Walking Holiday Content Creation: Authentic Storytelling for Travel Brands

There’s something about walking that slows everything down — the rhythm of footsteps, the changing light, the time to think. It’s not rushed. It’s not forced. It’s natural.

Earlier this year, I joined Inntravel, one of the UK’s leading walking holiday companies, to produce a series of content pieces that explored this slower, more connected way of travelling. It reminded me why walking holidays — and the content that supports them — work so well together: both are about taking your time, seeing things properly, and connecting with the journey as it unfolds.

In an age of filters, drones, and polished promos, there’s a definite return to craft in creative production — a desire for something more real. And walking, quite literally, grounds you in that.

The Return to Craft and Authenticity

Across the creative industry, there’s a growing movement toward handcrafted, human content — the kind that feels real, imperfect, and personal. For walking holiday brands, this kind of storytelling fits like a glove.

When you’re out on a trail, the camera becomes an extension of the experience — not a barrier. You notice the smaller details: the crunch of gravel, the tilt of light through trees, a walker pausing to take in a view. It’s a rhythm that matches how people want to feel when they choose a walking holiday.

At The Production Dept., we lean into that slower, more tactile style of production. It’s about returning to the craft of storytelling — using natural light, authentic motion, and genuine connection to bring a brand’s values to life.

Shooting on the Move

Filming and photographing while walking isn’t about endurance — it’s about awareness.

Being fit enough to move with your subject, climb that hill, or walk the trail with your kit is part of the job — and part of the joy.

Working with Inntravel, we spent days walking side by side with a couple of models and a creative producer, talking, filming, and shooting in real conditions. There’s no controlled lighting or set marks — just honest travel, with all its weather, motion, and surprises.

Our kit had to be light and agile: compact mirrorless cameras, fast lenses, and stabilised rigs for handheld footage. The goal was to keep things authentic and responsive — to capture moments as they happened rather than staging them.

Walking shoulder-to-shoulder with the creative producer meant we could spot opportunities instantly — a laugh, a glance, a shaft of light through the trees, scenic pathways along coastlines and rugged mountains valleys — and respond without breaking the rhythm of the walk.

That human connection between creator, traveller, and landscape is what makes the content feel alive.

Evergreen Storytelling

What we produced for Inntravel wasn’t a campaign with an expiry date — it was evergreen content - timeless visuals and stories that represent the essence of the brand, not just a single promotion.

This kind of content is gold for walking holiday companies:

• It builds a library of assets that can be repurposed for blogs, social media, and brochures.

• It tells stories that inspire travellers all year round.

• And it strengthens brand identity through consistent, honest visual storytelling.

Whether it’s a blog article about the Yorkshire Dales or a short film about life on a trail in Spain, evergreen content gives walking holiday brands the ability to connect deeply and repeatedly with their audience.

The Human Touch

For me, the best part of working on walking holidays is how human they are. You’re not behind glass or on a schedule — you’re out there, in the elements, meeting people, and sharing moments.

That’s what audiences want to see now. Not overproduced perfection, but truth. A mix of professional skill and genuine experience.

As a content creator, being on foot means you can blend in — chat to walkers, capture reactions, and film moments that feel spontaneous but still beautifully crafted. That’s the magic of authentic travel storytelling.

Why Walking Holiday Companies Choose TPD

At The Production Dept., we help UK walking holiday companies and outdoor travel brands create authentic, evergreen content that:

• Captures the emotion and rhythm of travel at walking pace

• Balances professional quality with documentary-style realism

• Delivers versatile assets for web, social, and campaign use

• Builds lasting audience trust through genuine storytelling

From the Cotswolds to Cumbria, from the Yorkshire Dales to the Dolomites, we’ve learned that great content isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.

We walk with our clients, our subjects, and our stories. Because the best way to tell the story of a journey… is to take the journey yourself.

Looking for authentic, evergreen content for your walking holiday brand?

Let’s chat about how we can bring your routes and stories to life — naturally, beautifully, and with heart.

📩 info@theproductiondept.co.uk

🌐 www.theproductiondept.co.uk

📍 Based in Yorkshire, working with walking holiday and travel brands across the UK and Europe.