Skip to content
Foot Trails logo
  • Trips & Tours
    • The Cotswolds
    • Coastal Hikes
    • Land of Kings
    • Heritage and Gardens
    • Family & Friends Groups
    • Events: Group Walks
    • All Trips
  • The Howell Way
    • The Howell Way
    • Our Values
    • Our Story
    • Sustainability
  • Our Journal
  • Talk to an expert
    • Booking Enquiry
    • Book a Video Appointment
    • Our Team
Foot Trails logo
  • Trips & Tours
    • The Cotswolds
    • Coastal Hikes
    • Land of Kings
    • Heritage and Gardens
    • Family & Friends Groups
    • Events: Group Walks
    • All Trips
  • The Howell Way
    • The Howell Way
    • Our Values
    • Our Story
    • Sustainability
  • Our Journal
  • Talk to an expert
    • Booking Enquiry
    • Book a Video Appointment
    • Our Team

Closeup of a bluebell

By Emma Surridge / November 22, 2024

Closeup of a bluebell

← Previous Media

We don't follow the national trails.
We follow the Howell Way.

Our way of walking, our way of caring.
Find out more →

We’d love to have you as part of our community

Sign up to our E-Newsletter today to receive our hiking & travel tips and follow along our walking adventures. Plus be first to hear of new trips, trails & brochures. You’ll receive newsletters every 4 – 6 weeks. You can unsubscribe at any time.

On our journal

When is the best time to visit English country gardens?

There are few better ways of spending a summer’s day (in our opinion) than wandering the quiet footpaths and country

Exploring country houses & gardens in South West England

There is something timelessly romantic about exploring a grand country house. Wandering rolling green countryside and quiet country lanes, through

Peeking Behind the Garden Gates: Why you should visit an Open Garden this June

One of the joys of hiking the English countryside and exploring villages in June is the chance of happening upon

