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  • 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
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    • Our Team

Closeup of a bluebell

By Emma Surridge / November 22, 2024

Closeup of a bluebell

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

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On our journal

A walk in North Dorset

Looking for peace, quiet, and timeless English countryside? Welcome to North Dorset.  The natural beauty of north Dorset has inspired writers

A walk in the Cotswolds

“I loved every minute of my experience hiking the Cotswolds with Foot Trails. I would do it again in a

Hiking an ancient avenue to Stonehenge

Every couple of months, the Foot Trails team gets together for a team gather in the great outdoors. This gives

Life on Instagram

Looking for peace, quiet, and timeless English cou Looking for peace, quiet, and timeless English countryside? Welcome to North Dorset. The natural beauty of north Dorset has inspired writers and poets like Thomas Hardy and William Barnes for centuries. Having walked the footpaths and trails of this beautiful county for decades, we fully understand why. On our walking & hiking trips in North Dorset, you can explore the beauty of this rural idyll at your own pace. From chalk downlands, and patchwork farmland through wildflower meadows and cosy villages to ancient castle ruins and Saxon hilltop towns, you'll discover a side of England that's changed little since Thomas Hardy’s day. Explore our Thomas Hardy’s Dorset or Kings & Kingdoms itineraries via the link in our bio, or email us directly at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. #Dorset #DorsetLife #WalkingInEngland #Hikeuk #RuralEngland #HikingAdventures #ExploreUK
We are open for 2027! And are already taking booki We are open for 2027! And are already taking bookings from guests keen to hike the paths less trodden in South West England next year. Over the next few days, we’ll be looking at some of the different walks and regions that you can explore on a custom-made Foot Trail in 2027. Starting with: The Cotswolds. It's a region that's world famous, and rightly so. But its popularity can lead to overcrowding and tourist hotspots in some areas. At Foot Trails, our trips are curated to take you away from the crowds and onto the quiet ways that our Founders Alison & David Howell have walked all of their lives. Through the lush rolling wolds, past beautiful villages with quintessential Cotwolds cottages to discover a more authentic, mellow and simpler Cotswolds. Escape the crowds with our local expertise and discover a more authentic side to the Cotswolds. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to show you the Cotswolds that we know and love. #FootTrails #CotswoldsWalking #SouthWestEngland #ExploreTheCotswolds #HikingUK
Here's another look at our hike to Stonehenge last Here's another look at our hike to Stonehenge last week. The peace and quiet of this tranquil route to the stones provided the perfect backdrop for us to meet and catch up in the great outdoors. #GuidedWalks #SlowTravel #ActiveTravel #Stonehenge #RuralEngland #Woodhenge #BritishCountryside #englishcountryside #VisitWiltshire #visitengland #AncientBritain #ExploringBritain #HikeUK #WalkUK
Every couple of months, the Foot Trails team gets Every couple of months, the Foot Trails team gets together in the great outdoors to connect with each other and immerse ourselves in the landscapes we love sharing with our guests. Last week, we met at Woodhenge, a history-rich monument built around the same time as and close to Stonehenge. After exploring some of the mysteries and tales of this ancient site, we set off in the direction of Stonehenge, approximately two miles away - not via the busy Visitor’s Centre, but along an ancient footpath across Salisbury Plain. Walking this trail through rolling countryside, past fields of livestock and butterfly-filled grasses, Stonehenge gradually appeared on the horizon. We were struck by how carefully this route had been chosen to dramatically reveal the stones to travellers millennia ago, and how wonderful it was to be following in their footsteps today. If you’d like to delve into the history and mystery of Stonehenge, we offer guided trips with Foot Trails Co-Founder David Howell. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio) or email us at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to share this fascinating landscape with you. #Stonehenge #Woodhenge #SalisburyPlain #VisitWiltshire #WalkingHolidays #BritishCountryside #SlowTravel #GuidedWalks #VisitEngland #ExploringBritain #AncientBritain #CountryWalks #UKTravel #FootTrails
Huge thank you to @stevieyaaaay for this lovely re Huge thank you to @stevieyaaaay for this lovely reel from her recent Kings & Kingdoms Foot Trail. We think it perfectly captures the essence of a Foot Trails hiking holiday 🌳 If you'd like to experience the beautiful English countryside off the beaten path, visit our website or drop us a line. We’d love to share our corner of South West England with you. #englishcountryside #hikeuk #hikingtrails #walkingholidaysuk #RuralEngland
