Walking Holidays and Weekends

Another Winter Solstice

2011-12-21T23:18:00.002Z

Well another winter solstice. The days have stopped shortening, but what a contrast to 2010!
A year ago today we were in the grip of record breaking arctic temperatures, this year the story has been more of wet and windy days, with a bit of wet sleet. Last year we posted a montage of pictures taken in the lead up to the solstice - bitterly cold days of snow and ice, we always returned from walks with a clean dog!

However traditionally our snowiest months are January and February, so we're certainly not in the clear yet!

Climatic Nonsense!

2011-12-03T19:00:00.001Z

It's December, and I've just walked to the top of a hill on Salisbury Plain - IN MY TEESHIRT - and whilst up there I found some wild mushrooms, in October a fairly common sight, but in December??
What a difference a year makes. This time last year a walk up Scratchbury Hill in a teeshirt would have guaranteed hypothermia and wild mushrooms would have been unthinkable. What interesting times we live in............

Summer's Arrived - And It's Autumn!

2011-10-01T21:07:00.000+01:00

We are fast approaching the end of our busiest season ever, hence the absence of recent blogs.
The Christmas and New Year programmes are on the website. Next year's programme of walks is nearly finalised.

For followers of the blog who know our daughters, Heather and Rebecca, the big news is that they have now departed to university. Rebecca is reading Medieval Studies whilst Heather is studying Countryside and Environmental Management. Exciting times. Heather has also successfully completed the expedition phase of her Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award (a canoeing expedition to Telemark in Norway).

We're very proud of both of them.

Bredon Hill - Big Views and Small Plums

2011-08-07T22:02:00.002+01:00


Parson's Folly, Bredon Hill

Ian, Suzanne and Phoebe the spaniel ventured into the Vale of Evesham for a walk up and around Bredon Hill. Bredon Hill enjoys spectacular all round views taking in the Cotswolds, the Malverns and the Welsh Marches.

The Vale of Evesham is famous for its fruit and the hedgerows were festooned with plums, damsons and gages - waste of time taking a packed lunch!

There are some lovely villages around the base of Bredon Hill and a couple of nice pubs too. A hidden gem.

Where Did The Time Go?

2011-07-10T16:17:00.000+01:00

Gentian on Cotley Hill

It's six weeks since I blogged, during which time I have led the Wessex Heights Walk and our twin daughters have turned eighteen, finished their exams and left school. I have just completed the last assignment for my Masters Degree - so that's where the time went!

The show of orchids on the chalk downs is over now but other flowers, no less beautiful, have taken their place. I have just returned from Cotley Hill and on display today; Birdsfoot Trefoil, Devil's Bit Scabious, Ox Eye Daisies, Bugle, Lady's Bedstraw and - best of all - gentian.

Saw some superb butterflies too; Chalkhill blue and very numerous Marbled White. If you want to know more about downland butterflies and conservation take a look at Jeremy Early's Images.

This is a bumper year for fruit and the last three weeks have seen us picking improbable quantities of strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and currants. Our trees are laden with incredible amounts of apples, pears and plums. The hedgerows are set to be a riot of blackberries by September.

Will anyone pick them? We certainly will, but increasingly people will only eat berries and soft fruits that arrive in plastic punnets. There's a free feast out there waiting to be enjoyed.........sloe gin anyone?!

From Boscastle to Trebarwith - a Day Out on the Slate!

2011-05-14T23:13:00.000+01:00

Forrabury Point, Boscastle


Spotted Orchid, Forrabury Stitches

The final day in Cornwall for our Roadscholar group. A walk along the stunning coastline between picturesque Boscastle and little Trebarwith Strand with a visit to Tintagel Castle along the way. The geology of this coastline is predominantly slate.

The coast was ablaze with wild flowers, alive with seabirds and bathed in sunshine, albeit with a keen sea breeze blowing. Lunch was taken at Tintagel Castle beach cafe, a much improved place over the last year or two.

Yet another lovely evening meal at Lanteglos where Roger, Stephanie and their staff have been the perfect hosts for the past week.

Unlucky for Some - but not for us!!

2011-05-13T18:47:00.000+01:00

Mevagissey

Heligan

Friday the thirteenth is considered unlucky by many, however walking around Dodman Point and through Port Mellon and Gorran Haven to Mevagissey in perfect sunshine, visitbg the Lost Gardens of Heligan and detouring into pretty Port Isaac on the way home felt pretty lucky to me!

They're filming a new series of Doc Martin at the moment, so there was a sprinkling of cast members at the pub. Port Isaac is the home of the Fishermans' Friends folk group - which is far more interesting to me.

Harlyn, Stepper and Padstow - Thrift All The Way to the Pasty Shop!

2011-05-13T18:35:00.000+01:00

Harlyn Bay

Cushions of Thrift at Trevone

A fantastic walk from beautiful Harlyn through Trevone and around dramatic Stepper Point and then along the sandy shores of the Camel Estuary to Padstow.

The wild flowers are a blaze of colour, the thrift in particular. No thrift was displayed in the pasty shop though - pure indulgence! A great day out.

Bronze Age Fields, Sandy Beaches and the Story of Tin

2011-05-11T22:23:00.000+01:00

St Eia's Island

A morning walk around the bronze age field systems of the Penwith moors, followed by a superb bacon baguette in the Digey Food Rooms in St Ives. A quick walk around St Ives and then off to St Agnes and a visit to our friends, the Wills family, at Blue Hills Tin.
if anyone wants to know about tin production; the history, the geology and the traditions Blue Hills is the place to go. They turn it into fantastic jewellery too!

Pentire, St Enodoc and Camel Valley Wine

2011-05-10T23:08:00.000+01:00

Rumps Point

St Enodoc Church

Camel Valley Vineyard

A great walk around Pentire and the Rumps and on through Polzeath and Daymer Bay. Lunch break in St Enodoc churchyard. Fantastic wild flowers; thrift, squill, campion and bluebells.

Had a very informative vineyard tour with Sophie, the assistant winemaker at Camel Valley, before a sample of the excellent Camel Valley Brut.

More Camel Valley wine before an excellent dinner at Lanteglos which was followed by an excellent evening of Betjeman

Go Directly to Cornwall

2011-05-09T18:11:00.000+01:00

A stormy looking Stepper Point from Pentire


Now that's what I call a hole in the ground!!

Transfer day today. Farewell Cotswolds, hello Cornwall. The Atlantic looks a little lumpy today and we've had some fierce squally showers, those can stop as soon as they like.

I took a trip over to Delabole Slate Quarry. What a wonderful product Delabole slate is. We have an historic family connection with Delabole, so it was good to go and buy some slate kitchenware from there. They do great paving and fireplaces too!

Windrush, Eye and the Pudding Club

2011-05-08T23:00:00.000+01:00

Mill on the Windrush, Bourton

The Pudding Club certificate

Another group walk in beautiful sunshine, this time from the pretty village of Naunton by the river Windrush, over the ridge into the valley of the river Eye and along the Eye through Upper and Lower Slaughter and back to the Windrush to follow it in to Bourton on the Water (busy as usual).

A lunch break in Bourton was followed by a short trip to Stow for a walk around town with Jean and Tim before returning to Three Ways House for a special meeting of the Pudding Club!

Upper Slaughter

Arts and Crafts, Rivers and Meadows

2011-05-07T20:43:00.000+01:00

Kelmscott Manor

Cygnets on the Rack Isle

Took the Roadscholar group to Kelmscott Manor this morning. Formerly the home of William Morris, the founder of the Arts and `crafts movement. Kelmscott is set in a beautiful location beside the Thames near Lechlade.

Had a great lunch at Bibury before walking beside the River Coln as far as Fossebridge then back for a fine buffet at Threeways Hotel, home of the Pudding Club

Where Harry Meets Alice

2011-05-06T18:26:00.000+01:00

Tom Quad, Christ Church College

The Great Hall (Hogwarts anyone?)


The Jabberwock Tree

A fine day in Oxford with a morning trip around Christ's Church College and a chance to catch up on all of the Alice in Wonderland/Lewis Carrol connections. The college was also the venue for much of the filming of the Harry Potter movies. We had a lovely lunch in the great hall under the gaze of Henry VIII. An afternoon at leisure in Oxford with a chance to view the art galleries in the Ashmolean museum and to see King Alfred's Jewel (not to mention tea on the roof terrace, sat on deck chairs on a lawn if you please!).

