Kings & Kingdoms
Inn to Inn Trail

Kings & Kingdoms is where Foot Trails was born and holds a special place in the hearts of all of us here at Foot Trails. On this inn to inn trail you can explore beautiful landscapes, wander in tourist-free villages full of character, and enjoy historic pubs by evening.

From the medieval, with cottages of creamy white stone and ruined castles, to open wildflower filled grasslands and big views, the timeless character of the Dorset’s thatched cottages, to finishing in the spiritual heart of Saxon Wessex. In the background. the story of Kings and the evolution of a Kingdom that led to the foundation of ‘England’.

Quite simply, it’s a dreamy walk through the English countryside.

Aerial shot of two people walking and hiking in England's countryside
Karen, USA
“The directions were amazing and we especially enjoyed the historical notes. The lodging was wonderful and the food delicious.”
Mara, USA
“Clearly much time and energy goes into tailoring a trip to meet the needs and desires of a given group. That effort is much appreciated.”
Elizabeth, USA
“You provide something bespoke that I know, with all the research in the world, I could never duplicate.”
Sharah, USA
“We found our service from the Foot Trails staff to be exceptional. They were very responsive to our individual questions and needs.”
Kalah, USA
“It was amazing. Well curated with perfect weather. This has become my favorite way to take a relaxing holiday”
Pat, USA
“Our trip was very relaxing and everything we expected it to be and more. We had a wonderful time.”
Amy & Adam, USA
“The countryside was beautiful and we were happy to experience truly off-the-beaten-path places.”
Peter, Canada
“We had a fantastic time. The hiking brought us to a variety of interesting places with amazing views.”
Joan, USA
“Wonderful hiking in the peace and tranquility of the Cotswolds. The views were stunning. Great way for us to reset and get back to nature.”
Linda, USA
“Absolutely perfect! Relaxing, rejuvenating and entertaining-it was one of the best vacations we’ve ever had.”
Catherine, USA
“The Cotswolds Walking Tour was delightful. I was so impressed by the organization of all the materials to guide us on our daily walks.”
Sigrun, Norway
“I’ve tried three different companies for my walking trips in England, and I have to say, Foot Trails truly stands out.”
Andy & Kay, USA
“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.”
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.”
Beth, USA
“It was a perfect walking holiday for a family of 4… tailored to our desires. It was great.”
Stu, USA
“An active and relaxing and supported immersive experience of a way of life different from our own.”
Katy, Australia
“We had a wonderful experience in Wiltshire and on the foot trails walk that was especially designed for us.”
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.”
Devrey, USA
"Perfect way to disconnect and see the beauty of England. We saw views, locations, and areas that only locals know.”
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.”
Julie, USA
“The inns chosen by Foot Trails are charming, well-appointed and very comfortable. The food at each inn was without exception superb.”
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.”
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!”

Example Itinerary

Here’s a quick flavour of the hiking tour. For a fully detailed guide to the Kings & Kingdoms trail fill out the form below and we’ll email one over to you.

Kings & Kingdoms


A self-guided independent inn to inn walking tour. 6 to 11 night tour options available. Choose your preferred arrival day & date.

Day 1
Arrive & go for a short walk to get the lie of the land.

Day 2
Moss-covered thatched cottages & views over the vale, as Thomas Hardy wrote ‘constructed upon a smaller and more delicate scale;’.

Day 3
This land was once known as ‘Splendens’, and today is still a country idyll. A mile long lake, long-gone follies and the great barn await your discovery.

Day 4
Tales of Knights, civil war and sieges. Wander around the most romantic castle ruin in southern England and read of its heroine.

Day 5
Leaving the river valleys behind heading for the high ground. Wildflower filled grasslands and sweeping views, this was once King John’s favoured hunting ground.

Day 6
Dorset’s highest village with charming thatched Dorset cottages and a pond where the swallows swoop. Big views that inspired the writer Thomas Hardy.

Day 7
Slow day in the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury & its famous Gold Hill. Founded in 878AD it has some of the best views in Dorset.

Day 8
Down by the river, enjoy mills, thatched cottages and watery scenes. Pause in the market town before exploring the working water mill.

Day 9
Archaeological delights, iron-age & Roman forts, barrows & nature reserves. Finishing at a character local inn.

Day 10
Two castles, a deer park, a country town, an Abbey & Alfred the Great’s ancestors. There’s history around every corner.

Day 11
Views of Somerset & the Yeo valley, an ancient hill fort that could be Camelot? Ponder that over a cider at the inn.

Day 12
Time for your onward journey, taking memories of your adventures with you.

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Accommodation:
Read about our food and accommodation here.

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Itinerary additions:

  • Arriving straight to your walking tour from a long-haul flight can leave you feeling a little tired. Many of our guests choose to add an additional night at the start of their trip to adjust before they start walking.
  • Add a unique guided day tour of Stonehenge & Avebury with one of the Foot Trails team. 
  • Fancy a few days to tour further afield? Take a look at our sister over at ‘Drive & Stroll’ for private guided tours where we journey by car and take short strolls to admire the landscape & history.

At a glance

  • Inn to Inn tour
  • 6 to 11 night stays suggested
  • Stays in quality country inns
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Screen-free walk & explore pack

Walks
7 to 9 mile walk program, or 10+ miles walk program. (11 to 15 km or 16+ km)

Prices
You will receive a bespoke itinerary & personalised price quotation. ‘Explore’ tours are typically between £230 – £290 per person, per night, based on 2 sharing a bedroom. Solo’s & groups welcome.

Find out more?

Request a full guide for this tour with detailed daily descriptions and tour options. Simply add your details below and we’ll send one directly to your inbox.

Our food & Accommodation

The country inns, pubs and hotels of South West England are the perfect partner to your days in the countryside. Each of our trails leads to a warm welcome, a good meal, and a room where you’ll feel at home.

About our food & accommodation →

Self-guided hiking

Foot Trails’ Self-guided hiking & walking trips offer the perfect balance of achievement, curiosity and relaxation. They’re for individuals, couples, families & friends who enjoy exploring on their own terms.

About Self-guided walking →