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

trig point Pilsden Pen Ridgeway Thirstily

By Emma Surridge / April 1, 2026

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We don't follow the national trails.
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On our journal

The benefits of being outdoors in all weathers

As any outdoor enthusiast knows, there are real benefits and joys to be had exploring the countryside whatever the weather.

What can I expect when I hike up Glastonbury Tor?

Glastonbury Tor rises like an island above the flat, agricultural wetlands of the Somerset Levels. Before the 18th century, the

When is the best time to visit English country gardens?

There are few better ways of spending a summer’s day (in our opinion) than wandering the quiet footpaths and country

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It’s easy to be deterred by a weather forecast, bu

It’s easy to be deterred by a weather forecast, but often there’s still much to enjoy about embracing the elements and stepping out into the great outdoors. Naturally, having the right clothing is also essential to enjoying yourself :)

Today’s forecast was rain, poor visibility, and a gusty wind that would keep the temperature low. Not a typical June day. I wore my trusty altberg walking boots, stormshield trousers and a @passenger rain jacket, head to toe cover from the elements.

Cosy in my gear it was time to head on out, leaving the valley floor beside the River Wylye to climb the rise, drifting ever higher into the cloud, wind and rain.

The path led me into the calm shelter of the woodland, a chance to be refreshed by the lush green and earthiness of the moss and ancient trees.

Crossing the river it was time to venture into the open, climb the hill to enjoy the open landscape and far-reaching views. A Sparrowhawk took to the sky, looking effortless despite the conditions.

It was time to descend the hill to the village and seek out a warming cup of coffee in the local village shop. Warmed by the coffee I zipped up and headed to the local church to explore the local history. A high status Roman burial from the 3rd or 4th century discovered near to the church hints at a story yet to be uncovered.

With more and more light coming to the sky the rain eased as I wandered through green fields. A fallen, old & gnarled, oak tree looked like a slain dinosaur, scales lining its back. Into the woods, gorgeous ancient trees with the views beyond, and frothy Queen Anne’s Lace lining my path.

I reached the end of my trail, glowing from being in the elements and feeling energised. Feeling thoroughly rewarded for stepping outside on a wild day.

David Howell

This walk features as part of our Kings & Kingdom’s Wessex trail. If you would like to plan your trip, simply drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk.

#DavidHowellonthetrail #walking #ukhiking #england #uktravel #hikeuk #walkinguk #swisbest #walkingholiday #uktrails #countrywalking #selfguidedwalking #lovegreatbritain #walkingtrip #visitbritain #visitengland #visitwiltshire

Rising like an island above the flat, agricultural

Rising like an island above the flat, agricultural wetlands of the Somerset Levels, Glastonbury Tor has been shrouded in mystery and myth since time immemorial.

Once known as the Isle of Avalon, the tor has strong links to Arthurian legend. Over the centuries, it has been rumoured to be the final resting place of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere and one of the possible locations of the Holy Grail. It’s been a place of pilgrimage since the 11th century at least, and it still attracts many walkers and pilgrims to this day, especially around the summer and winter solstices.

There is something special about approaching it from afar on foot, seeing it rise out of the landscape as pilgrims and travellers would have done in centuries past.

Glastonbury is just one highlight in our King Arthur's Trail hiking trip. Over six or seven nights, our bespoke trails take you through this region shaped by the myths and legends of King Arthur and his knights, from ancient Saxon hilltop towns, through the ancient abbey and tor at Glastonbury to the old world charm of the Somerset Levels – a land of mystery and vintage cyder!

To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrail#walkinguk

#glastonbury #somerset #ruralengland #visitengland #uktravel #discoverengland #hikinguk #walkinguk #weloveengland #visitsomerset #glastonburytor #walkingholidays

Last weekend, Foot Trails Storyteller Emma was at

Last weekend, Foot Trails Storyteller Emma was at an Open Gardens event in a village in the county of Wiltshire. Having the chance to peek behind the garden gates of properties normally closed to the public was fascinating. Open Gardens are held in towns and villages up and down the south west in June and July. They’re a great way to get inspiration and chat to local gardeners and enthusiasts too!