Life on Instagram

There are few better ways to spend a summer’s day There are few better ways to spend a summer’s day (in our opinion!) than wandering South West England’s quiet country lanes, passing vibrant cottage gardens, and stopping at local inns, village cafes and shops to refresh and refuel. However, if you are planning a trip from abroad, it can be difficult to know when you should time your visit to catch gardens at their peak. Here are our tips for choosing the best months for seeing English country gardens: - April/May: Late spring brings fabulous bursts of tulips, peonies, and wisteria. - June: The peak for roses climbing brick walls and draping over cottage doorways. Cornflowers, sweet peas, foxgloves, and lavender fill the air with color and fragrance. - July: Tall, dramatic spires of delphiniums and hollyhocks shoot up - August: Deep, rich hues of dahlias, hydrangeas, and echinacea take over. - September: Michaelmas daisies and apple trees star in the golden, early autumn light. If you want to combine stunning walking trails with grand estates and cottage gardens, our Country Houses & Gardens trip could be the perfect choice for you. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you. #EnglishCountryHouse #CountryHouseStyle #EnglishCottage #WalkingUK #visitengland #WalkingUK #HikingEngland #StatelyHome #PrettyEnglishVillages #CharmingCottages #ThatchedCottage #ExploreEngland #WalkingInEngland #englishgardens
There is something timelessly romantic about explo There is something timelessly romantic about exploring a grand country house on foot, approaching it just as travellers did centuries ago. On our Country Houses & Gardens trip, you will experience some of the most treasured estates in South West England, Elizabethan houses, castles, and hidden villages in South West England. Over six to nine nights, you will explore a fascinating mix of grand aristocratic history and the very best of rural England, away from the tourist hotspots. Foot Trails Founders Alison and David have spent their lives hiking these landscapes. Combining their passion for history with local expertise, we create a bespoke itinerary tailored to your ideal daily walking distance and interests. We also take care of all the details, including: - Beautiful accommodation in centuries-old country inns. - Arranging seamless luggage transfers. - Advising on entry tickets to gardens and estates and on the best seasonal times to visit. All you have to do is walk, relax and explore. To find out more about our Country Houses & Gardens trip, visit our website (link in bio) or email us at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We'd love to chat through your plans. #EnglishCountryHouse #CountryHouseStyle #EnglishCottage #WalkingUK #visitengland #WalkingUK #HikingEngland #StatelyHome #PrettyEnglishVillages #CharmingCottages #ThatchedCottage #ExploreEngland #WalkingInEngland #englishgardens
Cake, cottage gardens, and country houses... What Cake, cottage gardens, and country houses... What more could you want on a June afternoon? Last Sunday was one such afternoon when I (Foot Trails Storyteller Emma) went to an Open Gardens event in a nearby village. Part of the National Open Gardens Scheme, these events allow private homeowners to open their gates to the public, raising money for charity through a modest entry fee and cake sales. I spent a wonderful couple of hours wandering through an open garden village in Wiltshire (a beautiful spot featured on our Kings & Kingdoms walking trip). I was especially keen to see the local manor house, which is normally closed to the public. It didn’t disappoint. We wandered along winding paths filled with roses, foxgloves & catmint all buzzing with bees and other pollinators. We explored everything from formal lawns to wooded areas before stopping for an enormous slice cake and a cup of tea. Afterward, we used our map to track down more secret spaces across the village, from grand dower houses to humble cottage gardens. It was a lovely afternoon spent chatting with gardeners and enjoying a unique glimpse into these hidden gardens. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more open garden events this June! If you’d like to explore some of South West England’s finest country house estates and picturesque village gardens, take a look at our Country Houses & Gardens trip or send us an email. We’d love to chat through your plans. #OpenGardens #summergardens #gardens #summer #england #visitwiltshire #swisbest #visitengland #maidenbradley #flowers #england #garden #ukgardens #walkuk #hikeuk #englishcountryside #countrysidewalks #walkingengland #walkingholidaysuk #nature #countryhouse #englishcottage
Here's another look at the stunning Fontmell and M Here's another look at the stunning Fontmell and Melbury Downs in north Dorset from earlier this week. Peaceful hiking far from the madding crowds in the heart of Thomas Hardy country. For further details on this trip, visit our website or send us an email to enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We always love hearing from you. #thomashardy #dorset #visitdorset #swisbest #CranborneChase #englishcountryside #england
With summer now officially underway, we thought we With summer now officially underway, we thought we'd throw the spotlight on some of our favourite trips for summer walking, The first of these is Thomas Hardy's Dorset trip set in the peaceful, rural countryside of north Dorset. Quiet, green, rural. Three words that perfectly sum up north Dorset. This corner of the South West is a place of small fields, winding lanes and scattered villages. All nestled in sheltered vales surrounded by dramatic chalk escarpments. We love this landscape for its timelessness and tranquility. It’s both beautiful and off the beaten path. It was the home of Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy and a place he captured in his books: Tess of the d’Urbevilles, Far from the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure and other tales are all set in this part of the South West. In many places, the countryside has little changed since Hardy’s day. These are the landscapes you’ll be able to explore on our Thomas Hardy’s Dorset trip. You’ll be hiking through a Medieval hunting ground that is now a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty & Dark Skies Reserve, a rural vale where Hardy’s heroines and villains once roamed and Saxon hilltop villages once built to keep out Viking invaders. Thatched cottages, idyllic countryside, rare ancient grasslands and stunning 360° views - all on quiet trails, following routes crafted by David & Alison Howell. If you’d like to hike this beautiful part of South West England, simply visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you. #england #hiking #walkingholidaysuk #visitengland #visitdorset #ruralengland #countrysidewalks #activetravel #selfguidedtour #outdoors #outdoorslife #explore #fontmelldown #dorsetwildlifetrust #hiking #hikinglife #fontmelldownnaturereserve #visitengland #swisbest #chalkdowns #hikeuk #walkuk #weloveengland #ruralengland