A good day!

Great Flora in the Cotswolds

2011-05-05T23:09:00.000+01:00

Did an excellent walk today, with a group, from Broadway to Chipping Campden by way of Fish Hill and Broadway Tower. The group had a good tour around Campden with local guides and then a number walked back to Mickleton with me. 10 miles of walking in glorious sunshine. We saw early purple orchids and cowslips on the hillside, the woods were abundant with wild garlic and bluebells, the May blossom and the horse chestnut were spectacular. Just when we thought that we wouldn't see any different flora and fauna, the woods above Mickleton rewarded us with a huge bracket fungus attached to a beech tree.

After The Orchids, The Bluebells

2011-05-02T21:37:00.000+01:00

The woods on the Great Ridge which forms the western edge of the Wylye Valley are rightly famous for their bluebells. The show has arrived a couple of weeks early this year thanks to the warm, dry spring. We enjoyed today's walk through the bluebell woods, but not as much as Phoebe did!!

Then There Were More

2011-05-02T21:28:00.000+01:00


Purple Orchids on Scratchbury Hill

After discovering the first wild orchid of the year on Cotley Hill, it was only a matter of time before they appeared at the local 'hotspot' on Scratchbury Hill. A very good display this year as there has been a good deal of 'land management' going on, mostly the cutting back of the excessive growth of Hawthorn. Hawthorn has been proliferating because of a lack of grazing, but the chalk downs of the Wylye Valley are looking fantastic this year.

The First Wild Orchid of the Year

2011-04-17T22:29:00.000+01:00

A great pre-breakfast walk up Cotley Hill this morning. Wisps of mist hanging around the valley below us, huge numbers of Cowslips, patches of Milkwort, violets on the fringes of the woods on the flanks of the hill and, joy of joys, the first early purple orchid of the year.

This bodes well for our guests who will be in Cornwall over Easter. The wild flowers will be in full flow.

Ne'er Cast a Clowt until 't May is Out

2011-04-17T22:18:00.000+01:00

On the face of it, a strange old English expression with an obscure meaning, however it is a piece of cautionary advice. The Clowt is your heavy coat or cloak and the 'May' refers to the May blossom, the blossom of the blackthorn and hawthorn bushes. The blackthorn is well and truly in bloom but the hawthorn is not quite there yet - so the 'May' is not quite fully out, so don't put your overcoat into storage quite yet.
My grandmother always talked of the 'blackthorn winter', the last chilly blast before spring really takes hold. On the other hand, the house martins have already arrived and Cotley Hill is festooned with cowslips and Easter, which is as late as it can be, is rapidly approaching.
Time to get the walking boots on.

Kites, Lambs and Pooh Sticks

2011-03-27T22:45:00.000+01:00

The Thames at Burcot

The Earth Trust

Today we took a trip over to the Thames Valley with the intention of parking at the Earth Trust's Hill Farm and fine tuning a walk which takes in the wonderful viewpoint of Wittenham Clumps, some beautiful diverse habitats on the Northmoor Estate and a beautiful stretch of meadows beside the Thames.

The presence of traffic stewards suggested that this was not a 'normal' day and indeed it wasn't. Thousands of people had turned up to see the newborn lambs. There was also an exhibition based around sustainability.

A beautiful walk on a beautiful day, capped by the sight of a red kite wheeling and diving as it hunted the meadow, no more than twenty yards away from us. There was also the added bonus of the 'World Pooh Sticks Championship' on the bridge at Little Wittenham.

Back to the Earth Project for an organic, free-range lamb burger and then home.

Favourite Places

2011-03-14T20:28:00.000Z


Porlock Bay from Bossington Hill

A combination of family outing and working trip writing route descriptions took us to Exmoor this weekend. A beautiful spring day with primroses and violets in the woods, cherry and Forsythia blossom in the gardens.

Exmoor's combination of heather moorland, picturesque villages, ancient woodland and spectacular coast really takes some beating. We walked one of our all-time favourite routes over Bossington Hill and Selworthy Beacon to reach the thatched village of Selworthy Green before striking off through Tivington and over Grabbist Hill to reach ancient Dunster. A classic outing!!

It Must Be Springtime

2011-03-06T20:56:00.000Z

Grape Hyacinths at Norton Bavant

The daffodils are coming out!

The Daffodils are beginning to open around the village, crocus are in bloom, snowdrops are almost over and there is a wonderful show of grape hyacinth around the trees in the grounds of the manor house. The birds are pairing off, and there are lambs in the field at Sutton Veny, it must be springtime.

The other good news is that the paths are drying out nicely and walking is a pleasure. All we need now, is for the temperature to go up a bit and the price of fuel to drop!

And Then There Were Two!!

2011-02-15T16:04:00.001Z


Yorkshire's Limestone Dales

Congratulations to our friends at The Austwick Traddock who have received a second AA red rosette for the excellence of their organic, locally-sourced food. There are few places that can compare to Wharfedale and Ribblesdale as a walking venue and the stunning limestone scenery of Malham Tarn and Goredale Scar are within easy reach.

The Traddock is an elegant Georgian country house which has been tastefully refurbished over the last few years and is set in its own attractive grounds. In a bygone era the grounds were the horse trading paddock – hence the name.

Candlemass Bell

2011-02-03T16:43:00.002Z

Candlemass Bells

The snowdrops have started to bloom in the Wylye Valley and last year's chicks have laid their first eggs. It's light until after 5pm now, so there is the feeling that perhaps spring is just around the corner.

Snowdrops have many ancient names including 'Candlemass Bell' and 'Fair Maids of February' and have always been regarded as a symbol of hope during dark times.

My old schoolfriend, Oz Hardwick, has had his poem, Candlemass Bell, included in an anthology entitled Soul Feathers, ISBN: 9781907401367, which is being sold to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Oz's work will be rubbing shoulders with contributions by such luminaries as Carol Ann Duffy, Seamus Heaney, Leonard Cohen, Benjamin Zephaniah and even Bob Dylan. My copy is on order and I can guarantee to have it signed by at least one contributor......

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T11:12:00.000Z

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2011.

Who are these hardy individuals? Polar explorers perchance.....no it's the Footpath Holidays Cotswolds Twixtmas break!

Many thanks to Peter Young for his picture.

Happy Solstice!

2010-12-21T21:30:00.000Z

I always enjoy the solstice. The days (in the northern hemisphere) have stopped shortening, you can certainly appreciate why it meant so much to our ancestors.

The last two weeks have seen some heavy snow and record breaking cold temperatures, but have given us the opportunity to take some 'seasonal' photographs. We have put some together with a 'solstice song'! Click the link to view.

Thr travel disruption has meant that we have had a few late bookings from travellers who have had their flights cancelled. As things stand we are still able to accept a few more.

Frosty Cotley

2010-12-08T22:51:00.001Z

Frosty Scene, Cotley Hill

There was a sharp frost and freezing fog here yesterday with the trees, hedgerows, fences and gateposts shimmering with Hoar Frost. At the top of Cotley Hill there was an unusual blue quality to the light. Suzanne got some great photographs.

This week has seen the last of our brochures mailed out and our website has been updated with our 2011 programme, so a bit of cold, fresh, frosty air was just what the doctor ordered!


More frost on Cotley

Being There!

2010-11-20T11:46:00.000Z

Cotley Hill rises above the nist

What's the secret of seeing some wonderful natural phenomena? Rule one is 'being there'.

The morning these photographs were taken, the village was foggy and damp but Suzanne just had the feeling that it would be worth taking the camera.

Nothing beats being on the chalk downs of Wessex on a morning like this one, especially with a warm cottage and a hot drink a short walk away!

Phoebe on Cotley Hill Tumulus

Phoebe, our springer spaniel had a great time too.

Following the 'being there' theme, we went to see west country folk band 'Show of Hands' in Salisbury in the evening. You had to be there to appreciate just how talented they are.

All in all not too shabby a day!

Wildlife Rescue

2010-10-18T10:55:00.006+01:00

Living in the countryside you never know what you might see. Today's wildlife find was an injured buzzard (for US based blog followers, the buzzard in the UK is our largest hawk - not the same as the American bird of the same name).

The bird was perched on a log following our movements, but not taking evasive action. Closer inspection revealed a closed eye. This eye injury made the bird unable to hunt.

Ian picked the bird up with almost no struggle and it was taken to a nearby rescue centre. Today's good deed was completed before 9.30am - so plenty of time to feel righteous and glowing!

