The Howell Way

In 2002, Alison & David Howell founded Foot Trails to do things differently. Rooted in the joy of hiking, over the last 3 decades they’ve hiked & walked the trails of South West England.

Our way of hiking & walking. Our way of caring.

It all began with a walk. A 680-mile journey from the English Channel to the Mediterranean coast. Combining Alison & David’s two passions: the curiosity of discovery and the joy of hiking & walking.

Determined to change the way hiking was viewed (in 2002), an image of distance, of A-to-B goals with basic accommodation, Alison & David set out to create walking & hiking tours that reflected their beliefs. We call this the ‘Howell Way’.

We believe that there is a quiet power in walking and in the healing rhythm of a footpath. In the way nature restores something in us.
 
We show our guests rural South West England as we know it. Not the crowds or tick-box landmarks, but the landscapes, hedgerows and history. The stories of those that live here, past & present.

Our routes are designed with purpose. Not to just get you somewhere, but for you to be somewhere. To be connected to landscapes, to stories and to each other. Making sure, at all times, you feel seen and looked after.

We don’t follow the national trails.
We follow The Howell Way.

We avoid the crowds
A to B National Trails are not our routes. We seek the quiet ways – the ones you’d never find on your own.

We choose beauty over convenience
Our paths are picked for joy, rhythm and peace – not just practicality.

We tell stories as we walk
Every route carries its own history, folklore and meaning – shared through our printed trail guides, so guests can read, pause and notice as they go.

We walk towards a welcome
Each trail leads to a warm welcome, a good meal, and a room where you’ll feel at home.

We use local knowledge not guidebooks
Our hikes are built on lived experience – from years of hiking, talking and listening to those who know the land best.

We hike without screens
No apps, no tech. Just printed trail guides (step-by-step instructions), proper waterproof maps and the world in front of you.

We take care of the details
Every trip includes a personalised itinerary with all the details taken care of, luggage transfers, refreshment stops and more, so you can hike care-free.

Walking tour inspiration

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The Cotswolds →

Trips from 4 to 14 nights / 5 to 15 days
World renowned for its beauty, a hiking & walking tour is the perfect way to experience The Cotswolds. Walk in charming villages with stone cottages and ancient churches, and hike the rolling pastoral landscape. Each trail is entwined with stories from throughout history from the Neolithic to the Romans, to the medieval Wool Industry.
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Heritage and Gardens →

Trips from 4 to 9 nights / 5 to 10 days
For garden lovers and keen historians, a walking tour in England is a feast for the curious. These trips have gardens and historic sites woven in, time to enjoy the countryside, views and villages, and extra time to visit the sites of interest too. From the humble to the iconic, there’s much to explore.
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Coastal Seascapes of Dorset →

Perfect for 7 to 11 nights / 8 to 12 days
This is where the rolling green landscape of Dorset meets the south coast. With little modern development, it offers inspiring hiking, and views upon views. Famed world wide for its geology & fossils, Alison & David have explored this area over 3 decades, a favoured escape with their children.
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Kings and Kingdoms →

Perfect for 6 to 11 nights / 7 to 12 days
Wonderfully crowd-free, you can enjoy a wide variety of landscapes through your tour, from peaceful river valleys to inspiring views. Not forgetting tales of Kings & Knights and some of the most charming villages in South West England (it’s home, we’re biased!).
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Wild Exmoor, Coast & Moor →

Perfect for 6 or 7 night stays / 7 or 8 days
Explore a unique landscape of moor, woodland and coast on an inn to inn trail that celebrates the ancient, evocative countryside of north Somerset and Exmoor. Journey from deep in the moor to the dramatic coast of the Severn estuary, following wooded river ravines and crossing wild moors, all steeped in history and tales.
Sigrun, Norway
“I’ve tried three different companies for my walking trips in England, and I have to say, Foot Trails truly stands out. Their itineraries are excellent, the accommodations are beautiful, and they were incredibly responsive and helpful as we explored different regions and trail options.”
Andy & Kay, USA
“We had a lovely and challenging time! The views in Dorset were everything we hoped they would be and the adjustment to 10 miles per day worked for us. We would recommend your services to anyone who wanted an active vacation but still wanted someone to arrange everything.”
Molly, USA
“So many of the paths felt like secret passageways into a simpler time. The variety of landscapes we passed through was nothing short of amazing.”
Jacquelyn, USA
“Slam dunk! Home run…out of the park…FABULOUS! This holiday went well beyond our expectations–it was so well organized from start to finish.”
Stacey, USA
“The entire trip was filled with delightful inns, charming towns, and incredible scenery. We enjoyed exploring the churches and other suggested stops along the way. Our routes were peaceful, and each day’s itinerary offered just the right amount of time on the trail.”
Michelle, USA
“Wonderful holiday of rambling through gates, stiles, paths, and magnificent countryside, and beautiful old quaint villages.”
Ann & Mark, USA
“This was our third Foot Trails adventure. We keep returning because it is a great experience. It’s great to walk on the foot paths, experience the different villages and talk to the local people. We love the varied landscapes and natural beauty of the area.”
Beth, USA
“It was a perfect walking holiday for a family of 4… tailored to our desires. It was great. Very informative communication. Adopted the plan to our family. The inns were lovely.”
Stu, USA
“An active and relaxing and supported immersive experience of a way of life different from our own. Unpredictable, in a good way. Unusual opportunity to connect with each other.”
Katy, Australia
“We had a wonderful experience in Wiltshire and on the foot trails walk that was especially designed for us. We also had a great experience with our guide David who had a wealth of historical knowledge.”
Krista, Canada
“It was very clear to us that the routes organized by Foot Trails were significantly more interesting (and significantly less busy) than the “national” trails, and a lot of local knowledge and love of the countryside must have gone into planning them.”
Devrey, USA
"Perfect way to disconnect and see the beauty of England. We saw views, locations, and areas that only locals know. It was truly spectacular to walk along a path and all of the sudden there is a tremendous view or a castle. It really was a tremendous vacation.”
Stephen, Canada
“This family owned company went above and beyond to make our entire trip so worthwhile. We handed them a wish list of exactly what we wanted – small, high quality inns, some with multiple night stays, mile limits/walking day, off the beaten track experiences, diverse trail experiences, worthwhile points of interests, not to mention great pubs and lunch options along the way. And they checked off every box for us.”
Julie, USA
“The inns chosen by Foot Trails are charming, well-appointed and very comfortable. The food at each inn was without exception superb, and the staff were friendly and helpful.”
Mark, USA
“Clear written directions matched with maps for our daily walks, efficient transport of our luggage from inn to inn, excellent overnight accommodation and quality food selections in quintessential English pubs made this trip to southwest England among our very favorites.”
Melanie, Canada
“It was fantastic. Foot Trails is a quality, well-organized, and highly customer-oriented service. I felt taken care of long before I even arrived in the UK! The country inns were beautiful and epitomized everything I think about when I dream of English country hospitality and style.”