Author name: Emma Surridge

A sunny day, mid-May, and a walk that has a bit of everything—thatched cottages, castle ruins, grand country estates and meandering riverside walking. On this wonderful spring day, we (Alastair, Becky and Emma) struck out from a small Somerset village with a picture-perfect green.  Impressive houses built on the wealth of a booming wool industry […]

Somerset: A land of orchards & cider, dairy & cheese, and very much a rural idyll. But it got me thinking, what makes an idyll? We seek beauty, peacefulness and picturesque moments in all our trails, but just sometimes you head out on a walk that gives you a deeper feeling. The little corner of

It’s that time of year again. When a simple walk in the woods is turned into something magical by the delicate indigo blooms of bluebells.  The warm April weather we’ve been enjoying has brought these wonderful flowers out in woodlands and hedgerows across the South West of England.  A couple of weekends ago, I set

Last weekend, I (Alastair) took advantage of the glorious sunshine and headed south to the beautiful Dorset coast. With not a cloud in the sky, it was the perfect day to climb Golden Cap, the highest point on England’s south coast. I began my walk in a charming little seaside village nestled between dramatic cliffs. It’s

Alistair and myself (Emma) set off from the wonderful old inn at the heart of a picture-perfect Wiltshire village. The sun was out but the air was still pleasingly fresh, perfect conditions for walking.  One of the things I love about this walk is the sheer number of quaint thatched and tiled cottages it takes

Last week, I was delighted to be making my way to The Cotswolds to check one of our walks in our Journey Across the Cotswolds and Complete Cotswolds trips. Armed with my trusty Foot Trails trail guide, I started off in a charming market town dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. Making my way past ancient

Last week, David and I (Emma) were continuing our post-winter route checks now that the spring walking season is underway. This week, we were on an undulating hike just north of Bath that combined breathtaking views with a wealth of stories and history.  It was another bright day, not a cloud in the sky. This

Another bright, sunny day greeted us as we set out on our walk through the rolling Somerset countryside to the garden city of Bath. Our starting point was a wonderfully picturesque village surrounded by undulating hills. Right from the start, the views were spectacular. The terrain was steep, but the vistas were more than enough

At the beginning of March, David and myself (Emma) went to research and finalise one of the routes in our NEW King Arthur’s Trail trip. It was a beautiful day – blue skies and bright sunshine but with a slight breeze and a frosty nip in the air reminding us that we were still at

We had picked the perfect day for our team walk in March. It was a beautiful spring morning, bright sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Starting at a village shop in a wonderfully rural Wiltshire village, there was a definite spring in all of our steps as we set off. The air was

At the end of February, David and I donned our walking boots and headed for Exmoor, a national park that spans the counties of both Somerset and Devon. It’s well known for being a truly wild corner of South West England yet is only 4 hours from London. With its moors, woodland coast and streams,

Under a grey winter’s sky (it is February after all), Alison and I popped on our walking boots for a Cotswolds wander.  It was lovely to be out in the fresh air, drinking in the tranquility and enjoying the little signs that spring is not far away. Birds chatter as we walk, the catkins adorn