Author name: Emma Surridge

A sunny day in Winter is always a joyful gift. The day after the winter solstice the skies cleared, and whilst the gusty wind brought icy blasts, it was joyous to take a few hours to walk. Alison and I headed to Dorset to enjoy it’s stunning coastal scenery.  Wrapped up, and with hats & […]

‘Twas the week before Christmas…’ and I had a hankering for some festive cheer and Christmas carols. And what better place to find that than at a carol concert held in the magnificent Sherborne Abbey? I arrived early to have a wander through the town and look at the seasonal decorations and window displays. It

I’ve been walking in The Cotswolds all my life and yet I’m still finding new paths and places to explore, sometimes in areas I thought I knew well.  This past week I headed to an area just a few miles from where I grew up. Under a wintry pastel sky with a less than favourable

We’ve been talking a lot about spring here at Foot Trails HQ as we’re helping many of our guests plan their spring walking adventures. All of which got me thinking back to a brilliant walk I did along the coast in the south west last spring. It really stuck in my mind and felt like

As the chill of winter arrives on the breeze and the cosy warmth of log fires beckons, it’s naturally a time when thoughts turn to the adventures we might enjoy when the days lengthen and the warm sunshine returns next spring. I love walking in an English spring. In the countryside, life is bursting forth

A couple of weekends ago, I ventured across the border from Somerset into Wiltshire to explore the chalk downs around the town of Mere. The morning had been cloudy, but bright sun and  clear skies were forecast for the afternoon. Not wanting to miss the opportunity for some October sun, I set off. Walking through

‘There are some heights in Wessex, shaped as if by a kindly hand…’ a quote from Victorian author Thomas Hardy, who set all of his novels in an imaginary region in South West England that he called Wessex.  Wessex is a wonderful part of the world – off the beaten track and far from the

To celebrate National Apple Day, which is held here in the UK every year on 21st October, Alastair and myself (Emma) set off to check one of The Foot Trails hikes in the Somerset Levels, a region steeped in legends, mystery… and cider. The weather was stunning: bright, sunny and crisp. Perfect for wandering through

This month, I had the pleasure of descending into the heart of Dorset to revisit and refresh one of our ‘Landscapes and Seascapes of Dorset’ walks. The weather was nothing short of extraordinary—unseasonably warm, with sunlight spilling across the land. I couldn’t resist visiting the old church at the trail’s start, where I was greeted

Under a rainy sky and with our hoods firmly zipped up, Emma & Alastair headed out on one of our regular checks. Despite the inclement weather, we were both looking forward to getting out into the lush Cotswolds countryside to explore this trail. Following the path through a tunnel-like canopy that soon gave way to

On a quiet Saturday morning in August, I decided to head out on one of our Foot Trails. This would be my first time hiking solo, so I was excited to set out for a little walking adventure. I started my route in front of the village shop, resisting the urge to buy snacks for

Undeterred by a less-than-favourable weather forecast, David, Alistair and Emma from the Foot Trails team headed out yesterday on a walk along the paths and bridleways in the county of Somerset. Armed with our trusty Foot Trails trail card, we start at an idyllic country church, its grey stone walls and slate roof perfectly mirroring