“The custom planning and superb service from Foot “The custom planning and superb service from Foot Trails was exceptional.” Barbara, Canada At Foot Trails, we take care of all the details. And we take care of you. From the planning and run up to your trip to your time walking on our trails. Whether it’s shaping a trail, adjusting a plan, or replying to an email, we approach everything with care – for you, our team and the rural places & landscapes we hike through. While you're on your Foot Trail, we’re on hand to provide support at all times of the year. It's just one of the many benefits of our team being based in the region in which we walk. Every route is crafted to offer you complete flexibility every day of your Foot Trail. Each day’s itinerary, for example, includes different distance options, so you can spontaneously opt for a shorter or longer walk depending on how you feel. If you’d like to know more about planning and booking your own walking adventure in South West England, simply visit our website (link un bio) or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to chat through your plans. #TailorMadeTravel #WalkingHolidays #SelfGuidedWalking #HikingUK #CountryWalks #UKHiking #SlowTravel #TravelWithCare #CuratedTravel #HappyHikers #FootTrailsUK #RuralEngland #EnglishCountryside #ExploreEngland #VisitEngland #SouthWestEngland
NEW! Watch our Day in the Life of a Foot Trail fil NEW! Watch our Day in the Life of a Foot Trail film The beautiful South West England counties of Wiltshire and Dorset form the stunning and historic backdrop for our latest new film. Our two-minute film, created by our team, shows you what you can expect from a Foot Trail hiking trip. Do take a look if you are curious! Filming it was great fun. Huge thanks to our models Fleur and David. Discover what a day in the life of a Foot Trails is all about. From arriving at your country inn to pausing for lunch, and reaching your evening accommodation, join us as we visit some Wiltshire and Dorset highlights in the early summer sunshine. If you'd like to explore crowd-free paths in South West England, simply visit our website at www.FootTrails.co.uk (link in bio) or send us an email at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to chat through your plans and create the perfect hiking trip for you. If you're interested in Wiltshire and Dorset, try our much loved Kings and Kingdoms self-guided walking trip. #TravelNews #NewFilm #Wiltshire #Dorset #WanderLust #BeautifulDestinations #AdventureAwaits #StayLocal #WalkingHolidays #HikeUK #EnglishCountryside #Dorset #VisitWiltshire #BeautifulDestinations Music by https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: L2EDCJQN2R9YXUWL Artist: : Benjamin Tissot
One of the joys of spending time outdoors is seein One of the joys of spending time outdoors is seeing how the countryside changes week by week, month by month. Right now, in South West England, grass and wildflower meadows are being cut for hay. Since time immemorial, the long, warm days of July have been perfect for this - long warm days perfect for cutting and drying. Crop fields are also turning from green to gold and it won't be too long before these too are harvested. At Foot Trails, our routes are carefully crafted by Alison & David Howell to take you through the very best of South West England's rural landscapes. Built on a lifetime of hiking and exploring the region, our trips take you away from crowded tourist routes and A-to-B national trails to show you a quieter, more authentic side to the English countryside. To find out more and book your own hiking adventure, visit our website (link in bio) or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you. #Haymaking #SouthWestEngland #WalkingHolidays #HikeUK #SlowTravel #HarvestSeason #WanderlustUK #Footpaths #ScenicBritain #UKCountryside #GloriousBritain
‘Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.’ Shakespeare ‘Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.’ Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream This past week, farmers up and down South West England have been busy cutting grass and wildflower meadows to make hay. July is traditionally the month for making hay as grasses are usually at their most nutritional and have not yet dropped their seeds. July is also the most reliable month in terms of weather as farmers need a 4-5 forecast of warm, dry weather for turning and drying the cut grass before it can be made into bales. This ensures the hay will store well and remain nutritious for livestock through the winter. Haymaking is an ancient tradition and a key marker in the agricultural year. We always love to see it being done and the hay bales dotted across the landscape. If you’d like to wander the fields and footpaths of South West England, visit our website or drop us a line at enquire@foottrails.co.uk. We’d love to chat through your plans. https://foottrails.co.uk/ #Haymaking #HayBales #EnglishSummer #SummerInBritain #WalkingHolidays #WanderlustUK #CountryWalks #SlowTravel #EnglishCountryside #GloriousBritain #SouthWestEngland
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Photography credits: Alison & David Howell. Alun Callender, The National Trust, English Heritage

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