Skip to content

Trips & Tours
The Howell Way
Our Journal
Talk to an expert

Trips & Tours
The Howell Way
Our Journal
Talk to an expert

View from church Gunpowder walk

By Emma Surridge / March 28, 2025

View looking out over graveyard and the surrounding countryside (from the bench outside the church)

← Previous Media

We don't follow the national trails.
We follow the Howell Way.

Our way of walking, our way of caring.
Find out more →

We’d love to have you as part of our community

Sign up to our E-Newsletter today to receive our hiking & travel tips and follow along our walking adventures. Plus be first to hear of new trips, trails & brochures. You’ll receive newsletters every 4 – 6 weeks. You can unsubscribe at any time.

First name

Last name

Email

On our journal

Five things we love about Exmoor

Exmoor: a land of moor & heather. Of rugged coastlines and dramatic cliffs. It’s a beautiful and remote part of

The festive season in rural England

We’re entering the last weeks of autumn ahead of the winter solstice and the festive season is gathering pace here

A perfect day for a photoshoot in Wiltshire

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So with this in mind, after refreshing the Foot Trails brand

Life on Instagram

At Foot Trails, we avoid the crowds. Our walking &

At Foot Trails, we avoid the crowds. Our walking & hiking routes are created using our local knowledge & lived experience from years of hiking in South West England. We pick paths for joy rhythm and peace.

Exmoor is the perfect place to step back from the hustle & bustle of modern life. One of the least populated national parks in England, it offers a peace and quiet that can be hard to find elsewhere. Birdsong, the wind in the grass, the sound of running water and the wash of the sea on pebble beaches. That's the soundtrack to a hiking trip on Exmoor.

If you'd like to know more about exploring this stunning landscape in 2026, visit our website (link in bio) and request a brochure.

#exmoor #exmoor4all #exmoorpony #somerset #southwestuk #wilduk #ukwalking #ukhiking #gloriousbritain #selfguidedtravel #ukhikes #ukhiking #visitsouthwestengland #coastalhike #southwestcoastpath #coastalscenery #coastalwalks #ruralengland #ukwalkingtrails #ukwalkingholidays #hikingengland #englishcountryside #walkinguk #traveluk #thisprettyengland #walkingholidaysuk

Romans, Saxons, Normans, smugglers and Romantic po

Romans, Saxons, Normans, smugglers and Romantic poets—they’ve all left their mark on the landscape of Exmoor. Standing stones, burial cairns and barrows can be found all over the moor, marking a landscape that’s been inhabited for around 5,000 years.

The Romans mined the area for iron ore and built forts to keep watch over the Severn estuary. During Medieval times, Exmoor became a royal forest, with heavy penalties levied on any commoners caught poaching the crown’s deer.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, this wild & dramatic landscape caught the attention of the romantic poets and writers, providing inspiration to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shelley amongst others. Like us, they all loved to wander the coast and uplands of Exmoor.

Exmoor remains as captivating as ever—a remote and beautiful landscape and a true hiker’s paradise.

To find out more about booking a hiking holiday in Exmoor, visit our website (link in bio) and request a brochure.

#coastalwalks #swcp #ukhiking #seekthepositive #slowtravel #somerset #exmoor #exmoornationalpark #visitexmoor #exmoor4all #southwestcoastpath #coastalhike #coastalpathsuk #walkuk #hikeuk #takeintheview #landscapecaptures #hikingadventures #slowtraveling #vistsomerset #englishwalks #visitsouthwestengland #capturingbritain

I remember the first time I rode the coast road fr

I remember the first time I rode the coast road from Porlock to Lynmouth in Exmoor, I was on board an open top bus, it was October and we were heading towards the end of a gloriously sunny golden autumn day.

The bus climbed the infamous Porlock Hill, gears grinding as it made a dash to the top of the hill. As we crested the hill the view opened up, plunging wooded valleys, golden moorland on one side and the glistening sea on the other. The light and shadows of the low sun made it all the more dramatic. It was 8 miles of pure joy. I was hooked.

Over the next three days I hiked through Exmoor - along rivers of whit water tumbling over rocks, through steep valleys, and into the wide open expanse of the moor. The golden autumn grasses illuminated by the morning sun.

