We’re excited about sharing the new trail we’ve created with our guests in 2027. To find out more about two of these, I (Storyteller Emma) sat down with Foot Trails Co-Founder and Trail Creator David Howell to ask him how and why he decided to add these new trails to the portfolio.
Where are the new routes located?
They’re located in southern Wiltshire, not far from the cathedral city of Salisbury and also not far from Stonehenge.
On the first of these routes, you can walk directly from your cosy country inn in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside into Salisbury – the cathedral spire guiding you from the distance. There are fascinating stops en route including one of the most historically important sites in southern England occupied from by Neolithic people, the Romans, Saxons and Normans before being usurped by the ‘up-and-coming’ settlement of Salisbury.
Our second new route is a circular walk through Stonehenge’s Neolithic landscape. It’s a wonderful trail taking you through curving chalk valleys, past ancient burial sites, Iron Age hillforts with stunning views of Stonehenge on the horizon.
Why did you choose this location for new routes?
First and foremost, it’s a beautiful and fascinating landscape. I love showing people this area of South West England, where you can still see the traces of the first human settlements and ceremonial landmarks. I’ve wanted to do it for a long time, I was just waiting to find the right accommodation for our Foot Trails guests (which we now have with a wonderful country inn at the heart of a Wiltshire village). It’s a unique way to appreciate the landscape. There’s something wonderful about seeing such iconic structures as Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral from a distance with few signs of modernity and on the same paths our ancestors would have trodden for millennia.
How long did it take you to create the new routes?
I know the area very well and have been walking there for around 25 years. So it was a relatively quick process compared to other routes I’ve created. I didn’t have to do a lot of extra research. It was more about getting out on the trails and making sure the routes worked.
What is the process for turning an idea for a route into reality?
All of our trips start from personal experiences that Alison and I have shared. Ones that have made us go ‘we’d love to share this with our Foot Trails guests’. Once we have the idea, it’s time to look at the maps. I love paper maps so I’ll spread them out and start to read the landscape and how the footpaths interact with it.
Once I’ve planned a route, I head out to walk it and assess how it feels. Is it welcoming, inspiring and comfortable? Then I turn the notes I take on the trails into step-by-step guides and research the history and stories we include in the trail notes. Once all that is complete, we go out to check the hike and make sure everything works.
What will our guests see and experience on these new trails?
Our guests will experience a beautiful neolithic landscape rich with historic landmarks. Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral are the two iconic structures, but there’s plenty of other fascinating ceremonial sites as well. Both trails take you to a time where humans were starting to create the first settlements. It’s the start of a journey that takes us all the way up to the life we lead today.
What trip will these new routes be part of?
Both hikes will be part of our Kings & Kingdoms trip.
If you’d like to explore the paths less travelled through the stunning landscape of South West England, simply get in touch with us. We’d love to share our corner of England with you.
