Foot Trails Co-Founder Alison Howell has always loved the Cotswolds. With strong ties to the region and family who still farm there, it’s an area that holds a very special place in her heart. Read on to discover what it is about the Cotswolds that Alison finds so captivating and how this love of the region is woven into every Foot Trails trip in the Cotswolds.
E: How long have you been visiting the Cotswolds?
A: I’ve been visiting The Cotswolds for my entire life (I’m now 53!) and walking in them for a good 30 years. My earliest memories are of coming to see my grandparents in the Roman town of Cirencester, as well as a great aunt in the village of Daglingworth, and aunt and uncle and cousins who farm near royal Tetbury.
E: What’s so special about walking in the Cotswolds?
A: Many different aspects of the Cotswolds make them a joy to explore on foot. After all these years of exploring, David and I have built up our local knowledge, and know exactly where to advise our guests to go to avoid the crowds and see the best the Cotswolds has to offer. I love the peacefulness on our trails.
At the southern tip is the Georgian city of Bath where so much of the Georgian architecture stands today. Then moving north, delightful wool towns, rolling wolds (hills) and impossibly pretty villages.
The other aspect that’s unique here is the history. Sheep farming and the wool trade once thrived and brought the Cotswolds great wealth. You can also tread in the footsteps of the Romans!
E: What keeps you coming back to the Cotswolds?
Even after many years I’m still drawn here. What keeps me coming back? It’s the beauty of the architecture, villages and stone. Whilst a few Cotswolds towns and villages have become overcrowded and spoilt in my view, there are still countless villages and places to enjoy and explore that few know about… and it’s these authentic, unspoiled places I love and love to see our guests walk through too.
E: What does a perfect day’s walking in the Cotswolds look like for you?
A: My perfect day in the Cotswolds has all the key ingredients we plan into our Foot Trails. So that’s a wonderful fresh and leisurely breakfast with hot coffee to start the day. Discussing where we are going to explore is all part of the joy.
Then out on a mini adventure to enjoy the villages, hay meadows, churches and historic sites you can find here. I find a morning’s walk builds my appetite nicely for lunch at a village cafe or eatery. Then out for the afternoon to explore some more in the peace and quiet. At the end of the day nothing beats that victorious feeling of having completed your walk and arriving at your country inn on foot for a meal and comfortable bed for the night. Foot Trails are all about special, relaxed, comfortable places to stay.
E: What’s the best time of year to walk the Cotswolds?
A: The Cotswolds are a great place to walk at any time of the year, because we know how to get you off the beaten path, but I must say they are especially wonderful in the autumn. (October and early November). In the autumn, mists fill the river valleys and pale autumn sunshine glows gold on the Cotswolds stone. The trees put on their own show of colour of course and that’s magical. On cooler autumn days the scent of woodsmoke fills the air and there is the wonderful opportunity to sit by a real fire at your country pub over lunch or dinner!
The Cotswolds never fail to delight. If you’d like to walk them simply send an email to our friendly team.