THe buzzard connection continues today as we are finalising the walking stages on the Shropshire Way - the blaze marks for the route consist of a buzzard in silhouette.

The last connection, not too tenuous I hope, is that yesterday we took one of our daughters for her interview at Harper Adams University in Shropshire where one of the students who showed us around this rural college is a hawker who carried his bird of prey with him. It would square the circle nicely if the hawk had been a buzzard - but it was a Harris Hawk, a magnificent bird in its own right.

You can't win 'em all!!!

2010-08-22T15:35:00.004+01:00

We regularly try out new walks with a view to adding them to one of our itineraries.

We have been looking at the maps of East Devon and West Dorset, inland from Lyme Bay.
Yesterday's prospecting trip was an opportunity for the whole family to have a walk together.

The walk in question was inland from lovely Branscombe. The portents were not good as we drove down through Dorset in thick fog. The fog persisted into our walk, so we were unable to judge the views, but the underfoot conditions were awful and we decided very quickly that we would not be adding this to our list of self-guided walks. All four human beings in the party were fairly glum, but no such issues existed for Phoebe, the spaniel, who had a fantastic time jumping in and out of pools and streams.

Beautiful Branscombe never disappoints, so after a walk along the coast and a lovely hot drink and afternoon snack in the National Trust 'Old Bakery Tearoom' the humans cheered up too.

We never look at a 'failed' prospecting trip as a waste of time - if you don't look, you don't know. This follows the principle from the old advertising slogan for tinned salmon - 'It's the fish John West reject that make John West the best'. I suspect that readers will need to be above a certain age to remember that one!

The Proud Father

2010-08-10T22:39:00.003+01:00

Here is Annette's portrait of Lucky, the proud father!

The Patter of Tiny Claws

2010-08-10T22:30:00.003+01:00

One of our flock of Maran hens went broody a few weeks ago, so we put a few eggs under her. It appears that our cockerel, Lucky, has been doing his job. We have three fluffy chicks following their 'mother' around.
I thought you might like to see this picture (taken by our neighbour, Annette) of one of the chicks peeking out from under mother hen's wing!

English Heather in the Highlands of Scotland!

2010-08-01T11:01:00.002+01:00

No, not another invasive, non-indigenous plant variety, but our daughter!
Many guests who have been taking our walking tours for a number of years will know our daughters, Heather and Rebecca. Another milestone has been passed this weekend as Heather has headed off to Scotland to do two weeks of conservation work for the National Trust. This week in the hills around Loch Tay and next week in the rugged landscape, much further north in Kintail. Rebecca heads off for her own adventure at the end of this week, in the mountains of North Wales.

Hopefully we will be able to post some pictures later in the week.

Fingers crossed for good weather and no midges!

Great Walking on the North Downs Way

2010-07-31T09:18:00.003+01:00

We've had some great feedback coming in from people participating in our walk along the North Downs Way National Trail.

The North Downs Way picks out the very best of the countryside on the downland ridge that runs through Surrey and Kent. Great views, pretty villages, splendid woodland and the joy of ridge walking. Many walkers might look at the proximity of the route to some areas of high population density and avoid it - a real mistake, there is so much good waalking to enjoy.

In Praise of Exmoor

2010-07-27T21:32:00.004+01:00

We have been receiving some great feedback about our Exmoor walking holiday. The group consisted of (in no particular order!) Germans, Swiss and British. Peter (Welsh) led the group in his usual cheerful, gentle way.

There are very few areas which can touch Exmoor for its wonderful variety of scenery; breathtaking seascapes, broadleafed woodlands, open moorland and quaint villages.

There are still places on our Exmoor walking trip in October.

The picture shows Marlyse (one of our regular guests) enjoying her holiday!

Graham Wise, one of the other members of the group, has taken some great photographs, click here to see them on our flickr site.

Where were you on the solstice?

2010-06-30T20:48:00.007+01:00

We spent our summer solstice day exploring the stretch of the ancient Ridgeway track between West Ilsley and Letcombe Regis near Wantage.

It wasn't in our thinking at the time but, with hindsight, there can be fewer more appropriate places to be on a day filled with ancient significance. The Ridgeway dates back at least as far as the bronze age and has been in constant use ever since.

On our stretch of the Ridgeway we encountered walkers, runners, cyclists and horseriders. The views over the Oxfordshire and Berkshire countryside were tremendous and, at Letcombe Castle,we saw a wonderful field full of Ox-eye daisies.

Golden Gorse, Pink Thrift and Pasties - A walk in Cornwall

2010-05-30T16:55:00.004+01:00

Ian has just returned from a week of walking on the Cornish Coast. The group members were also interested in Cornish history and culture. The walks covered the area of the north coast between Boscastle and St Ives. The wild flowers were splendid with bluebells, primroses, spring squill and thrift all playing their part, but the star of the show was definitely the gorse providing a splash of gold and a heady, coconut-scented, fragrance.

All this natural splendour with Cornish pasties and cream teas too!!

Buzzards and Bluebells, Cold Kitchen and Brimsdown

2010-05-03T21:41:00.006+01:00

I felt that I should blog a fantastic walk that Suzanne and I had the other day. We walked from the picturesque village of Kingston Deverill, steeply uphill to the majestic ridge of Cold Kitchen Hill and then along the long ridge top from Cold Kitchen to Brimsdown.

The downland was full of the sound of ewes calling to their new lambs. The early hour and the lack of people enabled us to see hares and deer. The bluebells were bursting out in the woods on the top of Brimsdown Hill. The village of Horningsham looked as picturesque as ever and the rhododendrons and azaleas at 'Heaven's Gate'arboretum on the Longleat estate were a blaze of colour.The bluebells will last for a few more weeks as will the clumps of primroses before the orchids take centre stage.

A fantastic walk, which is on our Deverills Valley short break but what made this walk extra special was the stunning site of eleven buzzards (for our USA readers, the buzzard is Britain's largest hawk) all circling in the same thermal, level with and in some cases below us. It shows that birds of prey are certainly on the increase, which also demonstrates that the bottom end of the food chain must be in good shape too - good news.

Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud......

2010-04-17T19:26:00.003+01:00

After a long cold winter, we are enjoying a stunningly beautiful spring. Beautiful sunny days with 'gin clear' skies. The great irony is that we have a cloud of volcanic dust from Iceland in the atmosphere which has succeeded in grounding almost all air traffic over the British Isles and north west Europe for the last three days. The high pressure area sitting over western Europe has bathed us in gentle north easterly breezes and kept the weather sunny. What the airlines (and the economy) could do with is a good old south westerly Atlantic blow - the kind that brings April showers - to send the ash back whence it came.

It must be eerily quiet for those living under the airport flightpaths! We live in an area with a lot of military air activity and it has been strangely quiet for the last few days.

Here's to a Long Splendid Springtime

2010-03-25T09:36:00.004Z

My last blog focused on the long cold winter, which turned out to be the longest and coldest since 1976. I said that, in the long run, I thought it would do the countryside good. I would like to follow this theme a little further.

A succession of warm winters and 'early springs' have drawn hibernating wildlife such as bees and bats out too early at a time when there was a dearth of wild flowers and insects and a possibility of a return to winter conditions - very much to the detriment of the species involved. Mammals also bred too early which made it difficult to raise their young when the cold weather put in a reappearance.

Experts are predicting that this more gradual transition into spring will mean that the season will last longer and flora and fauna will appear more gradually and that the flowers will stay around longer. This has certainly been borne out by this year's fantastic displays of snowdrops which have been around for over six weeks now. Crocus are now brightening lawns and some, but by no means all, daffodils are blooming.

We are finding these consecutive waves of spring flowers such a pleasure after a succession of springs in which everything appears in February and is gone by the end of March. This sudden reversion, whether a 'one-off' or not, to a more traditional seasonality has caused a few problems to organisers of 'snowdrop walks' and 'daffodil days' who had set their schedules in time with the 'new seasons' but it does remind us not to take mother nature for granted. There is a very good article on the BBC website.

So Is This Springtime?

2010-02-24T21:43:00.002Z

Long time, no blog! I have been waiting to blog the arrival of springtime, hence the delay! Apologies to all those who follow our blogs regularly.

