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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

Alison and David

By Emma Surridge / May 3, 2023

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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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On our journal

Now booking for 2027: Hike the quiet side of rural England

Dream of hiking the English countryside away from the crowds? On quiet footpaths through beautiful rural landscapes, staying in historic

A 10-Mile Walk from Historic Inn to Ancient Hillfort

On a beautifully crisp, bright day at the end of October, Talia, Alastair and I (Emma) from the Foot Trails

Hiking Somerset’s Hidden Past

When you hike the English countryside, history is never far beneath your feet. Walking in England is like stepping back

Life on Instagram

On a beautifully crisp, bright day at the end of O

On a beautifully crisp, bright day at the end of October, Talia, Alastair and I (Emma) from the Foot Trails team set out to check one of our trails in Somerset.

Starting from a historic country inn at the heart of a small village we set off across an autumnal landscape, stopping to admire the fiery reds, browns and golds of the trees.

Our trail took us through idyllic countryside and down quiet country lanes to an ancient hillfort offering breathtaking views across the Somerset Levels all the way over to Glastonbury Tor.

We continued on our way, through more autumnal landscapes until we reached a cosy village inn. Flagstone floors, oak beams and a welcoming fire in the woodburning stove - it was the perfect place to rest and refresh on a cool autumn day. From here, it was just a few more miles to our journey’s end.

In total, we had hiked nearly ten miles through peaceful, idyllic countryside and only met a handful of local dog walkers on our way.

This walk is part of our King Arthur’s Trail trip. If you’d like to explore the rural idyll of Somerset in 2027, take a look at our website (link in bio) or message us here on Instagram. We’d love to hear from you.

#FootTrailsUK #VisitSomerset #WalkingHolidays #AutumnWalks #WalkingUK #ExploreSomerset #RuralEngland #EnglishCountryside #SlowTravel #HikingUK #HistoricInns

When you hike the English countryside, history is

When you hike the English countryside, history is never far beneath your feet.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Somerset, this ancient hillfort has witnessed thousands of years of power struggles - from the Bronze Age through to Medieval times. It’s also a place shrouded in myths and legends of King Arthur. Local legend says that this hill was the site of the court of Camelot, and that Arthur and his knights still lie sleeping below. What's more, on every Midsummer’s eve they are said to ride out to drink the water from a spring in a nearby village.

We can't promise that you'll run into King Arthur on this trail, but we can promise quiet trails and beautiful views over the Somerset countryside.

This 7.5-mile trail is part of our King Arthur's Trail trip through the wonderfully rural landscape of Somerset. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or send us a message here on Instagram.

#CadburyCastle #VisitSomerset #SomersetLevels #KingArthur #RuralEngland #HikingUK #WalkingBritain #EnglishCountryside #ExploreSomerset #HikeUK #WalkUK #UKTrails #FootTrailsUK #WalkingUK #ExploreBritain #SlowTravel

It’s the time of year in the English countryside w

It’s the time of year in the English countryside where it pays to look down at the ground and not just at the views. Funghi are everywhere in woodlands and fields throughout the south west at the moment.

#funghi #mushrooms #fungi #autumnvibes #hiking #walking #nature #EnglishCountryside #autumn #fallvibes #feelslikefall #ilovefall #autumnlove #RuralEngland #HikingUK #WalkingUK

Route checking is a big part of what we do here at

Route checking is a big part of what we do here at Foot Trails. We regularly rewalk our trails to make sure they still ‘work’ (no unexpected changes have been made on the ground) and in response to feedback from guests who have been out walking. At the start of October, I (Talia), Natasha and Alastair from the Foot Trails team headed out to Wiltshire part of our Fables of Old England trail, a 7.5 or 10.5-mile route through some beautiful countryside and villages.

Our trusty trail guides took us through woodland in pure serenity. The only noises carrying through the trees were birds, the wind, and our awe of the wonder surrounding us. We continued on our way through quaint villages with thatched cottages and beautiful flower gardens. A favourite memory of the day for me was when we stopped to enjoy lunch (and birthday donuts for Senior Itinerary Consultant Alastair) at a local lookout point offering the picturesque views over countryside that Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy described as seeming to be “constructed upon a smaller and more delicate scale; the fields are mere paddocks, so reduced that from this height their hedgerows appear a network of dark green threads overspreading the paler green of the grass”. It was truly breathtaking.

This trail is part of our Kings & Kingdoms tour. If you’d like to explore this tranquil corner of South West England in 2027, visit our website (link in bio) or send us a message here on Instagram.

#FootTrailsUK #WalkingHoliday #VisitWiltshire #EnglishCountryside #SelfGuidedWalks #InnToInn #RuralEngland #ThomasHardyCountry #ExploreBritain #WalkingHolidaysUK #SlowTravel #ThatchedCottages #BehindTheScenes #CountryLifeUK #VisitEngland #HikingInEngland #AutumnWalks

What happens to my luggage on a Foot Trails hiking

What happens to my luggage on a Foot Trails hiking trip?

On a Foot Trails self-guided walking holiday, we take care of all your planning and logistics, including your luggage transfers. When you hike from one country inn to the next, your luggage will be taken onward to your next inn by one of our lovely partner drivers, where it will be waiting for you on your arrival. So you can relax and simply enjoy your hikes carrying just a daypack of essentials.

What’s more, your driver is exclusively available for you and your luggage. You won’t be sharing with any other people. So if you spontaneously decide to shorten (or extend) your route, choosing one of the distance options available for each day, you can simply ask your driver to drop you off at the corresponding location in your trail guide for that day.

Foot Trails has worked with many of our driver partners for many years and they are a trusted part of the team.

“The customer service was luxurious - from the Foot Trail team, the drivers, the inn keepers - made us feel, not only cared for, but spoiled.”
Barbara, Canada

If you’d like to hike inn to inn through the English countryside in 2027, visit our website (link in bio) or send us a message here on Instagram.

#FootTrailsUK #WalkingHoliday #InnToInn #EnglishCountryside #WalkingHolidaysUK #SelfGuidedWalks #SlowTravel #HikingInEngland #VisitEngland #RuralEngland #ExploreBritain #EnglishCountryside #LuggageTransfer #BoutiqueTravel #ActiveHoliday #WalksInEngland #CotswoldsWalks

This past weekend, the clocks went back, which mea

This past weekend, the clocks went back, which means shorter days but also glorious sunrises and sunsets.

In October, the weather can be more changeable, but when the sun shines, the countryside looks glorious! Here are a few photos from the Somerset countryside that our team took over the past few days.

#AutumnVibes #OctoberVibes #GoldenHour #GloriousSunset #BritishCountryside #RuralEngland #AutumnSun

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

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Hiking in South West England →
About Self-guided hiking →
Our accommodation & food →

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+44 (0) 1747 820 626

The Welsh Mill, Frome, BA11 2LE

Credits & small print

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

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