Kings & Kingdoms
Inn to Inn Trail

Kings & Kingdoms is where Foot Trails was born and holds a special place in the hearts of all of us here at Foot Trails. On this inn to inn trail you can explore beautiful landscapes, wander in tourist-free villages full of character, and enjoy historic pubs by evening.

From the medieval, with cottages of creamy white stone and ruined castles, to open wildflower filled grasslands and big views, the timeless character of the Dorset’s thatched cottages, to finishing in the spiritual heart of Saxon Wessex. In the background. the story of Kings and the evolution of a Kingdom that led to the foundation of ‘England’.

Quite simply, it’s a dreamy walk through the English countryside.

Sigrun, Norway
“I’ve tried three different companies for my walking trips in England, and I have to say, Foot Trails truly stands out. Their itineraries are excellent, the accommodations are beautiful, and they were incredibly responsive and helpful as we explored different regions and trail options.”
Andy & Kay, USA
“We had a lovely and challenging time! The views in Dorset were everything we hoped they would be and the adjustment to 10 miles per day worked for us. We would recommend your services to anyone who wanted an active vacation but still wanted someone to arrange everything.”
Molly, USA
“So many of the paths felt like secret passageways into a simpler time. The variety of landscapes we passed through was nothing short of amazing.”
Jacquelyn, USA
“Slam dunk! Home run…out of the park…FABULOUS! This holiday went well beyond our expectations–it was so well organized from start to finish.”
Stacey, USA
“The entire trip was filled with delightful inns, charming towns, and incredible scenery. We enjoyed exploring the churches and other suggested stops along the way. Our routes were peaceful, and each day’s itinerary offered just the right amount of time on the trail.”
Michelle, USA
“Wonderful holiday of rambling through gates, stiles, paths, and magnificent countryside, and beautiful old quaint villages.”
Ann & Mark, USA
“This was our third Foot Trails adventure. We keep returning because it is a great experience. It’s great to walk on the foot paths, experience the different villages and talk to the local people. We love the varied landscapes and natural beauty of the area.”
Beth, USA
“It was a perfect walking holiday for a family of 4… tailored to our desires. It was great. Very informative communication. Adopted the plan to our family. The inns were lovely.”
Stu, USA
“An active and relaxing and supported immersive experience of a way of life different from our own. Unpredictable, in a good way. Unusual opportunity to connect with each other.”
Katy, Australia
“We had a wonderful experience in Wiltshire and on the foot trails walk that was especially designed for us. We also had a great experience with our guide David who had a wealth of historical knowledge.”
Krista, Canada
“It was very clear to us that the routes organized by Foot Trails were significantly more interesting (and significantly less busy) than the “national” trails, and a lot of local knowledge and love of the countryside must have gone into planning them.”
Devrey, USA
"Perfect way to disconnect and see the beauty of England. We saw views, locations, and areas that only locals know. It was truly spectacular to walk along a path and all of the sudden there is a tremendous view or a castle. It really was a tremendous vacation.”
Stephen, Canada
“This family owned company went above and beyond to make our entire trip so worthwhile. We handed them a wish list of exactly what we wanted – small, high quality inns, some with multiple night stays, mile limits/walking day, off the beaten track experiences, diverse trail experiences, worthwhile points of interests, not to mention great pubs and lunch options along the way. And they checked off every box for us.”
Julie, USA
“The inns chosen by Foot Trails are charming, well-appointed and very comfortable. The food at each inn was without exception superb, and the staff were friendly and helpful.”
Mark, USA
“Clear written directions matched with maps for our daily walks, efficient transport of our luggage from inn to inn, excellent overnight accommodation and quality food selections in quintessential English pubs made this trip to southwest England among our very favorites.”
Melanie, Canada
“It was fantastic. Foot Trails is a quality, well-organized, and highly customer-oriented service. I felt taken care of long before I even arrived in the UK! The country inns were beautiful and epitomized everything I think about when I dream of English country hospitality and style.”

Example Itinerary

Here’s a quick flavour of the hiking tour. For a fully detailed guide to the Kings & Kingdoms trail fill out the form below and we’ll email one over to you.

Kings & Kingdoms


A self-guided independent inn to inn walking tour. 6 to 11 night tour options available. Choose your preferred arrival day & date.

Day 1
Arrive & go for a short walk to get the lie of the land.

Day 2
Moss-covered thatched cottages & views over the vale, as Thomas Hardy wrote ‘constructed upon a smaller and more delicate scale;’.

Day 3
This land was once known as ‘Splendens’, and today is still a country idyll. A mile long lake, long-gone follies and the great barn await your discovery.

Day 4
Tales of Knights, civil war and sieges. Wander around the most romantic castle ruin in southern England and read of its heroine.

Day 5
Leaving the river valleys behind heading for the high ground. Wildflower filled grasslands and sweeping views, this was once King John’s favoured hunting ground.

Day 6
Dorset’s highest village with charming thatched Dorset cottages and a pond where the swallows swoop. Big views that inspired the writer Thomas Hardy.

Day 7
Slow day in the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury & its famous Gold Hill. Founded in 878AD it has some of the best views in Dorset.

Day 8
Down by the river, enjoy mills, thatched cottages and watery scenes. Pause in the market town before exploring the working water mill.

Day 9
Archaeological delights, iron-age & Roman forts, barrows & nature reserves. Finishing at a character local inn.

Day 10
Two castles, a deer park, a country town, an Abbey & Alfred the Great’s ancestors. There’s history around every corner.

Day 11
Views of Somerset & the Yeo valley, an ancient hill fort that could be Camelot? Ponder that over a cider at the inn.

Day 12
Time for your onward journey, taking memories of your adventures with you.

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Accommodation:
Read about our food and accommodation here.

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Itinerary additions:

  • Arriving straight to your walking tour from a long-haul flight can leave you feeling a little tired. Many of our guests choose to add an additional night at the start of their trip to adjust before they start walking.
  • Add a unique guided day tour of Stonehenge & Avebury with one of the Foot Trails team. 
  • Fancy a few days to tour further afield? Take a look at our sister over at ‘Drive & Stroll’ for private guided tours where we journey by car and take short strolls to admire the landscape & history.

At a glance

  • Inn to Inn tour
  • 6 to 11 night stays suggested
  • Stays in quality country inns
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Screen-free walk & explore pack

Walks
7 to 9 mile walk program, or 10+ miles walk program. (11 to 15 km or 16+ km)

Prices
You will receive a bespoke itinerary & personalised price quotation. ‘Explore’ tours are typically between £230 – £290 per person, per night, based on 2 sharing a bedroom. Solo’s & groups welcome.

Find out more?

Request a full guide for this tour with detailed daily descriptions and tour options. Simply add your details below and we’ll send one directly to your inbox.

Our food & Accommodation

The country inns, pubs and hotels of South West England are the perfect partner to your days in the countryside. Each of our trails leads to a warm welcome, a good meal, and a room where you’ll feel at home.

About our food & accommodation →

Self-guided hiking

Foot Trails’ Self-guided hiking & walking trips offer the perfect balance of achievement, curiosity and relaxation. They’re for individuals, couples, families & friends who enjoy exploring on their own terms.

About Self-guided walking →