We're still waiting for the arrival of the Wiltshire spring, indeed the Wylye Valley received a plastering of wet snow as recently as Monday - but the snowdrops, crocuses and catkins are all now in evidence,the hens have started laying eggs again and one of our daughters is looking forward to helping out with lambing in a couple of weeks - so (with the exception of the weather) spring is in the air.

The uncharacteristically harsh winter has brought a fantastic variety of birds to our feeder, including a very handsome lesser spotted woodpecker.

In truth, I think we have had a proper, 'old-fashioned' winter which will have done us no harm at all - we've become somewhat soft after a long sequence of mild winters. Consumption of hearty soups has seen a huge increase this winter!

Easter is just around the corner and our walk along the Worcestershire Way is well subscribed. There are a few places left though....

Warne's Holidays

2010-01-21T22:11:00.006Z

We had a lovely surprise to warm us up during the cold weather the other day. Warne, a regular guest from New Jersey (now living in Pennsylvania), sent us a compilation of his holiday journals. In the last seventeen years, Warne has been on sixteen of our walking holidays. Ian led some of these himself, so they have been interesting reading.

During the last seventeen years Warne has travelled with us to; Shropshire, North Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Derbyshire Dales, Marlborough Downs, Teesdale, Tweed Valley, Dorset, Pembrokeshire Coast, Western Highlands of Scotland, Wye Valley, Royal Deeside, Northumberland, West Wiltshire, the Cotswolds and The Lake District.

We have a number of regular guests who have been enjoying our holidays for many years - one lady has taken at least one of our holidays every year since 1983! More than one of our regular guests have now exceeded a hundred tours.

As January rolls on and the days lengthen, we are receiving a steady stream of bookings
from a healthy mix of new names and old friends.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T12:00:00.004Z

Happy New Year!

This is the view we woke up to in the Wylye Valley. Firm frosty fields, a chilly breeze, glorious sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. The perfect winter walking day.
I hope that our walking groups in Cornwall, Devon and Sussex are having the same weather for their final walk.

We're going out again now, it would be such a pity to waste the opportunity!

Only 360 Days Until Christmas

2009-12-30T11:41:00.007Z

So our Christmas walking tour based in Penzance ended on Monday and guests on our Twixtmas break in the Cotswolds are having a morning walk and a 'soup and sandwich' lunch before heading home this afternoon.

The met office did hold out the prospect of snow in the northern cotswolds this morning, but in the event it didn't appear. This is probably a blessing in disguise as a dusting of the white stuff is seasonal, pretty and photogenic but can also make the journey home a misery!

Our New Year breaks in Cornwall, Devon and Sussex are all under way.The Devon and Cornwall groups are taking their second walk today and the group in Sussex their first.

Winter Walking (at long last)

2009-12-19T22:48:00.002Z

Long time no blog.

A bit of light snow in Wiltshire, much more snow further east, but an iron-hard frost and a biting north wind. A perfect day to wrap up, put a hat on and head into the hills with the dog.

Perfect views with great air quality, firm underfoot conditions and home to a mug of hot tea and cheese on toast - fantastic, with the added bonus of a clean dog at the end of the walk.

Just the sort of weather to set the mood for the Festive Season. This year's Festive Season programme is our most successful ever with Christmas in Cornwall, Twixt-mas in the Cotswolds and New Year in Cornwall, Devon and Sussex all very well subscribed.With a good number of guests coming from overseas it's a relief that BA will be flying.

Our 2010 brochure has been distributed and our 2010 website launched so , with the school holidays started, this is our chance to spend a bit of family time.

In Praise of the Bramley Apple

2009-11-01T21:22:00.004Z

Today we have picked the final two Blenheim Orange apples from our tree and brought in the rest of the ripe chilli's from the greenhouse. The little yellow one in the picture is outrageously hot - one of the habanero family.

However, today's blog is in praise of the Bramley apple. My neighbour's Bramley tree overhangs our garden and we are enjoying the windfalls. The first Bramley was planted two hundred years ago and this has not gone unmarked by the BBC Countryfile Magazine.
Follow this link to their article about the original Bramley tree. Our new Bramley tree has some way to go!

Peter's Dorset Tour Diary -Friday 18 September

2009-10-05T23:43:00.003+01:00

Friday. On our outward journey Adrian told us of the haunts of smugglers and pointed out the houses where customs men had lived. Another ridge walk, this time east along the Purbeck Way from the Castle, to the sea at Swanage. We watched the steam train chugging through the countryside down below and saw more deer. An agreed diversion towards Studland enabled us to see Old Harry, a large chalk isolate once joined on to the Needles. Glorious walking again along the finest clifftop turf. An almost tame baby rabbit ran towards us inquisitively instead of escaping into its burrow. Then a long descent to the beach at Swanage Bay and barefoot walking along the edge of the sea. This tour had come to an end. Which one should we choose next year?

Peter's Dorset Tour Diary -Thursday 17 September

2009-10-05T23:39:00.001+01:00

Thursday. Magnificent views again! They improved all the way from Kimmeridge to Swyre Head. Standing on this outstanding viewpoint it is understandable why it is also called “Heaven’s Gate”. At Kingston, the Scott Arms, clothed in red virginia creeper from head to foot, was open for coffee, and we enjoyed it in what must be one of the best situated beer gardens in Dorset, overlooking Corfe Castle. Then, in glorious sunshine, down to the sea again at Chapman’s Pool before following the Purbeck Way across Corfe Common to the Castle

Peter's Dorset Tour Diary -Tuesday 15 September

2009-10-05T23:36:00.001+01:00

Tuesday. Crossing the railway line of the Swanage steam railway meant keeping an eye open for one of its magnificently polished locomotives. The path took us alongside former claypit workings into our heathland walk, beginning at Norden Common, where if you are quiet, you are very likely to see deer. At Rempstone Heath we passed nodding donkeys as they pumped oil from a mile below ground. Masses of holly berries, a deer, an egret, rabbits galore – there was so much to see. And to eat – the blackberries were succulent on this and every other walk! Occasionally, rain pecked at our foreheads, but came to nothing. Studland Heath – and the Agglestone, a seven-hundred ton rock, was a striking landmark. At the Bankes Hotel at Studland we were encouraged to taste every ale before choosing!

Peter's Dorset Tour Diary -Monday 14 September

2009-10-05T23:33:00.001+01:00

Monday. We looked around Worth Matravers, a beautiful Dorset village, and went into the church to see the magnificent Norman chancel arch before setting out for the coast. At Winspit there were fossils in the huge disused quarry and golden samphire on the beach. The coast path to Swanage was the haunt of many butterflies – even a Chalk Hill Blue! We learnt that the Tilly Whim Caves had been a tourist attraction after limestone ceased to be quarried there. How we enjoyed the sunny sea views today!

Peter's Dorset Tour Diary - Sunday 13 September

2009-10-05T23:31:00.003+01:00

Sunday. An opportunity for our small group to visit the Dorset army ranges with their abundant wildlife and the deserted village of Tyneham. Glorious sunshine and time to look at the school, church, farm, all clearly described. A great walk along the western part of the Purbeck Ridge with superb views on either side led us to Corfe where we visited the castle, courtesy of Footpath Holidays. Then the National Trust teashop for cream teas. Our driver, Adrian, was a fount of knowledge: “Corfe means cutting!” and “these are the only black sheep in Dorset”.

Seniorikurssiyhdistys in Devon

2009-10-05T22:16:00.003+01:00

Just back from escorting fourteen happy Finns around the South Devon coast. And I can't imagine anything better.
The time of year was my favourite for walking, and every day was perfect walking weather. The hotel was truly excellent. The coast around Dartmouth and Salcombe must be some of the best there is. We had ferry journeys over the estuaries, a ride on a strange motor-driven surrey-with-a-fringe-on-top that took us out to the ferry boat, we had a visit to Coleton Fishacre NT house..... and the wildlife! We saw kestrels, buzzards, a perigrine falcon, a school of dolphins, and heard the mournful wail of seals from the Mewstone. I'm going back for more!.
Geoff'

New Post by Laura from California

2009-09-20T22:01:00.006+01:00

"On my last day on Exmoor, I was told it had been raining consistently
in Exmoor since June. Yet my week on Exmoor (September 8 to 14 2009)
was blessed with so much sunshine, I developed sunburn and had to begin
using sunscreen. (An Exmoor first apparently.) My trip was everything
I could have hoped for: Sightings of Exmoor ponies near the Jubilee hut
and on Dunkery Beacon; a cream tea with the most delectable clotted
cream at The Buttery next door to Lorna Doone Farm; my fantastic cab
driver, Colin Strange, who always watched out for me, as I was alone on
my self-guided trip; Martin and Biddy Bale, the proprietors at Conygar
House, my B&B in Dunster, who fortified me each day with hardy
sandwiches made with Biddy's homegrown tomatoes; a breathtaking walk
along the ridge on Grabbist Hill where the bellowing of red deer stags
was music to my ears; taking in the views of innumerable valleys from
Bat's Castle; encountering more friendly people than I could count, all
relishing the gorgeous weather; waving to cars on the road (even the
little kids in the cars waved); saying hello to everyone I met; great
food every evening at Stags Head Inn in Dunster; being able to spot cars
traveling down the roads of Wales from Selworthy Beacon; walking back
and forth across Tarr steps about ten times on a magical Sunday
afternoon; dropping a coin in a box and trekking through Doone Valley;
chatting with fishermen and birdwatchers near Watersmeet; admiring the
thatched cottages in Selworthy. I really had a fantastic time."

Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness..............

2009-09-06T21:41:00.002+01:00

The children have gone back to school (in our childrens' case that means the first day of 'further education' and the end of school uniform), the apple tree and pear tree are laden with ripe fruit, the tomatoes are ripe, the chillis are reddening in the greenhouse, we have an excess of runner beans and we have had three walking groups start today. It must be September!

September and October are two of our favourite months. The harvest is safely in (thankfully, with a great yield in our part of Wiltshire), the swallows are lining up on the telephone wires preparing to migrate back to Africa. The mornings have a slight chill and we have reached that time when you feel a perceptible change of season

The weather in September and October is usually settled and just the right temperature for walking. Our three groups are on Exmoor, in West Cornwall and on Hadrian's Wall. The weather forecast looks pretty good for all three. The heather should be spectacular in all three venues.

We have plenty of 'self-guided' walkers setting out over the next two weeks as well. They are spread all over England and Wales, so, fingers crossed for the weather all over the country!

The Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show

2009-08-25T22:41:00.006+01:00

Our daughter, Heather, has been working on a farm on Salisbury Plain during the long summer holidays. The farm is a National Nature Reserve because of its rare flora and associated invertebrates.

The farm specialises in traditional breeds of livestock and is best known for its Longhorn cattle and Shropshire sheep.

A number of the Longhorns were entered into the Gillingham and Shaftesbury agricultural show, a few miles from where we live.

The farm won rosettes for best calf (pictured), second best steer (pictured) and third best cow.

A lovely warm dry day for the show too!

The Coast to Coast Walk

2009-08-25T22:20:00.004+01:00

The month of August saw our annual pilgrimage across Wainright's north country classic - the coast to coast.

Given the wet summer we have suffered, the group was fortunate to have experienced only two really poor days.

This year's crossing was led by Graham. We divide the walk into three separate holidays. The group consisted of a mixture of walkers doing just one section and a few doing the whole crossing.

This year's walk coincided with the BBC's 'Wainright Walks' TV series.

We are in the process of setting dates for next year's Coast to Coast guided walk.

Northumberland and Berwickshire Coastal Paths

2009-08-09T16:42:00.003+01:00

Between the 5th and 11th July, we had a group of 8 walkers on the splendidly wild and lonely coastal path between Alnmouth in Northumberland an St Abbs in Berwickshire. Despite its remoteness, this coast is dotted with beautifully unspoilt villages, such as Craster, Low Newton by the Sea (with its fantastic little pub), Bamburgh, Burnmouth, Eyemouth and St Abbs.

This stretch of coast also has some splendid castles, such as Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh (pictured above), as well as the fortified old border town of Berwick. Berwick, at the mouth of the Tweed, has been in both England and Scotland during its turbulent history. At the moment it is in England but leans toward Scotland.

The walk ends at stunning St Abbs Head - definitely a case of saving the best 'til last.

Cotswold Walking Tour, 25 July - 1 August

2009-08-09T16:05:00.006+01:00

Or is it Provence?

These two lovely photographs of Snowshill lavender and cottages in Stanway were provided by Janet Lorenz, one of the group participants. She has many more great pics on her Flickr photo stream.

Susan Maguire led the tour for us - here is her blog.

How lucky this group was, walking in the N Cotswold and missing every shower of rain, while they were walking!
On the first walk from the Cotswold village of Blockley, to the tiny hamlet of Ebrington, the mid-point of this walk, the clouds scudded about teasing us, but the air was warm and we remained dry. The group enjoyed the varied rural countryside and managed to reach the lunch spot under the trees for their well earned break. The group found the afternoon section of the walk relaxing and interesting as we passed Hidcote Manor Gardens,( which some guests later returned to, on their rest day), on our way back to Mickleton.

Walking through the Slaughters, the following day, the urge to purchase an ice-cream couldn’t be ignored, local Cotswold ice-cream, delicious! Lunch that day was within the church at Naunton as the shower of rain decided to arrive. Still this gave us time to contemplate.

Stanton, and Stanway, fascinating places, cameras constantly clicking as we walked. Having climbed the hill to the beautiful and far reaching views near Stumps Cross we followed the Cotswold Way to the planned lunch spot where the wind nearly blew us over. Luckily in the valley below, a sheltered sunny spot was found for the delicious lunch and a spot of relaxing. When the sun disappeared we moved on, but stopped again to sample the fruit drinks at Hailes farm cafe. Onward to Winchcombe and time for exploring.

After the rest day, the group were raring to go, visiting several pretty Cotswold villages en route, but settling on one with an attractive pub for a prolonged stop. Following the stop, the pace predictably slowed to reach Broadway with just enough time for further exploring and more cups of tea.

The final day, and the highest climb of the week, to Broadway Tower, every-one made it. Again following the Cotswold Way, lunch with a view from Dovers Hill, where some of the group were almost asleep in the sunshine. Down to Chipping Campden where there had been a request for time to explore but I think the only exploring was to the cafes or, as in one guest, a bench for a snooze.

Walking the South Downs, 18-25 July

2009-08-09T15:49:00.003+01:00

In July a decent sized group of walkers (from UK, Luxembourg, USA and Norway) enjoyed an almost uninterrupted week of good weather (it rained for part of the last walk!) in the beautiful South Downs of Sussex. The area is soon to become our newest National Park, a status it fully deserves.

We are also very happy with our base for this trip, Deans Place in historic Alfriston.
Deans Place provided the ideal location to round off some fantastic walking days with great food, a good bar and comfortable accommodation.

We have an autumn guided walking tour scheduled at Alfriston as well as a New Year break.

Offa's Dyke Completed

2009-08-09T15:31:00.004+01:00

Our intrepid walkers duly completed the Offa's Dyke Path in fine style, although the weather was something of a 'mixed bag'.

Of all the long distance paths that Suzanne and I have walked, we still think that Offa's Dyke is the best of the lot. There are very few LDP's that don't have one or two stretches that are a little contrived or that don't quite live up to the standard of the rest of the route - Offa's Dyke is all good from beginning to end. The one day that used to cause a slight 'furrowing of the brow' was north of Monmouth where innumerable attractive small fields were crossed on innumerable stiles! Happily, those stiles are now gates. The only possible source of complaint is now the weather, and that's out of our hands!

Scratchbury and Cotley Hills

2009-07-13T18:50:00.004+01:00

There have been some new fences and gates installed on Scratchbury and Cotley Hills, which provided the perfect excuse for Suzanne and Phoebe (our spaniel) to get out on the hill and update our route description for this walk which is part of our West Wiltshire Downs itinerary.

Suzanne set out very early in the morning and had the downs to herself. She saw roe deer, rabbits, kestrels, buzzards, skylarks, raven, cinnabar moths and, as far as flora is concerned, scabiosa, lady's bedstraw, hawksbit, toadflax, rock roses and much more.

William Cobbett, the 18th century traveller, reformer and author (Cobbett’s Rural Rides), was especially impressed when he rode through in 1826, noting “the fine trees surrounding the farm yard, which had 22 ricks in it, the turnpike road running through the arable land with great flocks on the downs on one side, and cattle 'up to their eyes in grass in the meadows' on the other. The air must be of the best in the world, and the country singularly bright and beautiful.
If called upon to name the spot which I deem the brightest and most beautiful and, of its extent, best of all, I should say the villages of North Bovant and Bishopstrow, between Heytesbury and Warminster in Wiltshire; for there is, as appertaining to rural objects, everything that I delight in. Smooth and verdant downs in hills and valleys of endless variety as to height and depth and shape; rich corn-land, unencumbered by fences; meadows in due proportion, and those watered at pleasure; and, lastly, the homesteads, and villages, sheltered in winter and shaded in summer by lofty and beautiful trees; to which may be added roads never dirty and a stream never dry.”

