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The Howell Way
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Trips & Tours
The Howell Way
Our Journal
Talk to an expert

Screenshot_27-4-2026_14454_www.greatwestway.co.uk

By Emma Surridge / April 27, 2026

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

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On our journal

What wildflowers can you expect to see out walking in SW England?

Walking through meadows of bright wildflowers, colourful blooms bobbing gently in the breeze, is one of the great joys of

What is the weather like in autumn in England?

Autumn is the wonderful season that transitions us here in the UK from summer to winter. Meteorologically, autumn starts on

Where are the best places to hike in South West England in autumn?

Autumn is the perfect month for hiking in the South West. Cooler temperatures, fewer crowds and a beautiful autumnal colour

Life on Instagram

Last weekend, Foot Trails Co-Founders David and Al

Last weekend, Foot Trails Co-Founders David and Alison were out on the beautiful Dorset Coast, visiting guests and checking one of our routes in our Coastal Seascapes of Dorset hiking trip.

With blue skies and a shimmering sea, it was a beautiful day to be out.

This stunning section of the Dorset coast is part of our Coastal Seascapes of Dorset inn-to-inn hiking trip. Exhilarating coastal hiking paired with pretty villages & cottages, Iron Age hillforts, and ancient churches - a celebration of Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast.

If you’d like to book a hiking adventure on the Dorset coast, simply visit our website or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

https://foottrails.co.uk/holidays/coastal-seascapes-of-dorset/

#Lulworth #DorsetLife #JurassicCoast #CoastalWalking #WalkingUK #UKHikers #CoastalSeascapes #EnglishCountryside #BritishCoast #TravelDorset #walkingtrip

Bath & The Avon Valley in autumn Imagine hiking i

Bath & The Avon Valley in autumn

Imagine hiking in the heart of rural England through early morning mists covering the waterways of a tucked-away valley. Watching brightly colored barges passing slowly by, the woodsmoke from their log burners trailing on the autumn breeze... 🍂

The section of the River Avon Valley that wends its way through Wiltshire and Somerset to the Georgian city of Bath is an incredibly scenic, little-known oasis. In autumn, this tranquil corridor transforms into a spectacular canopy of golds, oranges, and reds and is a haven for wildlife.

On our Bath & The Avon Valley trip, you'll find delightful villages, dramatic castles and charming stone cottages as you slowly make your way to the stunning garden city of Bath. And at the end of every day, you'll finish at a characterful country inn, where a warm welcome, delicious food, and a great night’s sleep will be waiting for you.

Now’s the perfect time to book an autumn hiking adventure in South West England. To find out more about Bath & The Avon Valley, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We always love to hear from you.

#BathUK #VisitBath #RiverAvon #AvonValley #Somerset #Wiltshire #EnglishCountryside #BeautifulEngland #GloriousBritain #UKTravelgram #SlowTravel #HiddenEngland #AutumnInBritain #FallColors #MistyMorning #ScenicRoute #ExploreMore #hikeuk #walkuk #walkingholidays

Hike the lesser-known trails in South West England

Hike the lesser-known trails in South West England

Autumn is the perfect season for exploring the counties of Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset on foot. When morning mists hug the valleys and the clear skies open up views of the colourful autumnal landscape. We love walking through the rolling chalk downs, secluded valleys and ancient hunting grounds at this time of year.

This part of South West England is dotted with tiny villages, little changed in centuries. Norman and Saxon churches, romantic ruined castles and beautiful thatched cottages, all part of a landscape made even more picturesque by the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’.

🍂 Our Kings & Kingdoms is one of our favourite trips for walking in autumn. If you’d like to explore this idyllic corner of the South West this autumn, visit our website (link in bio) or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to chat through your plans.

#visitdorset #visitwiltshire #visitsomerset #autumnwalks #autumninengland #autumncolours #fallinengland #englishcountryside #ruralengland #countrysidewalks #traveluk #hikeuk #visitdorset #visitsomerset #visitwilsthire

The Cotswolds in autumn The Cotswolds really come

The Cotswolds in autumn

The Cotswolds really comes into its own in autumn. The sun sits lower in the sky, bathing traditional Cotswolds stone cottages and drystone walls in a gentle, golden light. From mid-October onwards, the countryside comes alive with colour as leaves start to turn. Then, as they fall, you’ll feel the crunch of leaves under your boots as you walk from village to village, ending your day at a characterful village inn. Is there a better way to finish a day’s hiking in autumn than cosying up next to a warm fire with a delicious meal, a local ale and memories of a great day’s walking?

Now’s the perfect time to book an autumn walking holiday in the Cotswolds. We take you off the beaten track, away from A to B national trails to discover a more authentic, mellow and simpler Cotswolds, one which we know and love. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk.

#countryside #autumn #cotswolds #hikethecotswolds #englishcountryside #autumnvibes #the_cotswolds #ruralengland #autumnwalks #fall #cosy #englishvillages #visitengland #beautifuldestinations #cotswoldsliving

We’ve had a great June here in South West England.

We’ve had a great June here in South West England. Summer is well and truly underway. The fields are full of ripening crops, swathes of wildflowers gently bob up and down in the breeze and cottage gardens are full of roses, foxgloves and lavender. We’ve experienced all weathers this past month from rainy and overcast to a record-breaking heatwave.

