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Foot Trails logo
  • Trips & Tours
    • The Cotswolds
    • Coastal Hikes
    • Land of Kings
    • Heritage and Gardens
    • Family & Friends Groups
    • Events: Group Walks
    • All Trips
  • The Howell Way
    • The Howell Way
    • Our Values
    • Our Story
    • Sustainability
  • Our Journal
  • Talk to an expert
    • Booking Enquiry
    • Book a Video Appointment
    • Our Team

Photo 06

By Emma Surridge / September 10, 2024

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We don't follow the national trails.
We follow the Howell Way.

Our way of walking, our way of caring.
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On our journal

The joy of exploring the countryside without screens

“Not all who wander are lost”The Riddle of Strider, JRR Tolkein We love a good wander, taking time to explore

Foot Trails Wins Bronze Award – International Tourism

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve won a bronze award at the Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards. Alison &

Hiking to a king’s stronghold

Well known for its geological wonders, the Dorset coast also has some alternative, and surprising, landscapes to wander in. Last

Life on Instagram

May is a wonderful month for walking. The countrys May is a wonderful month for walking. The countryside looks stunning—verdant greens and bright whites are everywhere. Trees, hedgerows and verges show off their new vivid green leaves. Clouds of frothy white cow parsley fill verges and hedgerows, while Hawthorne trees seem to be weighed down with the thick clusters of their own blossom. 

To find out more about booking a bespoke walking holiday in England in 2026, visit our website (link in bio). 

#may2026 #LandscapeLovers #EnglishCountryside #england #visitengland #countrysidelife #traveluk #walkingholidaysuk #hikingholidaysuk #ukwalking #hikinguk #ukholiday #getoutdoors #walkingholidayuk #adventureawaits #england #countrysidewalks
It all began with a walk, a 680-mile walk across F It all began with a walk, a 680-mile walk across France. When Alison & David Howell gave up their jobs, house and car, and boarded a boat across the channel, carrying with them an appetite for adventure, a small two man tent, a few essential clothes and a gas stove to make tea and cook supper.

Inspired by that journey Alison & David founded Foot Trails on their return to England. Over two decades, Foot Trails has grown into a small dedicated team who share Alison & David's passion for helping our guests discover the very best of South West England, slowly, on foot.

To find out more about the story of Foot Trails, watch our video on our YouTube channel (link in bio).

#getoutdoors #getoutside #hiking #hike #england #walkuk #gohiking #hikingadventures #beautifuldestinations #walkingholidays #walkingholidaysuk #selfguidedwalkingholidays #walksinengland #ExploreEngland  #thisprettyengland  #travelengland #englandtravel #traveluk  #gloriousbritain #beautifulengland #visitengland
Nature has its own magic, and to be immersed in it Nature has its own magic, and to be immersed in it is a feast for the senses. The vibrant greens of grasses, trees and hedgerows with bright pops of colours from wildflowers. The subtle scents that change from landscape to landscape. All accompanied by the sound of wind in the trees and the echoes of birdsong.

Nature restores us and we always feel better for having spent time outdoors.

#goforawalk #getoutinnature #walkinguk #wellbeing #woodlandwalks #offthebeatentrack #letnaturenurture #roamandwonder #ukwalks #ukhikes #walkinguk #hikinguk #walkingholidaysengland #southwestengland #visitengland
There is something special about walking with fami There is something special about walking with family and friends in nature. Spending your days wandering the countryside, immersed in nature, with nothing else to do apart from explore and talk deepens connections. 

Conversations flow more naturally. There's time to talk and connect or just enjoy companionable silence.

To find out more about our bespoke walking & hiking trips for groups of friends & family, visit our website (link in bio).

#groupwalks #walkandtalk #walkingtogether #AdventureAwaits #natureescape #rechargeinnature #walkuk #hikeuk #england #southwestengland #visitengland #englishlandscapes #countrysidewalks #ruralengland #englishcountryside #quietinthewild #naturewalks #travelinspiration #leavethecity #ukwalkingholidays
"Not all who wander are lost" The Riddle of Stride "Not all who wander are lost"
The Riddle of Strider, JRR Tolkein

We love a good wander, taking time to explore the landscape to observe and find quiet. We seek the quiet paths, crowd-free routes, so you can explore like a local.