Here's a short video showing some of the beautiful views. To see more videos of our walks & hikes in South West England, visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@foottrails6291/shorts

#countryhouse #statelyhome #gardens #visitwiltshire #traveluk #hikingengland #walkinguk #englishcottage #visitengland #maidenbradley #selfguidedwalking #walkingholidays #hikeuk #englishmanor #england #englishcountryside

There are few better ways to spend a summer’s day

There are few better ways to spend a summer’s day (in our opinion!) than wandering South West England’s quiet country lanes, passing vibrant cottage gardens, and stopping at local inns, village cafes and shops to refresh and refuel. However, if you are planning a trip from abroad, it can be difficult to know when you should time your visit to catch gardens at their peak.

Here are our tips for choosing the best months for seeing English country gardens:

- April/May: Late spring brings fabulous bursts of tulips, peonies, and wisteria.

- June: The peak for roses climbing brick walls and draping over cottage doorways. Cornflowers, sweet peas, foxgloves, and lavender fill the air with color and fragrance.

- July: Tall, dramatic spires of delphiniums and hollyhocks shoot up

- August: Deep, rich hues of dahlias, hydrangeas, and echinacea take over.

- September: Michaelmas daisies and apple trees star in the golden, early autumn light.

If you want to combine stunning walking trails with grand estates and cottage gardens, our Country Houses & Gardens trip could be the perfect choice for you. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you.

#EnglishCountryHouse #CountryHouseStyle #EnglishCottage #WalkingUK #visitengland #WalkingUK #HikingEngland #StatelyHome #PrettyEnglishVillages #CharmingCottages #ThatchedCottage #ExploreEngland #WalkingInEngland #englishgardens

There is something timelessly romantic about explo

There is something timelessly romantic about exploring a grand country house on foot, approaching it just as travellers did centuries ago.

On our Country Houses & Gardens trip, you will experience some of the most treasured estates in South West England, Elizabethan houses, castles, and hidden villages in South West England. Over six to nine nights, you will explore a fascinating mix of grand aristocratic history and the very best of rural England, away from the tourist hotspots.

Foot Trails Founders Alison and David have spent their lives hiking these landscapes. Combining their passion for history with local expertise, we create a bespoke itinerary tailored to your ideal daily walking distance and interests.

We also take care of all the details, including:

- Beautiful accommodation in centuries-old country inns.
- Arranging seamless luggage transfers.
- Advising on entry tickets to gardens and estates and on the best seasonal times to visit.

All you have to do is walk, relax and explore.

To find out more about our Country Houses & Gardens trip, visit our website (link in bio) or email us at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We'd love to chat through your plans.

#EnglishCountryHouse #CountryHouseStyle #EnglishCottage #WalkingUK #visitengland #WalkingUK #HikingEngland #StatelyHome #PrettyEnglishVillages #CharmingCottages #ThatchedCottage #ExploreEngland #WalkingInEngland #englishgardens

Cake, cottage gardens, and country houses... What

Cake, cottage gardens, and country houses...

What more could you want on a June afternoon? Last Sunday was one such afternoon when I (Foot Trails Storyteller Emma) went to an Open Gardens event in a nearby village. Part of the National Open Gardens Scheme, these events allow private homeowners to open their gates to the public, raising money for charity through a modest entry fee and cake sales.

I spent a wonderful couple of hours wandering through an open garden village in Wiltshire (a beautiful spot featured on our Kings & Kingdoms walking trip).

I was especially keen to see the local manor house, which is normally closed to the public. It didn’t disappoint. We wandered along winding paths filled with roses, foxgloves & catmint all buzzing with bees and other pollinators. We explored everything from formal lawns to wooded areas before stopping for an enormous slice cake and a cup of tea.

Afterward, we used our map to track down more secret spaces across the village, from grand dower houses to humble cottage gardens. It was a lovely afternoon spent chatting with gardeners and enjoying a unique glimpse into these hidden gardens. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more open garden events this June!

If you’d like to explore some of South West England’s finest country house estates and picturesque village gardens, take a look at our Country Houses & Gardens trip or send us an email. We’d love to chat through your plans.

