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  • Trips & Tours
    • The Cotswolds
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    • Family & Friends Groups
    • Events: Group Walks
    • All Trips
  • The Howell Way
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Cotswolsd autumn I

By Emma Surridge / November 25, 2024

Drystone wall looking over fields with autumn leaves above it

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On our journal

Day 5 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds trip

Day 5 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds trip heralded a glorious early autumn day. Everyone was feeling well

Day 4 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds trip

Day 4 arrived with clear blue skies and copious amounts of early autumn golden sunshine. The temperature was cooler than

Day 3 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds trip

Day 3 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds hike brought a real contrast in the weather. The light rain

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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
Day 4 arrived with clear blue skies and copious am Day 4 arrived with clear blue skies and copious amounts of early autumn golden sunshine. The temperature was cooler than recently, so we wrapped up warmly. Our walking adventures began with a scenic minibus ride that took us off the typical tourist trail to a stunning small village in the Cotswolds. Here we took time to explore the local church, which had the most incredible medieval wall paintings, still visible today. Known as the Doom Wall or Last Judgement, it was painted in around 1340. The church sat in a quiet rural setting and we soaked up the atmosphere. Soon we arrived at a fabulous grade 2 listed country estate with a connection to author Jane Austen. The view was magnificent. Trees framed our first view of the distant house and the sound of the wind passed our ears. Wandering through the ancient parkland we admired the houses on our route. There were connections to poets and David read us some snippets of the poetry as we walked. We also enjoyed some wonderful vistas seeing the distant town of Stow-on-the-Wold on the hill. Entering a magnificent beech tree lined avenue, we approached a handsome Jacobean house. Here we paused to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch tasting filled rolls, sausage rolls, potato salad and scones with jam and clotted cream! Our lunch spot was the former brewhouse where beer was produced for the estate and its workers. Dried flowers adorned the room and we served part of our lunch on ancient barrels. We toured the house. The fire was lit in the great hall, giving a smoky smell to the house. The house is managed with the idea of romantic decline, offering a treasure trove of bygone eras. Late afternoon we hopped back onto the minibuses to return to our country inn, where dinner awaited. Alison If you'd like to explore the Cotswolds off the beaten path in 2027, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. #Cotswolds #CotswoldLife #VisitCotswolds #ExploreEngland #VisitEngland #AutumnVibes #GoldenHour #AutumnInEngland #WalkingHoliday #GuidedWalks #HistoricHouses #JacobeanArchitecture #JaneAustenCountry
Day 3 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds hike br Day 3 of our guided Story of the Cotswolds hike brought a real contrast in the weather. The light rain did not dampen our spirits as we set out from a small Cotswolds village, well off the typical tourist trail, with Stow-on-the-Wold in our sights! We admired a 1300-year-old yew tree in the village churchyard and sat on the pews inside to soak up the atmosphere of this ancient place. Our hike led us across a magnificent village green, with the most delightful Cotswolds stone cottages around its edges. We had great fun picking out which cottage we would love to own. A few miles later we arrived in Stow-on-the-Wold, famed for its sheep markets, where up to 20,000 sheep a day could be traded. Here we took a tour with David as our guide. We admired the impressive-looking wooden church doorway at the church with two Yew trees, said to have been the inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s 'doors of Durin' in Lord of the Rings. Our guests enjoyed some free time in the town before we headed to a local delicatessen for lunch. We set out again on our trail. This time heading to our new country inn for the evening. Gradually the rain and low cloud cleared, drying up the day. On route, our feet fell into a steady rhythm. We chatted amongst ourselves, and at times everyone was quiet, enjoying the silence of this area of Cotswolds countryside. We paused at times to take in the magnificent views of the countryside on the onset of autumn. Changes were evident in the countryside. Eight miles later we were all excited and happy to arrive at our country inn for the evening. Here the first fire of the season had been lit, glowing red in the huge fireplace. Many of us enjoyed British fish and chips for supper and again we talked, exchanging stories of our lives and enjoying discovering the differences between English and American culture. Alison If you feel inspired to hike the Cotswolds in 2027, simply visit our website (link in bio) or send us a message here on Instagram. #Cotswolds #StowOnTheWold #DiscoverCotswolds #VisitEngland #ExploreEngland #CotswoldsWalks #EnglishCountryside #UkTravel #GuidedHike #HikingAdventures #WalkingHoliday #HikeEngland #AutumnHike