What a great place to live! This post has also given me the opportunity to use this wonderful aerial photograph. Copyright Adrian Warren/Dae Sasitorn www.lastrefuge.co.uk

Scratchbury Hill (Scratchbury Camp) was also much loved by the World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon.....

On Scratchbury Camp

BY SIEGFRIED SASSOON

Along the grave green downs, this idle afternoon,
Shadows of loitering silver clouds, becalmed in blue,
Bring, like unfoldment of a flower, the best of June.

Shadows outspread in spacious movement, always you
Have dappled the downs and valleys at this time of year,
While larks, ascending shrill, praised freedom as they flew.
Now, through that song, a fighter-squadron’s drone I hear
From Scratchbury Camp, whose turfed and cowslip’d rampart seems
More hill than history, ageless and oblivion-blurred.

I walk the fosse, once manned by bronze and flint-head spear;
On war’s imperious wing the shafted sun-ray gleams:
One with the warm sweet air of summer stoops the bird.

Cloud shadows, drifting slow like heedless daylight dreams,
Dwell and dissolve; uncircumstanced they pause and pass.
I watch them go. My horse, contented, crops the grass.

Offa's Dyke

2009-07-06T20:59:00.004+01:00

Our guided walk along Offa's Dyke Path national trail started on Sunday. A good group of keen walkers and a fantastic path to walk. So far the weather has been a mixed bag, but should improve after tomorrow. We hear that the weather was kind today at just the right moment and the views from the Kymin, above Montgomery, were spectacular.

More updates as the group works its way along this magnificent walk.

Self-Guided Walking Holidays

2009-06-26T20:52:00.004+01:00

This year has seen a tremendous increase in the number of bookings we have received for our self-guided walking tours. We have had numerous singles, couples and groups of friends participating in both our inn to inn holidays and our single centre self-guided holidays - both full holidays and short breaks.

The South West Way has taken the 'lion's share' of the inn to inn bookings with the Thames Path also proving popular.

Single centre bookings have spread across the areas which we cover. The obvious choices of Cornwall, Dorset, Pembrokeshire and the Lake District have all performed well, but we have been very pleased to see that our local area, West Wiltshire, has attracted plenty of interest too - and so it should, the walking here is wonderful!

Suzanne has been working flat-out in the office since February, but the number of complimentary emails we have received from guests who have completed their walking holidays certainly helps to keep morale high!

Please feel free to add your comments to this blog too.

South Devon Coast, 17-23 May

2009-06-14T18:08:00.003+01:00

A 'small but select' group of walkers stayed at the Stoke Lodge hotel in Stoke Fleming near the picturesque port of Dartmouth on the lovely South Devon coast, led by Frank.

The weather was, in the main, kind and the coastal walks and views were magnificent.

The thing that struck Frank the most was the huge variety of coastal flowers. This has been remarked upon by many of our leaders and guests on coastal walks this year. 2009 is the best year for flora that any of us can remember.

South Downs Walking Tour, 7-12 June

2009-06-14T17:34:00.003+01:00

Our guided walkers in the South Downs were blessed with great weather and enjoyed some marvellous downland and coastal walking, led by Frank.

With magnificent views, plenty of orchids and a wealth of other flowers
the walks went down very well with our guests .

Guests were also very happy with the food, accommodatoion and service at our base in the South Downs - historic Deans Place in lovely Alfriston in the Cuckmere valley.

Pembrokeshire Coast, 10-16 May 2009

2009-05-27T22:46:00.003+01:00

Our group walking tour on the Pembrokeshire Coast was completed in fine style. The walks were led by John Morrell and the group was accommodated at the stunningly located Warpool Court Hotel on the outskirts of the little cathedral 'city' of St Davids.

The sea remained calm enough for the group to get across to the island of Skomer where the highlights were the tremendous numbers of puffins and other seabirds such as razorbills and the stunning show of bluebells.
The coastal flowers this year are as good as any of us can remember. May and June are the perfect months to visit the coasts of Wales and south west England.

Lake District Walking Tour, 17-23 May 2009

2009-05-27T22:07:00.004+01:00

Our first guided Lake District holiday of this season finished last week.

The walks were led by Geoff Williams and the group was accommodated at the Grasmere Red Lion Hotel.

The weather was kind and the Lake District never fails to please - it's a walkers' paradise.

We have already received some very complimentary emails from group participants.

American Ladies in Oxford and on Exmoor

2009-05-24T09:27:00.004+01:00

For the last eight days we have been hosting a group of ladies from an American literary club.

Four days were spent in Oxford (staying at the Buttery) and included a day excursion around the Cotswolds. On the transfer day to Exmoor the group visited Stourhead Gardens and House (National Trust) and Wells. The group attended Evensong in Wells Cathedral.

The Exmoor section of the trip was accommodated at the 14th century Luttrell Arms in the medieval village of Dunster. The group had three walks on Exmoor, culminating in the walk around Bossington Hill, Selworthy Beacon and Allerford - one of our all time favourite routes. At the end of eight days of mixed weather the Selworthy walk was blessed with perfect sunny weather. Our love of Exmoor is well documented on this blog site, it's great to see others enjoying it too.

Heaven's Gate

2009-05-21T23:14:00.004+01:00

On Sunday we took a trip out to Simpson's seeds - a great little business run on the edge of the Longleat estate

The azaleas at nearby Heaven's Gate are out and perfect at the moment.

Simpson's are running a 'chilli event' on the bank holiday weekend, so you could combine a look at Heaven's Gate with some tongue-tingling chilli products from Fire Foods.

Visit

http://www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk/shop/Events.html

A Few of My Favourite Things

2009-05-04T20:17:00.003+01:00

Born and raised in the west country I have always been a lover of cider and cheese, especially a good cheddar cheese. Personally, when it comes to cider , my absolute preference is Perry (pear cider) which has tremendous strength and 'bite'.

Our preference is to buy from smaller, artisan producers. This is no problem when it comes to cheese, but presents an almost insurmountable challenge when you are searching for Perry.

In itself, my preferences for cider and cheese would not be worthy of a blog were it not for a coincidence. I received an email from Terry, a customer of many year's standing from the USA. Terry was enquiring after the health of Jim and Pauline Bennett, formerly the proprietors of Highfield House Country Hotel near Hawkshead. Sadly no longer a hotel,Highfield House was the location for our Lake District walking holidays for many years and occupies a place in the hearts of many a Footpath Holidays regular - spotlessly clean, fantastic food and good-humoured friendly banter in the bar.

Here's the coincidence - Terry was so taken by the place that he has named his farm in Wisnconsin 'Highfield Farm' and Highfield Farm is - wait for it - an atrisan producer of British style cheeses.

Worth blogging, I feel.

Here Comes The Summer

2009-04-26T20:35:00.008+01:00

In addition to the masses of cowslips on the downs, this week the early purple orchids put in an appearance, closely followed by milkwort.

The seedlings in our greenhouse are ready to pot on, our hens are laying profusely, we have had two feeds of rhubarb so far and we have banked up the potatoes for the second time.

With all these signs of summer, we are certain to have a cold, wet week!

Bookings continue to flood in and Suzanne emerges blinking in the sunlight from time to time.

Today has been spent re-assessing the stretch of the Cornish coast path between Zennor and Morvah following Friday's incredible rainfall. The situation has been given extra impetus because we have a number of guests on this stretch right now! At least between Zennor and Treen, the inland diversion takes walkers through a bronze age field system which is, reputedly, the oldest man-made artefact in continuous use in the world - so not too shabby an alternative!

Where do the years go?

2009-04-19T16:28:00.007+01:00

Many of our regular guests will have met our daughters Heather and Rebecca and remember them as tiny tots in walking boots. Well, they have just returned from their Duke of Edinburgh's Award silver medal expedition, so we dug out some old photographs and we thought that anyone who knows them might be interested to see the contrast.

The sofa is the same, the two little girls certainly aren't!

