About Us
Founded in 1988 Silver Fern Holidays is a market leader in providing innovative holiday programmes and active itineraries - family owned and managed, we have over twenty years' experience working with travel trade professionals and group travel organisers delivering tours that are perfect for groups and ideal for like-minded individuals.
In 2000 Silver Fern Holidays became a trading name of the newly incorporated company, Roads Less Travelled Ltd., and today operates a wide range of cultural sightseeing, walking, cycling and special interest tours across four continents.
In our offices in the North Nottinghamshire Minster town of Southwell, there's a small dedicated team of advisors who customise tours and liaise with our researchers to ensure programmes are constantly updated to meet the needs of each group who travel with us.
Meet some of the team.
John Lightwood - Founder and Co-Director
John founded Silver Fern Holidays in 1988, following a career in education which took him to many parts of the globe. He has led groups to China, Japan, North America, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and the Himalayas. He is also well-versed in European travel with Austria a favoured destination. Walking and cycling remain a passion and weekends usually see him out and about in the hills or pedalling the local back roads of Nottinghamshire.
Barbara Cray - Operations Manager and Co-Director
Barbara is responsible for ensuring all our group travel plans run smoothly. She is renowned as our logistical supremo for her grasp of complex tour itineraries. Barbara joined the company in 2000 and has been responsible for the development of many of our cycling and special interest tours. Her own special interests are gardening, reading and travel.
Rhona Jones - Office Manager
Rhona has been the mainstay of our of office for the last ten years, working tirelessly to ensure our tours run smoothly. She has recently bought a property in Majorca, suggesting that maybe we should consider the Balearics as a destination!
Lois Hipkiss - Administrator
Lois has been part of the Silver Fern Holidays team since 2007 and is responsible for assisting with administration and marketing. Her background in IT means that she has taken a lead with the new-look Silver Fern website. She enjoys travelling vicariously through working with Silver Fern and in her spare time is a keen walker, cyclist and cook.
Monika Dillinger
After five years in London as an administrator for the Channel Tunnel project, she is now back at home in the scenic surroundings of the Austrian Lakes. Her administrative skills are put to good use organising Silver Fern's accommodation and travel logistics in Austria.
John founded Silver Fern Holidays in 1988, following a career in education which took him to many parts of the globe. He has led groups to China, Japan, North America, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and the Himalayas. He is also well-versed in European travel with Austria a favoured destination. Walking and cycling remain a passion and weekends usually see him out and about in the hills or pedalling the local back roads of Nottinghamshire.
Barbara Cray - Operations Manager and Co-Director
Barbara is responsible for ensuring all our group travel plans run smoothly. She is renowned as our logistical supremo for her grasp of complex tour itineraries. Barbara joined the company in 2000 and has been responsible for the development of many of our cycling and special interest tours. Her own special interests are gardening, reading and travel.
Rhona Jones - Office Manager
Rhona has been the mainstay of our of office for the last ten years, working tirelessly to ensure our tours run smoothly. She has recently bought a property in Majorca, suggesting that maybe we should consider the Balearics as a destination!
Lois Hipkiss - Administrator
Lois has been part of the Silver Fern Holidays team since 2007 and is responsible for assisting with administration and marketing. Her background in IT means that she has taken a lead with the new-look Silver Fern website. She enjoys travelling vicariously through working with Silver Fern and in her spare time is a keen walker, cyclist and cook.
Monika Dillinger
After five years in London as an administrator for the Channel Tunnel project, she is now back at home in the scenic surroundings of the Austrian Lakes. Her administrative skills are put to good use organising Silver Fern's accommodation and travel logistics in Austria.
Deborah McCabe - Marketing and PR
Deborah is responsible for putting together the words in our brochures and promotional literature. She has recently completed a two week charity trek along the Great Wall of China and visited the architectural sights of Tunisia.
Hubert Hillbrand
Justly proud of his Austrian heritage, Hubert was born in the beautiful lakeside village of Altausee. A winter ski instructor, he works on behalf of the local tourist board and is involved in conservation work for the community council - his extensive and enthusiastic local knowledge is always appreciated by our tour guests.
Andi Angst
Returning to Switzerland after several years running a hotel in Mexico, Andi is a valuable member of our team. He has been responsible for most of the ground handling of our Swiss holidays and hosted our first 'Alpine Peaks' tours.
