We have used baggage transfer services on all our LDW’s, having not started multiday walks until into our 50’s and me with an already dodgy shoulder. So we’ve had lots of experience of different services. I can understand the preference for carrying everything yourself, but for us it seemed like the best option, like some have said if its that or not do the walk, there’s no choice! I daren’t think about how much we have paid for this service over the years, but its a lot! We always book up the accommodation ourselves as using a “package holiday” company is very expensive, and they often use one of the baggage transfer companies anyway. A solo walker we often met up with while doing the Pennine Way had paid more than both of us put together! (And he got no choice of where to stay and often a not so nice single room). We did once use Sherpas accommodation booking service when we did the C2C as we were both still working and didn’t have the time. Thats a good compromise, as you just pay them an admin fee. Below is a list of the ones we have used:-
Dales Way - Brigantes
Coast to Coast - Sherpa Van
Cotswold Way - Carryabag (part of Compass Holidays)
Hadrian’s Wall - Walkers Bags ( seem to no longer be operating)
Pennine Way - Brigantes
Offas Dyke - no service available, B&Bs or taxis transferred bags
Two Moors Way - Luggage Transfer Services
There’s more choice of companies on the more popular walks. Sometimes we have used a service because they offered car parking and/or people transfer to/from start or end. We were a bit concerned when booking up Offas Dyke but it worked really well, they seem to have it off to a fine art and theres obviously no need for a transfer service. The cost has varied greatly. I think we have paid as little as £6 and as much as £20 per bag per day! (The £20 was on the longest leg of the Two Moors Way this year, and this has probably been the most expensive trip but they are the only company operating there). Something to bear in mind is the fact that they often charge for a minimum of 2 bags so it can work out very expensive for a solo walker.
The services on all of the walks have gone well. The bags have always arrived before us even when we’ve had a short day. The only exception was in Bath at the end of the Cotswold Way when they had got stuck in traffic jams (though it was their last drop off and it was only 20 mins after the deadline so we forgave them!) We nearly had an issue this year on the Two Moors Way when the B&B said they would only be there in the afternoon and I knew they would probably drop off in the morning. In the end the landlady decided she could be there after all. It was off route a bit and the baggage company had not been there before. Usually the B&Bs and baggage companies are familiar with each other so know roughly drop off times or have somewhere safe to leave bags.
Sorry for the long post, hope theres some useful info!