This week, David and I (Alison) are staying in the This week, David and I (Alison) are staying in the beautiful Cotswolds to deliver one of our founder-led guided hikes with eight guests. Here's an account of our adventures on day two (our first proper day of hiking)! In the morning we met the guests and hopped aboard our transport for the short, scenic drive into the Cotswolds market town of Chipping Campden. Early autumn mist hung in the low valleys and through the windows we caught incredible, far-reaching views across the countryside. This remarkable town shares its Chipping name with a few other English towns. The word "Chipping" means market or marketplace in old English. Near the church, founded in the 13th century, we walked past the former site of the Hicks family home, which was destroyed in the English Civil War. Only the impressive looking banqueting hall now remains. As we walked and listened to David's storytelling we admired the many historic buildings made of beautiful Cotswolds limestone and the wonderful historic wooden doors, many of which were decorated with attractive flower and leaf wreaths. After our tour we set out on the couple-of-hours hike to Hidcote Gardens. Time passed with our steps and enjoyable conversations. A last climb uphill (with spectacular views) brought us into Hidcote Gardens. This impressive garden, of the Arts and Crafts period, was created by Lawrence Johnstone. When Johnstone arrived in 1907 the space was a blank canvas and he created the beautiful series of garden rooms we see today. After lunch, we toured the gardens admiring the many features, flowers, trees, a pond, an archway, and tree-lined avenues. Following our tour we headed homewards towards our country inn. A climb took us out of Hidcote and up onto the top where we had breathtaking views across to the Malvern hills and even into Wales. We could see some 50 miles in the distance at times! Eight miles later we returned to our village home and country inn. We'd done it! Ready to kick off our boots and prepare for pie night! Alison #FootTrailsUK #Cotswolds #ChippingCampden #VisitCotswolds #GuidedHike #WalkingHoliday #ExploreEngland #UKHiking #ActiveTravel #EnglishCountryside #RuralEngland
September was a glorious month in South West Engla September was a glorious month in South West England - the summer slowly fading and autumn creeping in. Here at Foot Trails, we’ve been out in the countryside this past month meeting guests and checking our routes from the Cotswolds to the coast. We’ve had lots of guests exploring our trails this past month and we’ve loved supporting them on their journeys. There are still many more days of glorious autumn hiking ahead and many more guests exploring our favourite trails in South West England. We can’t wait for more adventures. Here’s a quick look at some of the routes we’ve been exploring this September. Where are your feet taking you this autumn? #EnglishCountryside #AutumnVibes #FallVibes #SlowTravel #WalkingHolidays #VisitEngland
World renowned, and rightly so! The Cotswolds is k World renowned, and rightly so! The Cotswolds is know for its charming cottages and villages, its rolling pastoral landscapes entwined with stories stretching back to the Romans. But it's also known for being crowded in some hotspots. With our expert local knowledge and lifetime of walking and hiking in the region, we show you an off-the-beaten-path side to The Cotswolds, crowd free and authentic. Avoid the crowds and experience this beautiful corner of the English countryside the way it was meant to be seen. Visit our website (link in bio) to browse our Cotswolds itineraries, or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk to start planning your custom hiking trip. #HikingUK #WalkingHolidays #TheCotswolds #VisitCotswolds #VisitEngland #ExploreBritain #UKTravel #OffTheBeatenPath #HikeTheCotswolds
Explore a landscape with a human story that stretc Explore a landscape with a human story that stretches back 6,000 years. Wiltshire is a county of big skies, wide open hills and traditional villages. The story of this region is written in the landscape from Bronze Age barrows through Stonehenge’s standing stones to Medieval castles, cottages and cathedrals. Uncover 6,000 years of history on foot with our Wiltshire hiking trails. Visit our website for inspiration or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk to start planning your trip. #Stonehenge #UKTourism #SelfGuided #VisitBritain #TravelAndTourism #TourismIndustry #EnglishCountryside #GetOutdoors #HikingVacation #WalkingHolidays #WiltshireWalks #AncientLandscapes #HikeBritain #EnglishCountryside #HiddenEngland #HistoryTrails #SlowTravelUK #WalkingThePast #SlowTravel #VisitWiltshire #VisitEngland
Where the rolling green countryside of South West Where the rolling green countryside of South West England meets the sea. Dorset's Jurassic coast offers dramatic cliffs and coastal views as far as the eye can see. Our routes take you beyond the coast path, however, to explore a landscape shaped by 185 million years of history: breathtaking geology, pretty villages, rolling countryside and Medieval castles with tales of smuggling and our seafaring ancestors! If you're ready to plan a hiking trip on this UNESCO World Heritage coastline, take a look at our website (link in bio) or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We'd love to share this stunning part of the South West with you. #JurassicCoastline #CoastalHiking #UKCoastalPath #HikeBritain #SouthWestCoast #EnglishCountryside #HiddenEngland #WalksWithAView #GeologyLovers #HistoryTrails #SlowTravelUK #HikingVacations #WalkingHolidaysUK
North Dorset has a timeless feel with chalk downla North Dorset has a timeless feel with chalk downlands, patchwork farmland and charming thatched cottages. A rural idyll that recalls the days of old England. Here, you can hike through a landscape shaped by Saxon kings, medieval lords and Victorian novellists such as Thomas Hardy. Our local trails will take you off the beaten path and deep into the natural beauty of north Dorset, on trails that we’ve been walking for over 25 years, If you’d like to venture off the beaten path in this charming corner of South West England, visit our website (link in bio) for inspiration or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. #VisitDorset #DorsetCountryside #DorsetLife #WalkingHolidays #HikingHolidays #WalkingUK #HikingUK #SlowTravel #QuietTrails #ThomasHardyCountry #ExploreEngland #BritishCountryside #ThatchedCottages #HistoricWalks #DorsetWalks #SouthWestEngland #CountrysideEscapes #DiscoverDorset #GuidedWalkingTours #HikingVacation #VisitBritain
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Photography credits: Alison & David Howell. Alun Callender, The National Trust, English Heritage

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