We also create our hikes without screens so you can disconnect, be free of the day to day, and indulge in one of life's biggest luxury; time. No apps. No tech. Just printed trail guides (with step-by-step instructions) and waterproof maps.

To find out more, visit our website (link in bio).

#timeinnature #welovewalking #wellnesswalks #walkingforwellbeing #bekindtoyourself #natureconnection #naturelovers #natureandwellbeing #walkingforwellness #hikinguk #walkinguk #wellnesswalking #walkingholidaysuk #visitengland #visitthecotswolds
Walking. The simple act of putting one foot in fro Walking. The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. Outdoors and in nature.

It's one of the few activities in modern life that forces you to slow down to nature’s pace. The twists & turns of a country footpath, the stiles, stones and roots, all things that slow our pace and allow us to take time and notice. Time to observe our surroundings, the sounds of nature. The crunch of gravel or leaves underfoot, the warmth of dappled sunlight on our faces and the scent of earthy rich soil.

It's no wonder that walking is so good for us, helping to reduce stress, clear our heads, improve sleep and, put simply, make us happy.

#walking #hiking #wellbeing #wellness #walkingholidaysuk #walkuk #hikeuk #southwestengland #visitengland #slowdown #slowtravel #taketimetobreathe #timeout #timeinnature #welovewalking #wellnesswalks #walkingforwellbeing #bekindtoyourself
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve won a bronze We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve won a bronze award at the Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards.

Alison & David, Foot Trails founders, attended a prestigious gala event in Bath yesterday evening to receive the award on behalf of the Foot Trails team.

"We're overjoyed to win this prestigious award and to be named in tourism's international top spot. Foot Trails attracts guests from all across the world to visit our beautiful West Country, and to travel slowly on bespoke hiking & walking tours. This award is a credit to the hard work of our team in making and delivering these award-winning experiences, as well as welcoming and caring for our guests.”

Thank you to all of our guests who make this possible, and for your kind words of feedback and encouragement, we can't wait to welcome you back. And for those considering a Foot Trail, welcome, we look forward to helping you explore the paths less trodden in our beautiful corner of England.

#BBSTA25 #tourismawards #awardwinners #awards2025 #winner  #hikingengland #walkingholidaysuk #bestwalkingholidays #walkuk #hikeuk #slowtraveling #englishcountryside #swisbest
An island rising out of the mist rumoured to be th An island rising out of the mist rumoured to be the final resting place of King Arthur… The Isle of Avalon is a mystical place at the heart of Arthurian legend. And for centuries, it was thought to be located in Somerset, in the mysterious Levels.

As early as the 11th century, the Levels were suggested as the place where Arthur was laid to rest. And when monks at a local abbey claimed to have found Arthur & Guinevere’s grave in 1191, its link to Arthur and his knights was cemented in popular imagination.

The Somerset Levels have always been a favourite of Foot Trails’ Co-Founders Alison & David, combining their love of landscapes, history, legend and, of course, cider. To find out more about booking walking holiday in this fascinating region, visit our website (link in bio).

#somerset #history #greatoutdoors #england #britain #countryside  #glastonbury #glastonburytor #somerset #Avalon #mistsofavalon #VisitSomerset #southwestengland  #walkingholidaysuk #walkinguk #hikeuk #hikeengland #hikebritain #walkengland #walkingholidaysuk #walkingholidays
The Somerset Levels, a land of cider, legend and t The Somerset Levels, a land of cider, legend and timeless rural life. This low-lying wetland in the heart of Somerset, is a true hidden gem of the South West. A place suffused in history, myths and legends, where King Arthur was said to have lived, ruled and died.

Our King Arthur’s Trail trip immerses you in all the different facets of this region - stunning natural landscapes, delightful villages, historic ruined abbeys, vintage cider orchards and breathtaking views. To find out more, message us here on Instagram or visit our website (link in bio)

#somerset #glastonburytor #walkingholiday #walkinguk #england #naturelovers #naturevibes #walkingtour #hikeuk #walkingengland #KingArthur #alfredthegreat #somersetlevels #glastonbury #glastonburyabbey #somersetlevelsandmoors #somerset #visitsomerset #somsersetlevels #somersetwest
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Photography credits: Alison & David Howell. Alun Callender, The National Trust, English Heritage

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