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  • Trips & Tours
    • The Cotswolds
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Apples

By Emma Surridge / August 4, 2024

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On our journal

What is it like walking in England in autumn?

This is a question we often get asked. Our answer? Autumn is a fantastic season for hiking in South West

Kings & Kingdoms Guided Trip Day 5

David and I (Alison) have enjoyed hiking and walking all week with 8 guests, on our guided Kings and Kingdoms

Kings & Kingdoms Guided Trip Day 4

All this week David and I (Alison) have had the pleasure of walking and hiking with guests on our guided

Life on Instagram

October hiking October brings true autumn to Sout October hiking October brings true autumn to South West England. The weather becomes more unpredictable so having the right kit is important. However, temperatures generally remain ideal for hiking. There's a quietness and beauty to the countryside that is simply wonderful. The days shorten and there's the scent of woodsmoke from newly lit fires on the air. From mid-October onwards, leaves transform into vibrant golds, bronzes, and reds and conkers lie half hidden in leaves on woodland floors. The skies are filled with the cries of pheasant and echo with the calls of geese migrating south for the winter. And, after a refreshing day witnessing the harvest season, is there anything better than arriving at a cozy country inn to be greeted by a glowing hearth fire and a hearty meal? We don't think so 🍂 If you’re tempted by the delights of hiking in South West England in October, now is the perfect time to book. Simply drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to share our corner of England with you this autumn. #DiscoverEngland #FallNature #October #uktravel #autumnuk #autumn #fall #uktravel #autumnvibes #WalkingUK #GloriousBritain #weloveengland #MistyMornings #FallFoliage #HikingAdventures #hikingvacations
What is it like walking in England in autumn? Thi What is it like walking in England in autumn? This is a question we often get asked. Our answer? Autumn is a fantastic season for hiking in South West England. Autumn doesn’t arrive dramatically here. It's a wonderfully slow transition. September to November, each month is distinct from the other and has something special to offer walkers and hikers. Here's what we at Foot Trails love about September: We love September for the misty mornings, long warm days, and cool evenings it brings to South West England. In many ways, it feels like an extension of summer. Yet the countryside is unmistakably shifting toward autumn as the sun sits lower in the sky, bathing the landscape in golden hues and lengthening shadows. Hedgerows come alive with vibrant blackberries, elderberries, and hawthorn berries, offering perfect opportunities for foraging during walks. Overhead, swallows and house martins gather on telephone wires, preparing for their epic migration south. Meanwhile, villages and towns across the country celebrate traditional harvest festivals, timed to coincide with the harvest moon—the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. From the Cotswolds down to the Dorset coast, it's simply a wonderful time for hiking If you’d like to experience the magic of hiking in September this year, now is the perfect time to book. Simply visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to help you plan an autumn hiking adventure in South West England. #england #SouthWestEngland #cotswolds #AutumnInEngland #fallinengland #AutumnVibes #AutumnWalks #WalkingUK #HikingEngland #SceneryOfBritain #walkingholidaysuk #TheGreatOutdoors #FallNature #GetOutsideUK #GloriousBritain #GetOutsideUK #FallVibes #FallFoliage
Day 5 of our Kings & Kingdoms guided trip David a Day 5 of our Kings & Kingdoms guided trip David and I (Alison) enjoyed the final day of our guided "Kings and Kingdoms" trip with our eight guests. Today (Saturday) we were exploring the historic Cranborne Chase in south Wiltshire and north Dorset. We made our way to a small Dorset village and set off into a landscape of charming, thatched-roof villages and a grand house reminiscent of a Thomas Hardy novel. Hiking across old parkland and agricultural fields, we passed fields of barley that had turned yellow in the sun. Our route then took us along shaded woodland paths once frequented by smugglers, where we spotted a group of deer. We continued our hike to a local farm where we took a relaxing lunch break with delicious food. As the afternoon humidity rose, David shared historical tales of the region while we walked an ancient tree-lined avenue. Butterflies such as the peacock and small blue kept us company and we also passed an ancient long barrow. After completing our 8-mile trek - and officially conquering the week's heatwave - we celebrated with cold drinks and a farewell dinner. It was a wonderful week of camaraderie, and we wished our guests safe onward journeys and we hope to welcome them back one day. Alison, David and our guests have been enjoying a Kings and Kingdoms hike in south Wiltshire and north Dorset, a truly picturesque and historic part of England. If you feel inspired to explore here, get in touch and we can send you a mini brochure for our self-guided walks. You can email enquire@foottrails.co.uk #selfguided #activetravel #selfguidedtour #walkuk #hikeuk #visitengland #getoutside #walkingholidaysuk #weloveengland #visitengland