On foot in mid Wiltshire

2009-04-19T14:20:00.006+01:00

Just a bit of 'fine-tuning' on our guided walk along the Mid Wilts Way today, a job which involved plenty of walking through some of the most attractive villages in the land - and on a beautiful, sunny spring day.

The route begins in the attractive village of Wootton Rivers in the vale of Pewsey (near the border with Berkshire) and follows the high ground across to the market town of Devizes.

From Devizes the Way follows the towpath of the Kennet and Avon canal as far as pretty Seend Cleeve before striking across beautiful undulating countryside to reach the picture perfect village of Steeple Ashton (see picture above). From Steeple Ashton the route takes us to Bratton (the scene of King Alfred's last great battle with the Danes), crosses above the Westbury White Horse to reach Upton Scudamore and then by way of Cley Hill and the stunning viewpoint of Heaven's Gate to the pretty little village of Horningsham. From Horningsham it's magnificent downland ridges all the way to journey's end at Mere.

The bluebells are blooming in the woods, the downland is festooned with cowslips, the fruit trees are in blossom and we are experiencing the best show of May blossom for years. We have one place left..............

Cowslips on the Downs

2009-04-05T10:17:00.004+01:00

Another 'picture-perfect' spring morning in West Wiltshire; A slight air frost, a heavy dew and bright sunshine. The daffodils around the old tree seat in Norton Bavant were wide open to greet the sunshine, the views from Cotley Hill seemed to go on forever and , right on cue, the next harbinger of springtime - the cowslips - are beginning to open. Add the lark song into the mix and you have the perfect early morning walk. It felt a million miles from G20 summits, global recession and international terrorism. We do still live in a green and pleasant land - it's out there waiting for you.

Just a reminder for you regular viewers of BBC's Countryfile, it's now on in the evening ,so there's no excuse only to enjoy rural Britain vicariously from your armchair. Put your boots on or get the bike out!

Springtime in Wychavon

2009-03-29T20:16:00.005+01:00

This weekend we have paid a visit to the district of Wychavon in Worcestershire. The trip served as a last check before our guided walk along the Wychavon Way over the Easter weekend.

The route starts on the banks of the Severn near the pretty village of Ombersley and heads through a series of attractive villages in 'orchard country' - the Vale of Evesham. The cherries are blossoming right now, but the main show is about to arrive - miles and miles of apple trees should be a riot of blossom in time for Easter.

The Wychavon Way also explores the flanks of Bredon Hill before reaching the Cotswolds at the attractive and historic village of Winchcombe. The route visits a number of sylvan villages, all of which vie for the title of 'most attractive'. The villages in the Vale of Evesham have a distinctive red brick and half timber construction and a peaceful, timeless atmosphere. Rous Lench (pictured above) takes some beating.

As a bonus, we visited Hailes fruit farm tea shop on the way home. Participants in our Easter Cotswold weekend will be walking that way, so a repeat visit is certainly on the cards!

The primroses are out, the daffodils are in full bloom. Forsythia is blossoming in cottage gardens and tulips and grape hyacinths are blooming in the borders. Violets are abundant in the light woods and the verges. What are you waiting for?!

Spring in the Quantocks, 6-8 March

2009-03-16T22:19:00.003Z

Last weekend saw our early spring Quantcocks walking break.

The Quantocks is a long 'whaleback' ridge stretching from just north of Taunton to the shores of Bridgwater Bay. A complex system of small valleys (combes) form the flanks of the hill. These combes are cloaked with native woodlands whilst the ridge top is an expanse of moorland carpetted with heather, bilberry and gorse.

As usual our group was accommodated at the idyllically located Combe House at Holford.

Saturday started with snow which gave way to high cloud and a chilly breeze. The walk from West Bagborough up onto the Quantock ridge and along to Wills Neck and then a descent of Lady's Edge into Hodder's Combe is a classic excursion and the high cloud enabled the group to make the best of the stunning views out into the Bristol Channel and over to Wales.

Sunday's walk was accompanied by every kind of weather that England can produce; wind, rain, sleet, hail - however any day is a good day to walk through Alfoxton Park and over Longstone Hill. Everyone had a great time and left enchanted by the west country's 'hidden gem'.

Stourhead Weekend

2009-03-01T20:27:00.004Z

Just returned from a great weekend based at the Spreadeagle Inn at Stourton. Sunshine throughout and a group of cheerful and interesting walkers - what more could a walk leader ask for?

As usual, Angela and Andrew provided the warmest of welcomes and great food. The scallops were especially good, as were the steaks.

The walks were at their best. Spring has arrived in Wiltshire - the recent mild weather has dried out the paths; carpets of snowdrops are everywhere, the crocuses are opening, the wild daffodils are beginning to show through.

We saw hares and roe deer in the fields on White Sheet Hill, cormorants in the branches at Shearwater, herons and crested grebes on the lake. The famous gardens at Stourhead are springing into life.

We completed the weekend in fine style with an excellent Sunday lunch at the Spreadeagle. Roll on the 'bluebell weekend' over the early May bank holiday!

Perfect Purbeck - Signs of spring in Dorset

2009-02-22T17:58:00.006Z

This weekend we needed to 'fine tune' one of our Dorset walks. After a busy week of bookings and availability enquiries (and with a good weather forecast) Suzanne joined Ian and Phoebe (the springer spaniel) for some well-earned sunshine and sea breezes.

Few places can rival Dorset's Purbeck peninsula as a walking venue. Spectacular sea views combine with high, airy, chalk downland ridges.

The first picture shows Clavell Tower, near Kimmeridge. The Clavell Tower has been moved to prevent it toppling into the sea. Find out more.

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/future_landmarks/clavell.htm

The other picture is St Aldhelm's Head as seen from Swyre Head - one of Dorset's classic views.

It's difficult to believe that we were under all that snow a fortnight ago!

Snow in Norton Bavant

2009-02-03T21:28:00.003Z

The cold conditions continue. What we're having this year is a 'real winter', the sort of winter conditions we had regularly in 'years gone by'. It causes disruption as so many people nowadays work so far from where they live and have to travel, however a cold winter has a beneficial, cleansing effect on the countryside as well as providing some stunning views and great fun for children. I was concerned that my children might grow up in the English countryside without ever seeing any 'real' winter weather.

Snowdrops have just begun to bloom on banks around the village - about the right time too. Last winter they were out at Christmas.

The winter weather seems to have stimulated interest in walking holidays and our office has been very busy with bookings, enquiries and brochure requests from Britain and overseas.

Spring Is On Its Way

2009-01-31T16:23:00.008Z

It is a bitterly cold day on Salisbury Plain with a cold easterly wind and the forecast of snow, but today feels strangely 'springlike' to us.

The amount of daylight has increased and our flock of Maran hens has duly responded by ending its winter break and providing us with some wonderful eggs.

The walk up Cotley Hill with our springer spaniel Phoebe was a 'face numbing' exercise but it did give us the excuse to visit the 'Ginger Piggery' at Boyton Farm for a hot drink and to treat ourselves to some truly local produce. Boyton Farm has been producing fantastic Tamworth pigs for generations (as well as beef, lamb and game). Their farm shop flags up the number of miles that the food has travelled (always less than fifty) and is just the sort of business which we are keen to support. There is an abundance of excellent produce available as within a small radius of the Wylye Valley falls much of Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Hampshire.

If you're ever in the vicinity (or on one of our Wylye Valley, West Wiltshire Downs or Deverills breaks) make sure you visit the Ginger Piggery - an excellent rural enterprise with arts and crafts as well as produce.

A steady flow of bookings is arriving at Footpath Holidays HQ which should keep us indoors out of the cold for a while - an opportunity to sample the locally produced (a' Beckett's vineyard, West Lavington) wine we purchased at Boyton.

Enjoy your weekend.

New Year in the South Downs

2009-01-13T21:07:00.008Z

A substantial group gathered at Dean's Place Hotel in Alfriston, which nestles in the beautiful Cuckmere valley in Sussex.

The weather stayed dry, if not quite as bright as Cornwall and Pembrokeshire.

The walks were enjoyed by all, as was the food and hospitality. The walks, expertly led by Geoff, took in both the inland hills (such as Firle Beacon) as well as the classic coastal walk over the Seven Sisters.

New Year in Pembrokeshire

2009-01-13T20:48:00.002Z

Our Pembrokeshire New Year walking holiday was blessed with great weather and good underfoot conditions and the group chose to extend all four of the walks.