Across the open moor my journey concluded at an ancient market town. Built from the local solid grit stone, beside the River, it was a place of deep connections, over a 1000 years of history.

Alison & I have visited the coast and moor here many times. When it came to creating our Foot Trails experience ‘Wild Exmoor’ we drew on the journey above, recreating sections of the route. Each day’s trail has a name, ‘High Moor’, ‘Peep Out’, ‘Summit of Somerset’, ‘The Lyns’, ‘Ta-Tarr’. ‘Exe’. Each celebrates a different part of the moor and story.

To find out more, visit our website (link in bio).

David

#exmoor4all #exmoor #exmoornationalpark #walkingholidaysuk #visitsomerset
#walkuk #hikeuk #swisbest #slowtraveling #landscapecaptures #weloveengland #exmoor4all #exmoornationalpark #foottrailsuk #walkuk #ruralengland #ukwalks #visitsomersetuk #visitsomerset #ukwildponies #exmoorponies #leavethecity #englishcountryside #ukwalkingholidays #hikingtrails #hikingadventures #walkingholidays #hikingvacation #englishcountryside

The coast of Exmoor is a place of high, rugged cli

The coast of Exmoor is a place of high, rugged cliffs and secluded coves that echo to the sound of the sea washing up on pebble beaches. It’s a place of nature, where salt marshes provide valuable habitat for seabirds. Where steep wooded valleys cut through the open moor to meet the sea, giving this unique region of the South West a remote, hidden-away atmosphere. Here you can walk in quiet contemplation, taking in spectacular views across the Severn Estuary, and enjoying the peace and solitude of this rugged coastline.

Small harbour communities, once hubs for coastal trading, and charming Victorian resorts hark back to human history spanning centuries in the midst of this wild and picturesque landscape.

If you’d like to know more about hiking the dramatic coast of Exmoor, visit our website (link in bio).

#exmoor #exmoornationalpark #exmoor4all #visitexmoor #somerset #Devon #southwestcoastpath #coastalhike #coastalscenery #coastalpathsuk #thesaltpath #coastalwalks #walkuk #hikeuk #ukwalks #ukhikes #selfguidedtour #hikingengland #visitengland #slowtraveling #thisprettyengland #beautifulengland #ukwalkingholidays

One of our favourite parts of Exmoor are the seclu

One of our favourite parts of Exmoor are the secluded steep-sided wooded ‘combs’ or valleys that cut through the uplands on the way to the sea. These hidden gorges echo with the sound of white water tumbling over rocks. Deep and narrow, they are thick with trees, the ground covered with mosses, ferns and leaf mould.

Immersed in the steep valleys, surrounded by ancient trees, the sound of water and birdsong, it’s easy to think that you’ve stepped into a different world. Especially as you walk from the sweeping landscapes of the moor down into these enveloping, intimate spaces. Following the twists and turns of the rivers, streams and waterfalls as they cascade down to the sea is a unique experience, and one of the reasons why we love Exmoor so much.

To find out more about our walking & hiking trips in Exmoor, visit our website (link in bio).

#exmoor #exmoornationalpark #exmoor4all #ukhiking #ukwalking #coastaladventures #heather #somserset #visitexmoor #nationalpark #moorland #countrysidewalk #visitengland

Exmoor has long been a draw to Alison & I. We’ve s

Exmoor has long been a draw to Alison & I. We’ve spent years exploring the coast, valleys and uplands of this remote corner of the south west. Sparsely populated & extremely beautiful, nature is the soundtrack to every step you take here.

The wild upland moors are the perfect tonic for the stresses of day-to-day life and a feast for the senses in all seasons: The greens of grasses and fresh bracken in spring, give way to purple heather, yellow gorse and straw-coloured grasses in summer. Then there’s the slow transition to muted ochres, bronzes & coppers in autumn and winter. It’s a place that we’re drawn back to time and again.

David & Alison

If you’d like to book a bespoke self-guided walking & hiking trip in Exmoor in 2026, visit our website (link in bio).