All this week, David and I (Alison) have had the p All this week, David and I (Alison) have had the pleasure of guiding guests on our Kings and Kingdoms walk through south Wiltshire and north Dorset—a stunningly beautiful, lesser-known area steeped in history and Thomas Hardy connections. On Friday, the heatwave eased to a peak of 31°C. After breakfast, we boarded our air-conditioned vans for the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury (Hardy’s "Shaston"). David led a tour highlighting the spectacular views over Blackmore Vale from Park Walk and Castle Hill as well as the iconic, cobbled Gold Hill. Our guests then enjoyed some free time exploring local bookshops and the ancient abbey grounds. For lunch, we headed to a charming country pub, meeting up with our team member Natasha for roasted vegetable focaccias with whipped feta and cold drinks. Afterward, some guests drove ahead to Win Green with Alastair, while a small party opted for a steady hike up to this hill. Passing sheep sheltering in the shade, we reached the summit to reunite and enjoy breathtaking, 360-degree panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. From here, we descended into a vibrant valley brimming with summer grasses and wild orchids, eventually reaching our next welcoming country inn. After freshening up, we all shared dinner together, enjoying rich conversations about our lives and different parts of the world. Our guests have been enjoying a King and Kingdoms inn to inn guided holiday in south Wiltshire and north Dorset. If you have been inspired to explore this stunning area with us then please get in touch at enquire@foottrails.co.uk to find out more. #GuidedTours #guidedwalkingtour #guidedhiking #england #dorset #visitengland #englishcountryside #walkuk #hikeuk
Kings & Kingdoms Guided Trip Day 3 Day three of o Kings & Kingdoms Guided Trip Day 3 Day three of our guided Kings & Kingdoms Foot Trail brought us villages, cottages, a stunning castle and a delicious picnic. To keep everyone safe in the heat, guide David Howell modified our route, shortening the walk to 3.75 shaded miles toward Wardour Castle. We began in a charming South Wiltshire village, passing country cottages framed by fragrant pink and red roses. Along the way, we chatted with a local heading to an opera in black tie despite the sweltering weather! Our next stop was the village church. In the cool of this ancient building, we read historical plaques of the people whose life journeys had ended at the church. We then admired the graveyard's wild flower meadow, blooming with clover, oxeye daisies and other summer flowers. David’s amended path led us through cooling woodland refuges lined with bright green ferns and towering trees. Soon, the stately New Wardour home appeared across the fields, followed by our first glimpse of Old Wardour Castle. At the ruins, Foot Trails team members Emma and Alastair met us with a picnic lunch of cheese, ham, crackers, and fresh strawberries beneath shady trees. Afterward, David took our guests through the 14th-century hexagonal castle ruins, sharing the ancient structure’s rich history and stories. before we headed back to our inn. If you'd like to know more about our walking & hiking trips in this stunning part of South West England, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We'd love to chat about hiking in our corner of England with you. #guidedhikesuk #guidedtours #hikingadventures #englishcountryside #wiltshirebeauty #hikeuk #getoutdoors #summer2026 #summerhikes #visitengland #walkuk #swisbest
"Day 2 arrived on our guided Foot Trail, Kings and "Day 2 arrived on our guided Foot Trail, Kings and Kingdoms led by David and myself (Alison).By early morning temperatures had already reached 26 C and it was clear that we would need to be sensible and smart to beat the heat. Today was to be the hottest June day on record. As we did on day 1, the plan was to take regular drinks breaks, rest frequently in the shade, and slow our pace to prevent overheating. This approach served the eight of us well. Allowing us to walk four miles in the morning and three miles in the afternoon. We explored the Fonthill Estate, today home to the current Lord Margadale, enjoying wonderful views through the valley. We then approached a beautiful lake created by damming the local stream. In