Our Walking Journal

Photo of Alison & David Howell standing on a small hill, the countryside rolling away into the distance

Foot Trails: Where it all began

In 1995, Alison & David gave up their jobs and boarded a boat for France. Armed only with a small two-man tent and a few essentials, they hiked 680 miles across France, doing what they loved most, being close to

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A footpath fingerpost and a gate leading into a field with views stretching off into the distance over rolling green countryside

The magic of Dorset in spring

Dorset – a place of rolling green countryside, wooded combes, beautiful thatched cottages and stunning coastlines. It’s a landscape that’s inspired poets and writers down the centuries – the most famous perhaps Thomas Hardy. It’s not hard to see why

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A canal boat moored under a tree next to a tow path in the city of Bath

Jane Austen & Bath

“We took a charming walk to Charlcombe, sweetly situated in a little green valley”Jane Austen, 1799 Alongside her writing, Jane Austen was famous for her love of walking. She referenced it often in her letters to friends and acquaintances, and

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A small group of wild ponies on Exmoor

The wild beauty of Exmoor

Exmoor: Wild, dramatic, and beautiful. Heather-clad moors, wild ponies, rugged coastline and wooded river valleys. It’s everything you don’t expect from South West England.  This unique landscape has long been a draw to Foot Trails Co-Founders Alison & David Howell.

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Two people walking in a field behind a fence with a hand-painted sign reading 'Footpath only'

Hiking the Cotswolds – away from the crowds

When it comes to getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there’s nothing better than walking in the countryside. Immersing yourself in peace & quiet; wandering quiet footpaths away from the crowds. This is exactly what we

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Green footpath trail marker attached to a tree

Exploring a Golden Valley

Earlier this July, Foot Trails Co-Founder and Trail Creator David Howell was back in the Cotswolds exploring new routes to add to our walking & hiking trips in the region. What he discovered was beautiful, tranquil paths far from the

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A person walking along a footpath in a field, deep in thought

The benefits of walking

‘If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk.’ Good advice, we think. But it doesn’t come from us. It comes from Hippocrates, the father of

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A hiker striding off into the distance across a field with a waymarker in the foreground

In the Cotswolds’ meadows

Back in May, Alastair, Becky and myself (Emma) were Cotswolds-bound to check one of our Cotswolds walks. The weather was warm and dry, and the sky was overcast, adding a great backdrop to the lush green countryside. We started in

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