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

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

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By Emma Surridge / September 18, 2026

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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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Where will I stay on a Foot Trails hiking trip

Foot Trails was created with the belief that each day’s walk should lead you to a warm welcome and a

What can I expect from a Foot Trails hiking trip in England?

Our self-guided, inn-to-inn hikes are unique experiences carefully crafted to give you a sense of discover and journey. We like

Foot Trails will be 25 years old in 2027!

25 years is a wonderful milestone. This is a testament to the many great people over the years: those who

Life on Instagram

Last month, Foot Trails Storyteller Emma was out c

Last month, Foot Trails Storyteller Emma was out checking one of our trails on a glorious autumnal morning. This short (4.5 miles) walk is one of our introductory hikes, an optional route that our guests can do on their arrival day to familiarise themselves with the English countryside:

“Starting from one of our country inns in a quiet village, I followed the instructions on my trail guide, which soon led me out into the countryside. I found myself walking on an ancient Ox Drove path, which had for centuries been used by farmers to drive their cattle to market. This ancient way took me up to a stunning viewpoint with spectacular views over the rolling fields of Wiltshire, just me, the views and the sight of buzzards floating in the autumn air.

I continued on downhill through a tranquil valley past remains of an old settlement and field systems. It was wonderful to just walk and listen to the sound of the grasses rustling in the breeze. The final stretch of my walk took me onto a section of the Wessex RIdgeway, a 137-mile footpath that runs from the town of Marlborough to Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast. I only stayed on the route for a short distance before branching off in the direction of my starting village and cosy country inn.”

This lovely trail in the heart of Wiltshire is part of our Kings & Kingdoms trip. If you’d like to know more, simply send us a message or take a look at our website (link in bio).

#WalkingHolidays #Wiltshire #VisitWiltshire #EnglishCountryside #CountryWalks #WessexRidgeway #HikingUK #AutumnWalks #PubWalks #SlowTravel #ExploreEngland #CountryInn #UKWalks #DiscoverEngland #FootTrailsUK #RuralEngland

What can I expect from a Foot Trails hiking trip?

What can I expect from a Foot Trails hiking trip?

Our self-guided, inn-to-inn hikes are unique experiences carefully crafted to give you a sense of discover and journey.

We like to treat each day as a mini adventure, weaving variety, interest, stories, and comfort into each daily hike.

This generally means around three hours to hike in the morning, a nice place to pause for lunch or a historic site to call by, and then a few hours more walking in the afternoon. Then you arrive, or return to, your country inn and enjoy refreshments, local ales & ciders and great food.

Self-guided & independent, the pace is set by you. So there is plenty of time to stop, explore a gorgeous village, enjoy the views, listen to the birds and take photos.

To find out what a typical day on the paths less travelled with Foot Trails looks like, watch our 'Day in the Life of a Foot Trail' video on our YouTube channel (link in bio).

#FootTrailsUK #SelfGuidedHikes #InnToInn #WalkingHoliday #PathsLessTravelled #SlowTravel #UKCountryside #ExploreBritain #HiketheCotswolds #HikingAdventure #WalkingTour #DiscoverUK #HikingUK #WalkingUK #swisbest

No screens, no rush, just quiet trails, beautiful

No screens, no rush, just quiet trails, beautiful countryside and step-by-step trail guides leading you to a cosy country inn at the end of every day. Download our NEW 2027 brochure to find out where your hiking boots will take you next!

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/132369856/

#HikingAdventures #WalkingHolidays #CountryWalks #EnglishCountryside #ExploreTheOutdoors #TravelInspiration #VacationPlanning #SlowTravel #Cotswolds

A year hiking in South West England South West En

A year hiking in South West England

South West England is blessed with four distinct seasons, each offering a unique charm on the trails:

From the bright, crisp days of spring filled with birdsong and vibrant spring blooms, through the sun and warmth of summer to the misty mornings and cosy evenings of autumn and winter, there’s joy to be had from hiking in every season.

If you’re ready to plan your next adventure for 2027, take a look through our new walking & hiking brochure to explore hand-picked trails across the Cotswolds, Bath, Somerset, Dorset, Exmoor and the coast (link in bio).