the distance swans paddled and closer to us lily pads were in flower. At lunchtime the sight of our country pub was very welcome. We all enjoyed a delicious ploughman's lunch with pickled onions, Wiltshire ham, cheddar cheese, celery, tomatoes and chutney. And iced water! Fuelled, rested and rehydrated we all felt we wanted to walk the three miles to our next country inn for the night. Our trail took us through a wonderful meadow, where tall grasses swayed gently in the breeze and bright meadow flowers dotted through the grasses. Every piece of woodland was extremely welcome and we lapped up the sight of the bright green leaves. As our destination, we could see the pretty cottage-lined high street and our inn awaited! We celebrated with a cheer and a round of cool drinks. We had walked seven miles. In the evening, after everyone had checked in to their rooms and showered, we met for dinner together." David, Alison and our guests are walking our Kings & Kingdoms trip in South West England. If you'd like to know more about this inn-to-inn trip, visit our website (link in bio) or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you. #GuidedWalksUK #GuidedHiking #UKWalkingTours #SouthWestEngland #visitwiltshire #visitengland #walkingholdays #englishcountryside #ruralengland #hikersofinstagram #wiltshire #england
Our first guided trip of the year started on Monda Our first guided trip of the year started on Monday of this week. David and I (Alison) are spending the week guiding guests around the stunning landscapes, villages, scenery and sites of South Wiltshire and North Dorset on this inn-to-inn style hiking adventure. Our first day’s walk (Tuesday) was ‘The Deverills’ (9.5 miles). David and I greeted the guests at 09.15 am ready to jump aboard our transport to our drop-off point. We walked five miles during the morning. Stopping regularly to rest in the shade and drink water and also to admire the view. From the top of Cold Kitchen Hill we had 360-degree panoramic views over sweeping countryside and the surrounding hills. We then descended towards our lunchtime country pub where we enjoyed a delicious lunch of roast gammon with greens and new potatoes. After lunch, we set off on our 4-mile walk to return us to our inn. The afternoon walk offered shade with a tree lined avenue that led to the Duke of Somerset's estate and then a mile and a half through beautiful green woodland. We arrived back to the country inn with a cheer! We had made it, despite the heat. It was a wonderful day, full of laughter and chatter! If you'd like to explore this idyllic region, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. #GuidedHikes #guidedhikesuk #guidedwalkingtours #hikeuk #walkuk #visitengland #englishcountryside #UKHiking #walkingholidays #ActiveTravel #LoveDorset #OutdoorAdventuresUK #HikersOfInstagram
Stonehenge has been standing tall on the plains of Stonehenge has been standing tall on the plains of Wiltshire for around 5,500 years. Why was it built? No one knows for sure. We do know that it is perfectly aligned with the sun at two key times of the year: The summer and winter solstices. Leading some to theorise that it is a giant solar/lunar calendar. Whatever the reason, Stonehenge has been attracting people for over 5,000 years. And it still does today. Yesterday, at the summer solstice, crowds again gathered to welcome the sunrise on the longest day of the year. Foot Trails team member Natasha was also there and took these great photos. It’s amazing to think that these stones are still a draw to so many people many thousands of years after they were originally erected. #Stonehenge #summersolstice2026 #EnglishHeritage #VsitEngland #walkuk #hikeuk #neolithic #AncientHistory
21 June is the summer solstice in the northern hem 21 June is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. This morning, the sun rose at 4:54 a.m, heralding the longest day of the year and the astronomical start of summer. In terms of history, mythology and religion, midsummer has always held an important significance. Here in the south west, there are several sites of cultural importance to the summer (and winter) solstices. Stonehenge is by far the most significant of these. Every year, tens of thousands of people gather at the site to celebrate the sunrise on the summer solstice. But there are countless lesser-known Neolithic and Bronze Age landmarks where people gather to celebrate this turning point in the year: Avebury, Woodhenge, Stanton Drew stone circles, West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill to name just a few. This is truly a landscape rich in pre-history and myths. Just one of the reasons why we love it here so much 🙂 Happy summer solstice! #countrysidewalks #SummerSolstice #LongestDay #StoneCircle #SouthWestEngland #WalkingUK #UKOutdoors #WalkingHolidaysUK #CountrysideWalks
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