#OpenGardens #summergardens #gardens #summer #england #visitwiltshire #swisbest #visitengland #maidenbradley #flowers #england #garden #ukgardens #walkuk #hikeuk #englishcountryside #countrysidewalks #walkingengland #walkingholidaysuk #nature #countryhouse #englishcottage

Here's another look at the stunning Fontmell and M

Here's another look at the stunning Fontmell and Melbury Downs in north Dorset from earlier this week. Peaceful hiking far from the madding crowds in the heart of Thomas Hardy country.

For further details on this trip, visit our website or send us an email to enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We always love hearing from you.

#thomashardy #dorset #visitdorset #swisbest #CranborneChase #englishcountryside #england

With summer now officially underway, we thought we

With summer now officially underway, we thought we'd throw the spotlight on some of our favourite trips for summer walking, The first of these is Thomas Hardy's Dorset trip set in the peaceful, rural countryside of north Dorset.

Quiet, green, rural. Three words that perfectly sum up north Dorset. This corner of the South West is a place of small fields, winding lanes and scattered villages. All nestled in sheltered vales surrounded by dramatic chalk escarpments.

We love this landscape for its timelessness and tranquility. It’s both beautiful and off the beaten path. It was the home of Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy and a place he captured in his books: Tess of the d’Urbevilles, Far from the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure and other tales are all set in this part of the South West. In many places, the countryside has little changed since Hardy’s day. These are the landscapes you’ll be able to explore on our Thomas Hardy’s Dorset trip. You’ll be hiking through a Medieval hunting ground that is now a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty & Dark Skies Reserve, a rural vale where Hardy’s heroines and villains once roamed and Saxon hilltop villages once built to keep out Viking invaders.

Thatched cottages, idyllic countryside, rare ancient grasslands and stunning 360° views - all on quiet trails, following routes crafted by David & Alison Howell.

If you’d like to hike this beautiful part of South West England, simply visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you.

#england #hiking #walkingholidaysuk #visitengland #visitdorset #ruralengland #countrysidewalks #activetravel #selfguidedtour #outdoors #outdoorslife #explore #fontmelldown #dorsetwildlifetrust #hiking #hikinglife #fontmelldownnaturereserve #visitengland #swisbest #chalkdowns #hikeuk #walkuk #weloveengland #ruralengland

Earlier this week, Emma from the Foot Trails team

Earlier this week, Emma from the Foot Trails team was in north Dorset checking part of a route in our Thomas Hardy’s Dorset trail, which leads you out to one of the county’s most impressive chalk downs.

“I arrived early under an overcast sky. As is often the case in summer, though, the clouds soon lifted leaving behind blue skies & fluffy white clouds. Passing through the gate onto the escarpment, a skylark’s musical trilling greeted me, followed quickly by sweeping views over the patchwork fields of the Blackmore Vale and the chalk escarpments of the Cranborne Chase.

This wide green hill has captivated walkers since Hardy’s day, and it’s easy to see why. As I followed the ridge, fast‑moving clouds cast shifting shadows across the farmland below. Checking my trail notes and (occasionally) my map, I felt my focus shift to the simple rhythm of walking, the hustle and bustle of everyday life quickly slipping away.

As I continued along the hilltop, I made sure to sit for a while and take in the view. The breeze carried the sound of birdsong, bees, livestock and the faint hum of farm machinery: the sounds of the countryside going about its business. Continuing along the grassland path, I spotted a yellowhammer and later a deer darting away through shady woodland. Eventually I looped back to my starting point, although I was reluctant to leave this wonderful landscape. It was only a short walk (just a section of a longer route), but it more than delivered on big views, wildlife and a real sense of having truly escaped.”

If you’d like to explore the timeless landscape of South West England, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk.

#visitdorset #dorset #uktravel #Fontmell #outdoors #outdoorslife #explore #fontmelldown #dorsetwildlifetrust #hiking #hikinglife #fontmelldownnaturereserve #visitengland #swisbest #chalkdowns #hikeuk #walkuk #weloveengland #ruralengland

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Credits & small print

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

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