09:00 is the standard bag-ready time and 16:00 is the delivery promise on most UK walking routes. One van moves 20 to 40 bags per day along the same valleys you walk. Moira Donnelly in our studio books the carrier before the rooms, because a full transfer van blocks dates faster than a full inn.
09:00 Pickup and 16:00 Delivery Is the Contract
09:00 is when your bag must stand tagged at reception, and drivers collect between 09:00 and 10:30. Delivery lands by 16:00 on 95 percent of stages. You walk with a day pack carrying waterproofs, water, meds and valuables.
16:00 matters because walkers arrive between 14:00 and 18:00. Early arrivals wait, late arrivals find bags ready. We print the carrier phone number on every route card for the 5 percent of late runs.
18 kg Is the Standard Bag Limit in 2026
18 to 20 kg is the per-bag limit most carriers set in 2026. Drivers lift 40 bags per day, so overweight bags slow the whole run. Charges for extra bags run 8 to 14 GBP per bag per stage.
- One bag per walker included in our quotes
- Second bag at 8 to 14 GBP per stage
- Over 20 kg may be refused or split into two moves
14 GBP is the top per-stage rate on remote island and moor stages. Mainland lowland stages sit at 8 to 10 GBP. We roll the exact carrier cost into your quote, not as an add-on.
3 Tags Keep Bags on the Right Van
3 identifiers ride on every bag: a colour tag, a house-name label and a phone number. Villages often have 2 inns with similar names within 1 mile. The house name matters more than the village name.
1 photo of your bag on day one helps drivers spot it in a full van. You send it to our support number. We forward it to the carrier with your stage list.
95 Percent On-Time Needs a 5 Percent Plan
95 percent on-time delivery leaves 1 late bag per 20 stage-days. Causes are road closures, ferry holds and a walker leaving the tag off. You keep a full change of clothes and wash kit in your day pack for that one day.
60 minutes is the response target when you report a missing bag. The carrier checks the van, the morning house and the next house in that order. We stay on the call until the bag location is confirmed.
30 GBP Covers the Insurance Gap Most Walkers Skip
30 GBP is the rough cost of a baggage extension many travel policies charge for 7 days. Standard carrier liability covers 250 to 500 GBP per bag. Laptops and jewellery stay with you because they sit outside carrier cover.
2 business days is our time to confirm transfer availability for your dates. Moira Donnelly locks the van slots before we take room deposits. You get a tag pack, a weight note and a day-pack checklist.