#FootTrails #SeasonalHiking #SouthWestEngland #WalkingHolidays #SelfGuidedHikes #InnToInn #UKCountryside #ExploreBritain #SlowTravel #HikingAdventures #ActiveTravel #VisitEngland #Cotswolds #VisitDorset

Foot Trails will be 25 years old in 2027! It's a

Foot Trails will be 25 years old in 2027!

It's a wonderful milestone. This is a testament to the many great people over the years: those who supported David's and my initial idea in 2002 at our kitchen table, who helped with research and getting the company and our concept off the ground, all the guests from across the UK and around the world who hiked with us, all the warm people at our country inns, our drivers and our wonderful team, who make it all happen every single day!

It really is a very special moment and means a great deal to David and I as founders.

When we look back, our early steadfast belief in slow travel through rural South West England and exemplary standards of guest service remains today. And our beliefs are now wrapped up in what we call ' The Howell Way' our philosophy of hiking travel.

David and I are very much looking forward to the next chapter. To helping more people from around the world discover South West England through Foot Trails' high-quality, uncrowded hiking experiences. We love to help our guests explore, unwind and reconnect! All in the magnificent English countryside we know and love. Happy 25th birthday Foot Trails!

Alison Howell

#WalkingInEngland #SouthWestEngland #HikingUK #WalkEngland #EnglishCountryside #ExploreEngland #CotswoldsWalks #DorsetWalks #SomersetWalks #WiltshireWalks #SlowTravel #HikingHoliday #WalkingHoliday

New trails in Wiltshire for 2027! 2026 has been a

New trails in Wiltshire for 2027!

2026 has been a great year for Foot Trails, and we’re already looking forward to the adventures that 2027 will bring. I’m particularly excited about sharing two new trails that we’ve created in southern Wiltshire in the beautiful countryside between Salisbury and Stonehenge.

The first trail leads straight from our new cosy country inn into the heart of Salisbury. I love how the cathedral spire still dominates the landscape, guiding your steps along quiet paths just as it’s done for travellers and pilgrims since the 1300s. It’s a truly wonderful experience.

Our second new trail guides you through the Neolithic countryside around Stonehenge. Traversing chalk valleys, ancient burial sites, and Iron Age hillforts, you’ll experience Stonehenge as our ancestors did millennia ago, the stones appearing on the horizon at specific points in the landscape surrounded by tranquil countryside.

These new trails will be part of our Kings & Kingdoms trip, a self-guided, inn-to-inn trip that takes you through the rural tranquility of Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset.

Next year marks 25 years since Alison and I founded Foot Trails. We feel truly honoured to have spent a quarter-century sharing the South West with our guests. We hope our new brochure inspires you to lace up your hiking boots and plan your next adventure!

With warm regards,

David Howell

To browse our new 2027 brochure, follow the link in our bio.

#FootTrailsUK #Wiltshire #SalisburyCathedral #Stonehenge #SouthWestEngland #WalkingHolidays #SelfGuidedHiking #EnglishCountryside #VisitWiltshire #HistoryWalks #SlowTravel #HikingInEngland

Our new 2027 brochure is now available! Inside, y

Our new 2027 brochure is now available!

Inside, you’ll find our hand-picked trails taking you across some of the most stunning landscapes of South West England. From the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and historic paths around Bath and the Avon Valley through the tranquil landscapes of Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset, to the dramatic beauty of The Jurassic coast and Exmoor. Your next great adventure is waiting!

You’ll also get an inside look at how our seamless inn-to-inn hiking trips work, the best times of year to hike, and find out what sets our trips apart. As well as beautiful photographs all captured out on our trails.

We hope these pages spark your inspiration for 2027. To browse the brochure, simply follow the link in our bio.

Whether you want to ask a few quick questions or are ready to start planning your trip, we’re here to help. Simply send us a DM, click the booking link directly in the brochure, or visit the ‘Talk to an expert’ page on our website (link in bio).

We can't wait to share our corner of South West England with you!

