Meanwhile, another extraordinarily consistent performer and former winner of our awards, Trailfinders, gains a place over last time to finish as your second favourite operator. Another long-haul specialist with an even longer pedigree, Cox & Kings, comes in at number three.

Best Specialist Tour Operator

Llama Travel McKinlay Kidd Inntravel

Topping this category for the first time, Llama Travel was founded in 2002 as a Latin American specialist by Luca Newbold, who lived in Peru for four years and was the son of a former managing director of Thomson Holidays (now Tui). His aim was to offer “the best possible holidays at the best possible prices” and it is a mantra which has paid off as far as Telegraph readers are concerned. The company expanded its range and now also offers holidays to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

In second place, McKinlay Kidd is that unusual animal, a high-end tour operator that has made a success offering holidays in the British Isles, and especially in Scotland. The offer ranges from island-hopping breaks to tours by train and car and trips focussed on wildlife watching or gourmet breaks. Inntravel is rated third best specialist by readers. Its aim is to offer interesting ways to explore mostly European destinations and its mantra is “slow travel”. Many of its self-guided itineraries involve cycling or walking, though it also has a portfolio of journeys by car, train and boat.

Best Escorted Tour Operator

HF Holidays G Adventures Explore

HF Holidays takes top place, 11 years after it last won this category. The company was founded in 1913 and is one of Britain’s longest-established tour operators. Founder Thomas Arthur Leonard’s original mission was to improve the lives of factory workers by helping them get out and enjoy the countryside, and that ethos is still reflected in the company today.

It’s stated aim is “to provide shared holiday experiences that inspire friendship, fun and an active enjoyment of the great outdoors.” Though still mainly focussed on walking breaks in the UK, over the decades the programme has expanded to include escorted (and some independent) tours, treks and special interest breaks in some 80 destinations, as well as activity breaks in some 15 country houses which it owns and operates in British National Parks and National Landscapes (formerly AONBs).