You may get some guests who are walkers. They may be going out walking for the day or stopping off at your BnB en-route.
If you provide information, facilities and services for walkers include this in your promotional material as this could improve your chances of receiving a booking.
I've pulled together some tips for BnB hosts to welcome walkers to your home.
Local Information
Provide local information for your guests, including maps, walking routes with useful information such great view points and places of interest, where to get food and drink nearby and en route - ranging from local stores to pubs they can stop off at, water refill stations (the Refill app may be able to assist you with this),.toilets, parking, nearest public transportation, nearest bank, cash machine or currency exchange and outdoor equipment shops.
It would be useful to let your guests know about the Countryside code and any local by-laws, which you should be able to find on your local council website.
Some guests may wish to go on an organised walk, so you could provide a list of local walking groups or tours they could join.
Storage and Outdoor facilities
If possible, create a storage or drying area for your guests to put their muddy boots, walking poles, wet coats etc. An outdoor boot scraper would be useful to prevent mud coming into your home. If you want people to take their shoes off at the door, provide a chair so they can sit down if they need to whilst taking their shoes off.
If you have an outdoor tap or shower, this could be made available to your guests to clean off their boots, equipment and muddy dogs.
Baggage
Your guests might be going for a walk during the day or stopping off at your BnB en route. Do you provide baggage storage for early check ins, late check outs, or even for those returning in a few days from their hike? If this isn't something you can provide, is there a local baggage storage you can recommend?
For those guests who are doing a linear walk, perhaps there is a local service providing baggage transfers that you can provide details of?
Meals and Refreshments
It is important to make provisions for your guests to fill their flasks and water bottles with hot or cold water. If you provide breakfast for your guests, you could provide an option of something filling that gives energy, such as oats, bananas or eggs. Or, provide a packed breakfast for your guests to eat on the go. If you don't provide food, give suggestions on where to get a good breakfast.
You could also offer a purchasable packed lunch which your guests can order the day before.
Guests may not want to venture too far to get their evening meal, so if there isn't anything locally they may wish to order in, so it would be favourable to allow them to eat in their room or a designated area.
Flexibility
Guests may wish to go out early in the morning, or have an early check out, so flexibility would be appreciated with this request, including if you provide breakfast.
They may not know what time they will arrive to check in if they are walking to your establishment so flexibility with check in would also be appreciated. Providing a lock box for self check in would be beneficial to you both.
Equipment
You could provide your guests with a list of shops and services you can buy or hire equipment useful for walkers, for example, walking poles, where to buy shoe laces for walking boots, etc.
Or maybe you have your own equipment you could lend or hire to your guests?
Transportation
If your guests need to get to or from their walk start or end point, and it isn't in walking distance from your establishment, provide information on public transportation, taxis and any other car share services operating in your area.
You may be in a position to be able to offer to drop your guests off at the beginning of a walk or offer a pick up service?
Comfortable room
At the end of a long walk, your guests will welcome a nice comfortable room, with a good bed and somewhere comfortable to sit. A bath, hot tub or jacuzzi would be appreciated by some walkers who want to warm up and relax their muscles. Provide drinks making facilities to warm up and plenty of sockets to charge up their phones, cameras, etc. If they are staying at your establishment en route, they won't be carrying items such as heavy towels, hairdryers and toiletries, so make sure you provide all of these. You may also want to provide your guests with something comfy to wear on their feet inside your home as they may only have hiking boots with them.
Health and Safety
It would be useful to provide details of weather apps, including those for specialist forecasts for difficult terrain, including mountains (if applicable).
Provide contact details for medical services, including doctors, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies and vets (if you accept pets) and phone numbers for emergency services, as you may have visitors from overseas who won't necessarily know these.
You could also provide a basic first aid kit for guests in case they need items such as plasters for blisters from walking.