South West Explorer
Ultimate South West walking adventure
The South West Explorer is the ultimate personal walking adventure from 15 to 21 nights. With myriad possibilities, each trip can be hand crafted and tailor-made just for you.
South West Explorer combines our signature inn to inn trails into one trip, with rest days from walking built in, so you can explore all of the South West. From the rich history of Wessex, to the coastal scenery of Dorset, the architecture of Bath and the charm of the Cotswolds, it has a little of everything.
A once in a lifetime experience
Your trip to the UK might be a once in a lifetime experience. Or perhaps you cherish the thought of being able to see as much of the South West region as possible. You’ll need the best local expertise to do it justice and our South West Explorer (featured in press worldwide) will help you to discover the very best of South West England.
The South West is the largest and most varied of England’s nine different regions. We know the region inside out, having lived and worked here for over 2 decades innovating award winning walking experiences.
We will work closely and personally with you to create your own custom made walking tour between 15 and 21 nights. Your trip could include walking in up to five of the region’s counties, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, The Cotswolds and Bath.
Be prepared for a little adventure. Longer grasses in summer, a little overgrown in places may sometimes apply, but your efforts will be richly rewarded with sights of villages, landscapes, secret views and country inns that most visitors simply never see.
Read more about our food & accommodation here.
Ready to start your adventure?
Trail highlights include:
- Discover highlights of South West England off the beaten track walking local paths
- Explore Wiltshire’s immense historic villages and landscapes with a human history dating back thousands of years. Enjoy hidden medieval villages.
- Discover Dorset – a timeless beauty that inspired author Thomas Hardy and many writers and poets. Its rolling chalk downs are havens for nature; places to spot wild flowers, orchids and rare butterflies as well as deer, foxes and hares.
- Taste local produce including Dorset apple cake, Wiltshire ham, local bacon, cider, local ales, cheddar cheese, Somerset brie and more
- Visit ancient market towns such as Sherborne with its world renowned abbey and independent shops and cafés
- Explore the Cotswolds away from the crowds with our trails. See villages and churches of the famous Cotswolds stone and discover the region’s history with the wool trade.
- Admire Somerset’s picturesque English countryside dotted with church towers and villages and learn its ancient myths including that of King Arthur’s Camelot
- Stay in centuries old country inns. Each hand picked and located in a gorgeous English village with great bedrooms and local food and drink.
Walking
We are passionate about the experience of walking, the sense of journey, and the wellbeing from time spent outside. Wandering the landscape at 2mph allows time to observe the world around us, connect with nature, and to slow down.
We have a range of trails from 8 to 12 miles. When we curate your itinerary we can customise your daily walks.
We advise that our guests should feel comfortable walking 8 miles a day, to get the most from your trip. To us, it’s nice to feel like you have done something, the sense of achievement, but not so much that the thought of another day is off putting.
To help you find your way we provide local maps and word directions on our trail cards, tried and tested, by our team and Volunteer Trail Guides.
Included in your Foot Trail
- Tailored and crafted Walk and Explore Box with everything you need
- Local Ordnance Survey™ map exerts (waterproof) with your trails annotated
Trail guide cards (waterproof one for each day with easy to follow wording - Foot Trails expertise and experience, working with our Trail Consultants to custom made your trip to suit you and the English season instructions)
- Local stories and histories
- Recommended lunchtime stops at country pubs and cafes
- Nature cards for identifying wild flowers, trees and animals
- Seasonal nature guide book
- Sweets (for a boost on route)
- Your en-suite accommodation
- Breakfasts
- One bottle of wine
- Two decades of expertise and know-how
- Inn to Inn luggage transfers with our trusted driver team
- Drop off services when it makes for a better walk
Example Pricing
Everything about your Foot Trail is deliberate, chosen with care and intent for you. Therefore each trip is quoted individually, and will vary from the example pricing below.
A 21 night South West Explorer itinerary starts from £4300 per person (based on 2 people sharing a room).
How to book
When you get in touch we will take a little time to find out more from you about the experience you would like, the things you enjoy and your travel plans. We then use our passion, experience and local knowledge to craft a daily itinerary for you.
You will receive a full daily itinerary and details of all your accommodations before you book. Once you are happy with your itinerary you simply confirm with your deposit and we will look after everything for you.
Get in touch to start your consultation – contact us
Like to find out more?
To find out more and request an example itinerary for one of our trails, just pop your details in below. We look forward to hearing from you.