The Foot Trails team was on hand to tweak itineraries, advise on departure times and arrange earlier pickups during the hottest days, ensuring that our guests were able to continue exploring these summer landscapes from the Cotswolds through Exmoor and Wiltshire right down to the Dorset coast.

Here's a short video showing some of the highlights from this past month.

#summer #hiking #walking #england #ruralengland #englishcountryside

What should I pack for an autumn hiking trip in So

What should I pack for an autumn hiking trip in South West England?
Here in the UK, autumn takes place from the start of September to the end of November. September brings seasonal mists to the valley floors. Mid to end of October the trees transform with their burnt oranges, reds and yellows while November brings the first frost and the promise of long cosy evenings in front of log fires.

All of which makes autumn a wonderful season to hike in southwest England. As we leave summer behind, though, the weather becomes more changeable. This can make it a challenge to know what to pack for a hiking trip. While the climate in southern England is generally milder and more stable than in the north, it still pays to be prepared for sudden shifts in weather: sunshine, showers, wind and frost are all possible from September to November. In our latest blog (link in bio), we’ve put together a list of what to pack for an autumn hiking trip in South West England.

#autumn #fallinengland #autumnhikes #fallhikes #walkingholidaysuk #autumnvibes #ruralengland #walkingengland #visitengland #visitthecotswolds #hikethecotswolds #dorset #visitwiltshire #somerset #exmoor

Why we love November hiking Shorter days, cooler

Why we love November hiking

Shorter days, cooler temperatures, long cosy evenings and spectacular sunsets and sunrises - this is what November means to us.

Trees lose the last of their foliage revealing their sculptural shapes silhouetted dramatically against the November skyline. The countryside takes on a more muted colour palette of browns, golds, and reds, and there is a lovely peacefulness that settles over fields and footpaths. Evergreens such as holly, ivy and yew add splashes bright of colour as do mosses and fungi clinging to stones, rocks and tree trunks.

With sunrises from around 7.30 a.m. and sunsets around 5 p.m. walking days are shorter, but there’s also the chance to see spectacular sunrises and sunsets without having to get up early or stay up late! And if you’re out and about at dawn or dusk you may, if you're lucky, see some of our more elusive wildlife such as owls, hares and hedgehogs.

As the month progresses, you’ll experience the first morning frosts, a refreshing nip in the air and familiar crunch of frost beneath your hiking boots. The weather is more dynamic in November, but with the right gear, there’s nothing to get in the way of some wonderful days of walking.

If you'd like to explore the tucked away corners of South West England this autumn, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you.

#hellonovember #autumnvibes #autumn #fall #hikinguk #walkinguk #autumnleaves #walkingengland #hikingengland #autumnwalks #countrysideescapes #ruralengland #FootpathsOfBritain #walkingholidaysuk

October hiking October brings true autumn to Sout

October hiking

October brings true autumn to South West England. The weather becomes more unpredictable so having the right kit is important. However, temperatures generally remain ideal for hiking. There's a quietness and beauty to the countryside that is simply wonderful. The days shorten and there's the scent of woodsmoke from newly lit fires on the air.

From mid-October onwards, leaves transform into vibrant golds, bronzes, and reds and conkers lie half hidden in leaves on woodland floors. The skies are filled with the cries of pheasant and echo with the calls of geese migrating south for the winter.

And, after a refreshing day witnessing the harvest season, is there anything better than arriving at a cozy country inn to be greeted by a glowing hearth fire and a hearty meal? We don't think so 🍂

If you’re tempted by the delights of hiking in South West England in October, now is the perfect time to book. Simply drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to share our corner of England with you this autumn.

#DiscoverEngland #FallNature #October #uktravel #autumnuk #autumn #fall #uktravel #autumnvibes #WalkingUK #GloriousBritain #weloveengland #MistyMornings #FallFoliage #HikingAdventures #hikingvacations

What is it like walking in England in autumn? Thi

What is it like walking in England in autumn?

This is a question we often get asked. Our answer? Autumn is a fantastic season for hiking in South West England. Autumn doesn’t arrive dramatically here. It's a wonderfully slow transition. September to November, each month is distinct from the other and has something special to offer walkers and hikers. Here's what we at Foot Trails love about September:

We love September for the misty mornings, long warm days, and cool evenings it brings to South West England. In many ways, it feels like an extension of summer. Yet the countryside is unmistakably shifting toward autumn as the sun sits lower in the sky, bathing the landscape in golden hues and lengthening shadows.

Hedgerows come alive with vibrant blackberries, elderberries, and hawthorn berries, offering perfect opportunities for foraging during walks. Overhead, swallows and house martins gather on telephone wires, preparing for their epic migration south.

Meanwhile, villages and towns across the country celebrate traditional harvest festivals, timed to coincide with the harvest moon—the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. From the Cotswolds down to the Dorset coast, it's simply a wonderful time for hiking

If you’d like to experience the magic of hiking in September this year, now is the perfect time to book. Simply visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to help you plan an autumn hiking adventure in South West England.

#england #SouthWestEngland #cotswolds #AutumnInEngland #fallinengland #AutumnVibes #AutumnWalks #WalkingUK #HikingEngland #SceneryOfBritain #walkingholidaysuk #TheGreatOutdoors #FallNature #GetOutsideUK #GloriousBritain #GetOutsideUK #FallVibes #FallFoliage

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Photography credits: Alison & David Howell. Alun Callender, The National Trust, English Heritage

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