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

Natasha-sq

By Sarah / July 31, 2026

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

Exploring authentic England: A Day at an agricultural show

What makes a great hiking experience? For us, beautiful countryside and landscapes are a must, of course. But we also

Unplug and Unwind on the Dorset Coast

Accessible only on foot, this secluded bay on the Dorset coast is the perfect place to pause and watch the

Timeless views: Stepping into an 18th-Century English landscape

Is there anything more quintessentially English than walking through country house gardens and stopping to look at a view that

Life on Instagram

When we arrived at the country show last week, we

When we arrived at the country show last week, we immediately made our way to the livestock pens. We wanted to see the prize sheep and cattle that the farmers were prepping for competition.

Even before we got there, we could hear the hairdryers being used to put the final touches on the well-groomed beasts :)

We then waited for the animals to be lead out into the rings under the watchful eyes of the judges. To use, the uninitiated outsiders, the judging criteria seemed mysterious (correctness, structural soundness, long wide toplines and round hindquarters), but the experts certainly knew what they were doing and were soon awarding first, second and third rosettes.

Livestock exhibitions have always been at the heart of agricultural shows and it was a real joy to see breeders of all ages proudly showing their livestock at this popular show 🐑 🐄

#GSShow #RuralEngland #CountrysideStories #WalkingEngland #SlowTravelUK #VisitEngland #VisitDorset #RuralTraditions #BritishAgriculture

Last week, David, Alison, and Emma from the Foot T

Last week, David, Alison, and Emma from the Foot Trails team spent a day at a local agricultural show in Dorset!

Agricultural shows have been a vital part of UK rural life for centuries. Evolving from traditional harvest festivals and country fairs, they’ve always been an important place for farming communities to gather, trade, and celebrate the harvest yields. Today, they remain just as important, drawing crowds from near and far.

Here are a few highlights from our day out:

🐄 The livestock pens: Arriving early, we made a beeline to see the sheep, cattle, and heavy horses being prepped for competition.

🏅 The Main ring & demos: We loved the pony racing, vintage tractor and steam engine parade and heavy horse display.

🐑Tradition and heritage: The traditional sheep shearing demo was fascinating and we could have spent a lot longer listening to the tales of a lifetime traveling the world shearing sheep!

🍏 Horticulture & handicrafts: We loved wandering through the competition tents, admiring local entries and seeing who earned top spots for their fruit, veg, baking and crafts.

In a world where it's easy to feel disconnected from rural traditions, these shows are a wonderful reminder of where our food comes from and the incredible hard work and skill that goes into producing it.

When we create a bespoke Foot Trails itinerary for you, we recommend local events like this so you can experience the authentic side of the South West and explore like a local.

If you’d like to walk the best of rural South West England, simply send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to create the perfect itinerary for you.

#Dorset #DorsetLife #AgriculturalShow #CountryShow #SouthWestEngland #VisitDorset #SlowTravel #UKCountryside #RuralLife #DiscoverEngland #WalkingHolidays #FarmToFork #GillinghamShaftesburyShow #RuralEngland #BritishFarming #hikeUK #WalkUK

Tranquil moments and beautiful views When you wal

Tranquil moments and beautiful views

When you walk with Foot Trails, it’s never just about getting from A to B. We curate every trail to show you the very best of the countryside that we know and love. On a Foot Trails walking & hiking trip, you’ll explore the places that we’ve discovered over a lifetime of walking here, taking in beautiful views, pausing at quiet places, where it’s just you, nature and the rolling countryside of the South West.

If you’d like to hike the quiet side of South West England, we’d love to share our corner of England with you. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk,

#FootTrails #SouthWestEngland #WalkingHolidays #HikingUK #EnglishCountryside #SlowTravel #UKWalking #VisitEngland #CountrysideWalks #QuietPlaces #NatureTherapy #OffTheBeatenTrack #ExploreSouthWest #GetOutsideUK #LandscapeLovers

Accessible only on foot, this secluded bay on the

Accessible only on foot, this secluded bay on the Dorset coast is the perfect place to pause and watch the world go by. Unlike other more popular coastal highlights, this beautiful bay remains tranquil and crowd free even in the height of summer.

Once you make your way down from the cliffs above, you can hunt for fossils, marvel at the geology, lose yourself in rock pools or just sit and listen to the wash of the sea on the shore. We love it because it’s such a great place to switch off and immerse yourself in the stunning Jurassic Coast.

What's your favourite place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life?

This stunning bay is part of our Coastal Seascapes of Dorset trip. If you’d like to hike Dorset’s Jurassic Coast away from the crowds in 2027, simply send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk or visit our website (link in bio). We’d love to help you explore this part of the world.

#FootTrailsUK #Dorset #VisitDorset #JurassicCoast #DorsetCoast #HikeUK #UKWalking #GuidedWalkingTours #WalkingHolidays #HikeBritain #SlowTravel #CoastalWalking #OffTheBeatenTrack #QuietPlaces #EscapeTheCrowds

In the heart of Thomas Hardy country lies a bustli

In the heart of Thomas Hardy country lies a bustling market town with a remarkable history and a steep cobbled hill. It’s a timeless view looking down from the top of this hill. The buttressed stone walls of the ancient abbey on one side and the picturesque cottages on the other, ancient cobbles running down the middle. Even in the present day, you can easily imagine a character from one of Hardy’s novels slowly making their way up the hill.

It’s definitely worth the short, sharp climb to the top for the view over the cottage roofs into the countryside beyond. And if the view wasn’t reward enough, there are some lovely cafes to rest and refresh before you continue on your journey through Dorset’s rural landscapes.

