agency in Moscenicka Draga.
Slovenia
The Karst - culture and landscape
Route designed by

Janez Golob

Retired architect Janez Golob was born in Celje, eastern Slovenia. Living in Ljubljana, he teaches woodworking, is a mountain climber, mountain rescue team member, and mountain guide, and has trekked and climbed in the Slovenian Alps and elsewhere.
Bohemian Paradise (Czech Rep)
Countryside of the northern borderlands
Route designed by

Lubomir Hoska and his friend, the late Jan Petera

Born in the region, Lubomir has his own travel agency and tour operator business and combines that with being a professional guide.

Andalucia (Spain)
White villages of the Ronda Mountains
Route designed by

Guy Hunter-Watts

Guy Hunter-Watts has lived in a small village at the edge of the Grazalema Park for more than 20 years.
He is now writing guide books full time, and is the author of “Walking in Andalucia" and “Small Hotels and Inns of Andalucia”.

 
Catalonia (Spain)
Quiet byways of the Garrotxa
Route designed by

Mike Lockwood

Mike Lockwood, who originally designed the route, has lived in Catalonia for 25 years and now lives in the middle of Besalú. He is a wildlife and walking guide, author of the 'Sunflower' walking guide to the area and designed much of the network of historical paths that this tour follows. He is fluent in Catalan and Spanish. 

 

Richard Calvin

Mike has handed over his baton to Richard Calvin, who is a keen walker as well as a sculptor in stainless steel.  His wife Sara looks after hotel liaison as well as running her own villa rental company.
Alpes Maritimes (France)
From the Alps to the Mediterranean
Route designed by

Richard Petitjean

Richard came to the Côte d’Azur to study tourism and has lived here for 28 years working as a licensed Tour Guide. Since 60% of the French flora is represented in this area, Richard’s keen interest in botany is put to the best possible use.
Lycian Way (Turkey)
Along the Turquoise Coast to the lighthouse
Route designed by

Kate Clow

Kate Clow is the author of "The Lycian Way", the definitive guide to the long distance walk she created herself, with the help of the people of the region of Antalya, which she has made her home for more than 20 years. A keen botanist and student of the history of the Middle East.
Chamonix and the French Alps
Le Pays du Mont Blanc
Route designed by

Lizzy Ashley Cooper

Lizzy grew to love Mont Blanc and the surrounding area so much that she has made it her home. She regularly walks the paths and routes in the forests, mountain slopes and meadows, with their abundant flora and other wildlife. She is a keen ski tourer.
Northern Portugal
Walking the wild hill country
Route designed by

Paul and Denise Burton 

The Burtons have lived in Northern Portugal for almost 30 years and have been keen walkers ever since arriving in the area. They are the authors of Sunflower’s "Landscapes of Northern Portugal". 

Amalfi Coast (Italy)
Along the siren coast
Route designed by
Julian Tippett
Julian first stumbled on the medieval footpaths of the costiera on holiday in 1991. Since then, many visits and much exploration have let him 'get under the skin' of the peninsula. He wrote Sunflower's "Landscapes of Sorrento, Amalfi and Capri".
Sabine Hills (Italy)
A walking tour of the Sabine Hills
Route designed by

Elisabeth de Coster

Elisabeth and her partner live and work on an organic agriturismo close to the Gorge of Farfa, for which they have recently obtained national protection. Their own house was formerly a shepherd’s cottage built over the remains of a Roman Villa, which they have excavated with the help of friends.
Southern Tuscany (Italy)
Renaissance hilltop towns and classic wines
Route designed by

Giovanni Ramaccione

Giovanni and his partner Michela live and work in the Appenine foothills in Sansepolcro, from where they run their bike-touring and general guiding business through the whole of central Italy. Their energy is legendary, their mileage frightening.
Austria
Lake Constance and the foothills of the Alps
Route designed by

Peter Münch

Peter is a practising architect, living in Neuhäusel, in the Rhineland, with his family, in a woodland house he built himself. He is one of nature's wanderers, never happy unless exploring new countries, new paths, and finding out about new cultures.
Dorset (England)
In the footsteps of Thomas Hardy
Route designed by
This route was designed by our in-house team, with Mary leading.
Exmoor (England)
Coast and Moor: From Barnstaple to Dunster
Route designed by
This walk was designed by an in-house team, with Debbie leading.
Dolomites (Italy)
From the South Tyrol to the Dolomites
Route designed by

Isabelle Basso

Isabelle has lived and walked in the Cortina area for more than ten years. She works as a walking guide and translator and has a special interest in the First World War Austrian/Italian Dolomite front.
Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The walled city and the Elafiti Islands
Route designed by

Tomislav Coric

Tomi is Dubrovnik born and bred and after a spell in the hotel industry now runs his own travel agency specializing in walking and biking tours. When not working too many hours in the office, he spends time with his young family, exploring the area on foot or bike.

French Alps (2-centre)
The Mont Blanc foothills in style
Route designed by

Lizzy Ashley Cooper

Lizzy grew to love Mont Blanc and the surrounding area so much that she has made it her home. She regularly walks the paths and routes in the forests, mountain slopes and meadows, with their abundant flora and other wildlife. She is a keen ski tourer.
Rhine Gorge (Germany)
From Bingen to Koblenz
Route designed by

Peter Münch and Beatrix Greiff

Architect Peter is well known to On Foot walkers as the route advisor on both our Austria and our former Rhine-Moselle walks.  Cousin Beatrix lives on the route and has a portfolio career encompassing jewellery making and being a PA.  She is bilingual in German and French and fluent in English.
Côtes du Rhône (France)
Gigondas and the foothills of Mont Ventoux
Route designed by
Régis Leroy has been a mountain guide across the world for 20 years, but don't let that worry you!  He has devised for On Foot a walking route around his beloved home area of the Vaucluse, a region which he knows intimately.  A consummate and sociable Frenchman, Régis speaks good English and you will find him and his wife Patricia willing and helpful.