What is slow travel?
Slow travel is, some might say ironically, fast becoming the way to go. By opting for trains, buses, bikes, ferries or even your own two feet for a holiday, you are joining a rapidly growing group of people who not only want to reduce their carbon footprint but also slow down and experience the journey as part of their holiday. Byway is part of that movement. Our slow travel ethos is at the heart of all the holidays we can book for you, be it a UK staycation or an adventure through continental Europe. Here’s what slow travel means to us.
Cat Jones, Byway founder
Slow travel is about taking your time to discover a place, not just parachuting in and out. It’s about connecting with the food, the history, the people and the culture, weaving a tapestry through the areas you visit and watching how it all comes together through the window of your train, boat or bus - or from the seat of your bike.
My husband and I are avid cyclists and now so are my two girls (two and four) as well, sometimes on their own two wheels and often in seats on the back of ours. Our annual summer holiday spot is Studland, Dorset, my favourite slow travel route in the world.
We get on our bikes in Bermondsey, London and cycle to Waterloo station. We settle down for a couple of hours of games and views on the train, get off at Bournemouth and cycle along the seafront all the way to the chain ferry across Poole Harbour, stopping for a paddle and perhaps an ice cream as soon as we hit the beach. The ferry carries us across the harbour to Studland, then we’re back on our bikes again. It’s a holiday from the minute we leave our home and we absolutely love it. Children are naturally slow travellers, and I learn a lot about the joys of slowness by matching my pace to that of my girls, on holiday and at home.
Lizzie Reynolds, Byway operations
For me, slow travel is about the journey. When you travel by train or bus, you soak up multiple different places along the route and you see the landscape and the signposts gradually change as you travel through them. The experience contrasts sharply with hopping on a flight, where you arrive out of nowhere, often with a culture shock because of the missed transition.
Slow travel is about engaging with each place you go to in a more meaningful way. Meeting local people is important to me, even if there is a language barrier; I want to understand the culture and history of the places I’m in. I wasn’t always confident opening up to people when I travelled, but when I took a trip to Colombia with an Italian friend who was less reserved than me I soon learnt that pausing to speak with people we came across made for a much better experience.
One of my favourite slow journeys was a walk along the Fife Coast Path for five days with my best friend. We took a train to Edinburgh, then a bus to St. Andrews and walked through gorgeous fishing villages along the Coast Path back to Edinburgh, using buses along the way when we got tired. We camped twice and also got a couple of B&Bs when it was wet. It was lovely.
Tim Masek, Byway growth
Slow travel holidays are about travelling without flying, and they’re something we are going to see more and more of because flying is destructive to the environment. One of the most amazing slow holidays I’ve had was hiking the GR20 long-distance trail in Corsica. It’s a tough hike and we did it in seven days with an unbelievable guide. He was like a god amongst men over there, all the local people knew him. He was about 60 years old and an incredible athlete.
Slow for me also refers to having an appreciation of what’s around you and not rushing through things. I’ve recently read The Power of Now, which is a book about finding joy in the moment rather than seeking enjoyment in the future. Some of my friends call me Asap Tim because I like to move quickly in life, and this book has helped me to become conscious of being more in the moment.
Catherine Mack, Byway travel writer
My view is that by sealing yourself in a metal box at the beginning of an adventure you are setting yourself a bit of an unhealthy precedent. Mindful travel is about stepping out of the box, giving yourself space to breathe and move. To look at people in the eyes and smile, not fight with them to get your luggage in the overhead.
Leaving the carbon debate aside, flying is full of limitations and rules, it reeks of confinement and conformity. I seek the antithesis of these when I travel. I’ve taken the ferry to remote Irish islands and travelled by bike around cycle-friendly hotels in Scotland. I like to taste the saltwater as it splashes my face. I listen to the Scottish barman’s stories as he makes me a hot toddy. I smell the fresh air. I feel warmth. Slow is not about a sealed box. It’s about awakening the senses.
Olivia Martyn - Byway brand
Slow travel means less rush, more experiences away from the usual paths and, as much as possible, travel that is better for the environment.
I've explored Wales slowly quite a lot as we have family there. We take the train from London’s Euston station to Bangor and then to the island of Anglesey. Anglesey is gorgeous and it’s one of those places where you still have to put your hand out while standing on the platform to get the train to stop. It’s one of the UK’s hidden gems, and just one of many that other keen slow travellers can seek out for stress-free holidays, safe in the hands of our Byway holiday planners.
The easy way to book a slow travel holiday
At Byway we provide slow travel holidays that take you off the beaten track. Creating a slow travel itinerary with Byway is a bit like chatting to your best friend in the pub: ‘You want to go to Cornwall? Great! I know exactly which trains you should take, where to hire a bike, how to book the ferry to the Scilly Isles, the best spots for surf, seafood and scrumpy, and an amazing B&B with a view. You just sit back and let me sort it all for you’.
So, wherever you want to travel the slow way, be it a UK staycation or a post-lockdown adventure through Europe, picture yourself in the pub with us, bringing your perfect trip to life. No pints required.