#SelfGuidedHiking #WalkingHolidays #HikingInEngland #SlowTravel #SouthWestEngland #CotswoldsWalks #VisitEngland #VisitCotswolds #RuralEngland #EnglishCountryside #TravelInspiration #UKVacation #WalkingTour #FootTrailsUK

Day 6, our last day of hiking on the guided Story

Day 6, our last day of hiking on the guided Story of the Cotswolds, arrived with bright blue skies and golden autumn sunshine.

We set out from our country inn and were soon tracking up towards a beautiful Cotswolds village. On our way up the hill we caught sight of a kestrel hovering with great skill above the ground.

Leaving the village, we hiked towards the next. Another stunning location, with picture perfect cottages made of Cotswolds stone and a wonderful little church. Here we all sat on the church wall and enjoyed a boiled sweet and tales of the villages past!

We saw lots of sheep! And soon we found ourselves in a wonderfully secluded and peaceful open valley. A glorious spot where many red kites swooped and flew below us in the valley.

We paused every now and then to photograph and admire the view, or to enjoy a boiled sweet! But we made great progress and following the long, straight estate road, we eventually arrived at the site of Chedworth Roman Villa.

Originally a farmstead, the Romans developed the location into a villa in the second century, eventually transforming it into a luxurious villa in the 4th century, complete with hot and cold bath houses.

Tiled mosaic floors from this period remain today! We admired them and imagined the socially elite visitors who would have been dined and entertained here. We also admired the underfloor heating system, created by the Romans, who hated the British weather!

We enjoyed hot soup and fresh bread at the villa before our transport met us to return to the country inn for our final farewell dinner. What a wonderful week it has been.

Everyone said how incredible it had been to explore off the beaten path, and without crowds, and what a wonderful week of memories they had.

David and I look forward to doing it again next year.

Alison

Foot Trails will host two founder-led guided hiking trips with Alison and David Howell next year in 2027. Look out for details coming soon in the coming weeks!

#Cotswolds #VisitCotswolds #ExploreEngland #EnglishCountryside #DiscoverEngland #GuidedHike #HikingAdventures #AutumnHiking #UKHiking #HikingUK #WalkingUK #WalkingHoliday #ChedworthRomanVilla #RomanHistory

Day 5 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds trip he

Day 5 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds trip heralded a glorious early autumn day

Everyone was feeling well rested following our shorter trail yesterday. We hopped aboard the minibuses to ride to Lower Slaughter where we were beginning today's hike. We had the village to ourselves as we walked along.

Then we walked out on country lanes, lined with hedgerows adorned with red hawthorn berries, red rosehips and blue/purple coloured sloes. The landscape was undulating with gentle ups and downs. This was the beautiful Windrush Valley.

Overhead, we caught sight of Buzzards and Kites (birds of prey) soaring on the thermals.We paused in the valley to enjoy a mint humbug and a water break!

Soon our village lunchtime stop was in sight! The church sat beautifully in the distance. We dropped down into the village and passed the ancient dovecote. A Grade II listed building with approximately 1,200 nestholes!

After exploring the church we headed to the village pub for lunch. It was well used by the locals and had a great atmosphere serving traditional British pub food.

As we exited the pub a heavy cloudburst fell on us! Undeterred we donned our waterproofs and the downpour soon passed as quickly as it started.

Then, the sun came out. As we walked during the afternoon the low slung autumn sun shone golden onto the turning trees and countryside.

We arrived into the village of Upper Slaughter via the ford (a crossing over the River for cars) and some of us bravely waded through to wash our boots of mud. An egret (white bird) was in the river and flew up into the nearby tree.

Meeting our drivers we drove on to the next country inn on our trip, set in a beautiful Cotswolds wool town. Everyone got checked in ready for a hot shower or bath before dinner. A wonderful early autumn day in the Cotswolds.

If you're ready to experience the magic of hiking the Cotswolds in 2027, visit our website (link in bio) to browse our trips or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk.

#TheCotswolds #Cotswolds #LowerSlaughter #UpperSlaughter #DiscoverCotswolds #ExploreEngland #WalkingHoliday #GuidedHike #HikingUK #AutumnVibes #CotswoldStone #EnglishCountrySide #WalkingUK

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Credits & small print

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

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