Simon Profitt
Born and bred in Lancashire, Simon went to teach in Santander some twenty one years ago. After meeting his wife Susannah, he settled down in Spain and established his own cycle business. His love of cycling and walking combined with his local knowledge has made him a popular host for our tours of Cantabria.
Ryan Doyle
Ryan is a member of the Adirondacks Mountain Club, a non profit membership organisation that protects wild lands and waters through a balanced approach to conservation. Ryan is lead guide for all our programmes in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks, New York State.
Deborah is responsible for putting together the words in our brochures and promotional literature. She has recently completed a two week charity trek along the Great Wall of China and visited the architectural sights of Tunisia.
Hubert Hillbrand
Justly proud of his Austrian heritage, Hubert was born in the beautiful lakeside village of Altausee. A winter ski instructor, he works on behalf of the local tourist board and is involved in conservation work for the community council - his extensive and enthusiastic local knowledge is always appreciated by our tour guests.
Andi Angst
Returning to Switzerland after several years running a hotel in Mexico, Andi is a valuable member of our team. He has been responsible for most of the ground handling of our Swiss holidays and hosted our first 'Alpine Peaks' tours.
Simon Profitt
Born and bred in Lancashire, Simon went to teach in Santander some twenty one years ago. After meeting his wife Susannah, he settled down in Spain and established his own cycle business. His love of cycling and walking combined with his local knowledge has made him a popular host for our tours of Cantabria.
Ryan Doyle
Ryan is a member of the Adirondacks Mountain Club, a non profit membership organisation that protects wild lands and waters through a balanced approach to conservation. Ryan is lead guide for all our programmes in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks, New York State.
Margaret Krabbe
A stickler for detail, Margaret ensures all our logistical operations in the Mid-West United States run smoothly - no mean feat when you consider the different terrain involved on journeys across several states from Montana to Nevada.
Robin Dexter
Robin's bubbly personality and informed commentary are very much a part of our tours of Boston. Her knowledge of the city and its environs greatly enhances both our city break itineraries and New England trips.
James Nevius
James is a New York City-based historian and walking tour guide, who, with his wife Michelle, has written two books: 'Frommer's 24 Great Walks in New York' and 'Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City'. Their insight into both the historical development of the city and its contemporary culture ensure our tours of New York are enlivened and packed with interest.
Susan Hood
Susan is responsible for all our ground arrangements in New Zealand. She lives in the scenic Diamond Bay area of Christchurch and is an outdoors enthusiast with a specialist interest and knowledge of all the Great Track walks and some of the lesser known trails in both the North and South Islands.
Wei Wu
Our number one man in China, Wei goes out of his way to ensure groups under his care get a real experience of the country and leave with memorable impressions of the people, places and cultures. A native of Guilin in South West China, Wei has a wide network of contacts to facilitate access to local events, private homesteads and cultural activities.
A stickler for detail, Margaret ensures all our logistical operations in the Mid-West United States run smoothly - no mean feat when you consider the different terrain involved on journeys across several states from Montana to Nevada.
Robin Dexter
Robin's bubbly personality and informed commentary are very much a part of our tours of Boston. Her knowledge of the city and its environs greatly enhances both our city break itineraries and New England trips.
James Nevius
James is a New York City-based historian and walking tour guide, who, with his wife Michelle, has written two books: 'Frommer's 24 Great Walks in New York' and 'Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City'. Their insight into both the historical development of the city and its contemporary culture ensure our tours of New York are enlivened and packed with interest.
Susan Hood
Susan is responsible for all our ground arrangements in New Zealand. She lives in the scenic Diamond Bay area of Christchurch and is an outdoors enthusiast with a specialist interest and knowledge of all the Great Track walks and some of the lesser known trails in both the North and South Islands.
Wei Wu
Our number one man in China, Wei goes out of his way to ensure groups under his care get a real experience of the country and leave with memorable impressions of the people, places and cultures. A native of Guilin in South West China, Wei has a wide network of contacts to facilitate access to local events, private homesteads and cultural activities.
Silver Fem Holidays © 2008Minster Chambers, Church St, Southwell, NG25 0HD, UK
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