#exmoor #exmoornationalpark #visitexmoor #exmoorwalks #visitengland #walkuk #hikeuk #swisbest #slowtraveling #landscapecaptures #weloveengland #exmoor4all #exmoornationalpark #foottrailsuk #walkuk #ruralengland #ukwalks #visitsomersetuk #visitsomerset #ukwildponies #exmoorponies #leavethecity #englishcountryside #ukwalkingholidays #hikingtrails #hikingadventures #walkingholidays #hikingvacation #englishcountryside

Exmoor: a land of moor & heather. Of rugged coastl

Exmoor: a land of moor & heather. Of rugged coastlines and dramatic cliffs. It’s a beautiful and remote part of the South West. A place that’s close to mine and Alison’s hearts. Which is why we were thrilled to launch our Wild Exmoor, Coast & Moor trip at the start of this year. We’ve loved sharing this wonderful region with our guests this year and are already planning trips for 2026. Some of the things we love best about Exmoor are:

1. The dramatic coastline: A place of towering cliffs, rocky shores with shingle coves
2. The sweeping, colourful moor: An undulating landscape of colourful heather & gorse that feels a million miles from anywhere.
3. History, stories & folklore: The Bronze Age barrows & standing stones that dot the landscape speak of a history stretching back millennia.
4. The wildlife: The uplands of Exmoor are home to herds of wild ponies & red deer.
5. The wonderfully varied hiking & walking in the region: Dramatic coastal hiking, undulating moorland &steep wooded valleys.

To find out more about Exmoor and our self-guided walking & hiking trips in the region, visit our website (link in bio).

#exmoor #exmoornationalpark #foottrailsuk #walkuk #ruralengland #ukwalks #visitsomersetuk #visitsomerset #ukwildponies #walkingholidaysuk #hikeuk #walkuk #englishcountryside #ukwalkingholidays

Bath is a city that has always been close to our h

Bath is a city that has always been close to our hearts. Alison, myself and our family lived in Bath for nearly a decade. We never tire of returning to explore, especially during the festive season.

As we wandered the city, the golden Bath stone facades of the Georgian buildings reflected the warm glow of Christmas lights criss-crossing the the streets. The gothic stonework of Bath Abbey was lit up impressively and we were tempted more than once to warm our hands (and hearts) with a glass of mulled wine from one of the Christmas market stalls :)

As we tend to do (both on and off trails), we ventured away from the hustle and bustle to explore the smaller side streets and shops. Christmas wreaths made of evergreen branches, berries and flowers were hung on doors and the windows of the shops, tearooms and inns glowed invitingly.

It was the perfect way to usher in the festive season.

David Howell

#christmasmarketuk #visitbath #welcometobath #visitengland #bathengland #xmaslights #festiveseason #england #Cotswolds #visitbath #festive #christmasspirit #visitengland #walkingholidaysuk #prettystreets #countrylife
#countryliving #beautifulengland #walkinguk

One of the joys of spending time in rural England

One of the joys of spending time in rural England during the festive season are the Christmas markets and fairs held in towns and villages. At this time of year, decorations and lights bring joy on dark nights and children’s excitement levels grow ever higher as the ‘big’ day approaches.

It’s a time with a great sense of gathering, one that harks back millennia to when our ancestors in the northern hemisphere could do little but gather around the fire, share provisions and tales while they waited for the days to lengthen.

A traditional festive market is the perfect way for communities to come together and get in the festive spirit. We always make sure to go to our local festive market at this time of year. 🎄

Alison & David Howell

#Christmas2025 #christmas #walking #selfguided #SelfGuidedTour #selfguidedtour #ruralengland #englishvillagelife #englishvillage #walkuk #hikeuk #walkingholidaysuk #christmasmarkets #travel #winterwalks #christmasinengland #visitengland #englandtravel #uktravel #ukchristmas #lovegreatbritain #festiveseason

Follow on Instagram

Useful links

Hiking in South West England →
About Self-guided hiking →
Our accommodation & food →

Contact us

enquire@foottrails.co.uk
+44 (0) 1747 820 626

The Welsh Mill, Frome, BA11 2LE

Credits & small print

Photography credits: Alison & David Howell. Alun Callender, The National Trust, English Heritage

© Foot Trails 2006-2025, walking holidays UK
Foot Trails

® Foot Trails is a registered Trade Mark. This entire web site and its content is copyright Foot Trails.