This stunning spot is just one of the highlights on our Kings & Kingdoms tour. If you’d like to know more, take a look at this trip on our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk.

#UKWalkingTours #HikingInEngland #UKWalkingTours #ActiveTravelUK #EnglishCountryside #VisitEngland #StorybookVillages #ClassicEngland #TravelEngland #FootTrailsUK #EnglandHiking

Is there anything more quintessentially English th

Is there anything more quintessentially English than walking through country house gardens and stopping to look at a view that was designed hundreds of years ago and has remained little changed since then?

This particular spot, nestled in the gardens of a stately home in Wiltshire, dates back to the 1700s and has a fascinating history. The lake, the Palladian bridge and Roman-inspired Pantheon were all designed to create a stunning vista. And we think it’s as beautiful today as it was back then. When we check our routes through the countryside in this part of England, we always pause here to take in the view.

If you’re passionate about country houses and landscaped gardens, South West England is home to some real gems. On our Country Houses & Gardens trip, we create a bespoke itinerary that takes you to some of the most treasured estates in the region while also exploring the surrounding countryside. To find out more visit our website (link in bio) or simply send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to chat through your plans.

#EnglishGardens #CountryHouses #StatelyHomes #Wiltshire #VisitWiltshire #SouthWestEngland #VisitEngland #ExploreEngland #EnglishCountryside #WalkingHolidays #SlowTravel #GuidedWalks #HistoricHouses #PalladianArchitecture #LandscapedGardens #PhotosOfBritain #BeautifulBritain #CountryWalks #UKTravel

In a tucked-away corner of the Somerset Levels is

In a tucked-away corner of the Somerset Levels is a hill next to a farm that has been producing cider for over 150 years.

It’s only a small hill, but if you walk up to the tree on the top, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views across the Somerset Levels in all directions. It’s a spot we really love. Especially if you combine it with a visit to the neighbouring cider farm shop: It’s everything you would want from a vintage cider farm in the heart of the west country - a collection of old brick buildings, a haughty cockerel strutting past, a couple of elderly sheep dogs basking in the sun’s rays and, if you visit in autumn, piles of apples waiting to be mulched and pressed.

There’s nothing we love better than a visit to the farm shop to pick up some supplies, making the short hike up the hill to sit in the shade of the tree and admire the views. It's the perfect spot to switch off, exhale and forget the world for a while.

If you’d like to know more about our walks in rural Somerset, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to chat through your plans.

#Somerset #SomersetLevels #VisitSomerset #RuralEngland #WestCountry #somersetciderbrandy #SomersetCider #WalkingHolidays #CountryWalks #SlowTravel #UKWalking #EnglishCountryside #ScenicViews #GreatOutdoors #BeautifulBritain #WestCountryLife #SlowTravel #HikingUK #SouthWestEngland

There’s no shortage of beautiful views in the Cots

There’s no shortage of beautiful views in the Cotswolds. Two of our favourites takes you into tranquil countryside, through fields of sheep (and lambs in spring) and onto a Neolithic long barrow, thought to have been constructed around 3000 BC.

Starting at a charming market town dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, you'll walk past quintessential Cotswolds cottages and into open countryside. As you reach the top of the fields, turn and look back over the rolling wolds (hills) stretching out before you. It's the perfect spot to pause and take in the beauty of the Cotswolds, before continuing on to a restored Neolithic long barrow. This is another great place to explore. You can even duck inside one of the low entrances and sit looking out onto the countryside, wondering how many other people in the last 4000 years have rested at this same spot and contemplated the view over the fields. Has it changed much in the intervening millennia?

Based on lifetime of walking & hiking in the Cotswolds, Alison & David Howell carefully curate every one of our walks to create special moments and views like these. If you’d like to explore the quiet side of the Cotswolds, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk.

#Cotswolds #VisitCotswolds #WalkingInTheUK #UKHiking #LongBarrow #EnglishCountryside #CountryWalks #PhotosOfBritain #ExploreTheCotswolds #WalkingHolidays #PrehistoricBritain #SlowTravelUK #DiscoverUK #FootTrailsUK

There is something special about approaching the c

There is something special about approaching the city of Bath on foot. When you start in the tranquil countryside, accompanied only by the sounds and sights of nature, and then slowly make your way to the Georgian splendour of Bath, the city slowly appearing on the horizon.

The first hint that you’re approaching ‘civilisation’ are the ruins of a 19th century canal used to transport coal from local fields to market over 200 years ago. Now a haven for nature and wildlife, this route leads to a beautiful village on the outskirts of Bath, the perfect place to stop for a rest and a bite to eat! Then it’s on to Prior Park, one of our favourite routes into the city. First laid out in the 1100s, the beautiful gardens as we see them today were created in the 1700s. The focal point of the magnificent grounds is the impressive Palladian bridge, one of only four left in the world.

Standing at the top of the park, looking down at the bridge and the city of Bath stretching out behind it is a favourite view of ours, and one we love sharing with our guests. From here, you can wander through the beautiful gardens and into the heart of the city (along the still functioning 19th century Kennet and Avon Canal).

This marvellous view is just one of the highlights of our Bath & The Avon Valley trip. If you’d like to know more, simply visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk.

#VisitBath #BathUK #PriorPark #PalladianBridge #WalkingHolidays #UKWalks #CountrysideWalks #VisitEngland #PhotosOfBritain #SlowTravel #KennetAndAvonCanal #VisitSomerset #NationalTrust

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Credits & small print

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

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