Earlier this week, Emma from the Foot Trails team Earlier this week, Emma from the Foot Trails team was in north Dorset checking part of a route in our Thomas Hardy’s Dorset trail, which leads you out to one of the county’s most impressive chalk downs. “I arrived early under an overcast sky. As is often the case in summer, though, the clouds soon lifted leaving behind blue skies & fluffy white clouds. Passing through the gate onto the escarpment, a skylark’s musical trilling greeted me, followed quickly by sweeping views over the patchwork fields of the Blackmore Vale and the chalk escarpments of the Cranborne Chase. This wide green hill has captivated walkers since Hardy’s day, and it’s easy to see why. As I followed the ridge, fast‑moving clouds cast shifting shadows across the farmland below. Checking my trail notes and (occasionally) my map, I felt my focus shift to the simple rhythm of walking, the hustle and bustle of everyday life quickly slipping away. As I continued along the hilltop, I made sure to sit for a while and take in the view. The breeze carried the sound of birdsong, bees, livestock and the faint hum of farm machinery: the sounds of the countryside going about its business. Continuing along the grassland path, I spotted a yellowhammer and later a deer darting away through shady woodland. Eventually I looped back to my starting point, although I was reluctant to leave this wonderful landscape. It was only a short walk (just a section of a longer route), but it more than delivered on big views, wildlife and a real sense of having truly escaped.” If you’d like to explore the timeless landscape of South West England, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. #visitdorset #dorset #uktravel #Fontmell #outdoors #outdoorslife #explore #fontmelldown #dorsetwildlifetrust #hiking #hikinglife #fontmelldownnaturereserve #visitengland #swisbest #chalkdowns #hikeuk #walkuk #weloveengland #ruralengland
Summer is here! In England the season officially s Summer is here! In England the season officially starts on June 1st and runs through until 31st August, according to the meteorological calendar. We love summer hiking. The long days and time to linger and enjoy the countryside. Traditional English cottage gardens are green, lush and bursting with colour: Roses, sweetpeas, foxgloves, lavender and cornflowers. Just some of the jewels on display. The weather is warm and famously changeable. Often four seasons in one day. Dewy mornings turn into gloriously sunny days. And there’s always a chance of a sudden burst of rain. So, like the English weather, be prepared to go with the flow in summer and you'll be able to enjoy a wonderful time out on the trails. What do you love most about summer hiking? #summer #summerday #summervacation #summervibes☀️ #hikes #hike #walkuk #hikeuk #seekthepositive #leavethecity #ruralengland #englishcountryside #southwestengland
Today, June 1, is Dorset Day — a chance to celebra Today, June 1, is Dorset Day — a chance to celebrate this county’s rich heritage and beautiful scenery. From ancient Saxon hilltop towns in the north to the rolling chalk downs and agricultural vales that have changed little in centuries to the stunning Jurassic Coast, with its 185 million years of history. Dorset invites you to wander through landscapes shaped by time. Wherever you choose to go in this beautiful county, you’ll find a breathtaking variety of places to explore. It’s why we love it so much :) #DorsetDay #visitdorset #visitengland #hikeuk #walkuk #dorset #visitdorsetofficial #ThomasHardyCountry #ukwalking #ukhiking #traveluk #walkingholidaysengland #walkingholidays #hikingengland
Summer is nearly here, and we can’t wait for the l Summer is nearly here, and we can’t wait for the long, warm days of hiking and exploring the English countryside that await our guests. It's also the perfect time to look back on the great spring that we've enjoyed this year. As is usual for us over spring, we took every opportunity to get out into the countryside to check and update our existing routes, test new trails and enjoy the spring landscapes of South West England. The bluebells came early this year, but were no less impressive for it. We foraged wild garlic and wandered country lanes past sprays of cow parsley, hawthorne, and horse chestnut blossoms. We had a great team get together in March, walking one of our routes in rural Wiltshire. We welcomed our first guests back in March (and have received some wonderful reviews and feedback. With the walking season now in full swing, we’re thrilled to have guests from all over the world exploring the paths and trails less trodden from the Cotswolds to the coast. We’re thankful for having such a great start to the year and are looking forward to a wonderful summer of sharing our corner of the South West with our guests. If you’d like to explore the countryside of South West England on foot this year, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. #EnglandWalks #WalkingInEngland #HikingEngland #EnglishCountryside #DiscoverEngland #UKHiking #UKWalks #WalkingUK #HikingUK #hiking #ruralengland #england #greatbritain #uktravel #walking #trails #englishcountryside
Follow on Instagram

Useful links

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

Contact us

enquire@foottrails.co.uk
+44 (0) 1747 820 626

The Welsh Mill, Frome, BA11 2LE

Credits & small print

Privacy policy

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

© Foot Trails 2006-2025, walking holidays UK
Foot Trails

® Foot Trails is a registered Trade Mark. This entire web site and its content is copyright Foot Trails.