Warpool Court provided a spectacularly located and comfortable base with great food - especially at the gala dinner on New Year's Eve.

Socially the group gelled nicely - Nimrod (our leader) the life and soul of the party as usual.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

2009-01-10T21:40:00.002Z

It's cold out there, but the countryside looks fantastic. It has been a refreshing change to have a real winter season - it will be good for the rural ecology.

The sparkling frosts have certainly made country walks a pleasure with shimmering white trees and firm underfoot conditions. There's nothing quite like wrapping up warm, walking up the hill and taking in the spectacular views, and then returning home for a mug of hot chocolate by the fire (or alternatively end up by the fire in the pub for a glass of mulled wine).

It's supposed to warm up next week, so let's make the most of it.

Twixmas in the Cotswolds

2009-01-05T19:58:00.002Z

Ian had the pleasure of leading a very sociable group on our inaugural 'Twixmas' break from 27th to 30th December.

The holiday began with a 'get-together' over a hot 'Winter Pimms' and an excellent dinner. The first walk took in Stanton, Shenbarrow Hill, Snowshill and Broadway. The weather was clear and bitterly cold and the pub in Snowshill opened early to sell us hot drinks. The packed lunch of turkey sandwiches and Christmas cake was just what was required. The views from the high ridge were stunning. Our Monday walk was from Broadway to Mickleton, ten miles with time to explore Chipping Campden - the jewel of the Cotswolds (time too for a pint in the Eight Bells).

On the 29th, the final night, Three Ways House provided its Cotswold Menu, which was truly excellent. The slow roast pheasant, in particular, came in for high praise.

The final morning saw a seven mile walk through lovely Ebrington, Hidcote Boyce and Hidcote Bartrim. Soup and sandwiches for lunch and everyone headed home.

Once again we have been looked after wonderfully well by Three Ways House.

Christmas and New Year in Cornwall

2009-01-05T19:12:00.004Z

Twelve guests, under the leadership of Judy, enjoyed some great walking around Lands End in excellent weather over the Christmas period from 23-28 December. The culinary highlights of the trip were a four course gourmet dinner on Christmas Eve and a sumptuous Christmas Day lunch. The group was accommodated at Hotel Penzance and the excellent meals were taken in the award-winning Bay Restaurant.

The 28th saw the 'changing of the guard'. The Christmas group travelled home to be replaced by the New Year group who were staying until 2nd January 2009. Judy was due to lead the New Year walks as well but unfortunately succumbed to the 'flu.
Many thanks are due to Andy, who dropped everything and filled the breech magnificently. Ian arrived on New Year's Eve and finished the trip. The social highlight was a superb six course gala dinner in the Bay restaurant. The New Year was toasted, appropriately, with Camel Valley Brut - made in Cornwall and as good as any brut you'll taste! An added bonus on New Years Day - the beach cafe at Perranuthnoe was open and selling hot chocolate with a hint of chilli, as well as bacon butties, although some people opted for a Cornish Cream Tea!!!

Ian can vouch for the fact that the New Year group were very capable walkers and great fun. Thanks for making me so welcome.

Mousehole at Christmas

2008-12-23T20:51:00.004Z

The festive season started in earnest for us yesterday, 22nd December, when Ian drove down to Cornwall (accompanied by our daughters) to collect some beautiful Cornish tin jewellery from our good friends at Blue Hills Tin near St Agnes - these are Christmas presents for the guests taking our Cornish Christmas walking holiday.

Ian and the girls were accommodated at Hotel Penzance and had a marvellous dinner in the hotel's Bay Restaurant.

No Christmas visit to Penzance is complete without a visit to Mousehole to look at the display of Christmas lights in and around the picturesque harbour. Ian used to do this as a child and the tradition has been passed on to the girls. One day in the future they might bring their own children, let's hope so - that's how traditions stay alive.

Take a look at those exchange rates.......

2008-12-19T09:05:00.002Z

Many readers from the USA will have the UK neatly filed away in their minds as an expensive destination. Two dollars equals a pound right?......wrong! The recent crisis in the financial markets has left the good old pound reeling at $1.50 or, put another way, three dollars equals two pounds.

For people living in Europe, the exchange rate news is even better. At the time of writing the Euro is worth almost a pound (£0.95 this morning), the Swiss franc is now trading at 1.60 to the pound and the Danish Kroner is slightly over 8 to the pound.

The UK VAT rate has been cut from 17.5% to 15% and prices are steadily falling. There has never been a better time to plan a vacation in Great Britain. Book a holiday soon and take advantage of these fantastic exchange rates.

Perhaps midwinter isn't so bleak......

2008-12-16T11:11:00.003Z

There was a thick, freezing fog cloaking the Wylye valley this morning, but having lived here for twenty years we know that what's happening down by the river is not necessarily true of the top of Cotley Hill , a few hundred feet higher - so we took the camera as well as the dog!

The top of the hill was shrouded in mist but the sun was certainly trying to peek through, so Ian stayed on for half an hour to see if the mist would clear. It did! There are very few feelings that compare with standing in the sunshine at the top of a hill and looking down into a misty valley.

As the mist cleared from the hill it left a landscape of frosted spider's webs, thistles and teasels.
It's a good job Ian did wait as the retreating mist also revealed a ewe flat on her back with her legs in the air. Once a sheep is on its back it cannot get up without assistance and will die.
A little bit of pushing and pulling and the ewe was on her feet again. These ewes are all pregnant, mostly with twins. So this morning has seen spectacular views and a sheep back amongst the flock.

As Ian walked back down the hill the hoar frost was tinkling to the ground off the holly and the beech trees and the midwinter didn't seem so very bleak at all!

Congratulations

2008-12-12T21:15:00.002Z

Congratulations, once again, to our friends at Hotel Penzance. Their Bay Restaurant has won the gold award for 'best restaurant in Cornwall' for the third consecutive year. In 2006 they also won 'best small hotel'.

We have been basing our West Cornwall walking holidays at Hotel Penzance since 2002 and have always been looked after exceptionally well.

If you would like to sample the outstanding cuisine on offer at the Bay Restaurant, why not book on to one of our walking tours. The dream holiday - spectacular walking and spectacular food.

Can't wait?.......no need! There are still places available on our Christmas and New Year walking breaks in West Cornwall. The festive season gives Hotel Penzance the opportunity to really push the boat out - one boat you should try not to miss.....

MIdwinter in the South Downs

2008-12-12T20:37:00.003Z

Ian has just returned from a two day trip to the South Downs.

The trip had two purposes - to fine tune the social programme of our forthcoming New Year trip to this beautiful part of Sussex and to do a final check on our walking programme.

The area has some superb downland and weald scenery, beautiful deciduous woodland and pretty villages.

Ian was well looked after by Dean's Place Country Hotel in Alfriston - the base for our South Downs walking break. Today's walk followed the Cuckmere river for a short distance to emerge into the pretty riverside village of Littlington, and thence into a tranquil green combe and up through the Friston forest to emerge into the high downland above the village of Jevington, nestling in the hills. The walk descended down over the Wilmington Long Man and returned to Alfriston. A great walk on a VERY chilly day!

There's no room left on our Festive trips in Sussex, but why not check it out in the spring or summer (guided or self-guided)

Quantocks Weekend

2008-11-30T19:54:00.003Z

Two very contrasting walks on the Quantock Hills. Saturday was characterised by thick fog and precious little in the way of views, however the hoar frost was quite spectacular (see pic).

The temperature up on the Quantock ridge was freezing but the ten mile walk was completed in good style.

Sunday dawned with high cloud and occasional glimpses of a strange glowing object in the sky, so we headed for the high ridge again and this time were rewarded with views of Steep Holme and Flat Holme islands, the Welsh Coast, Exmoor and the Brendon Hills. We finished off with Sunday roast (a choice of pork ,venison, poached halibut or grilled polenta) before heading home.

We stayed at Combe House hotel, idyllically located in Holford Combe. The food was innovative and good. Service was cheerful and efficient. A good seasonal weekend.

Cotswold Autumn Weekend

2008-11-30T18:34:00.002Z

The other weekend Ian took Hiroyo ,from Japan, on a walk along the Cotswold Way from Stanton to Chipping Campden.

The autumn colours looked wonderful and the villages looked great.

We had a good lunch in the Crown and Trumpet Inn in Broadway too.

A good day out. Thanks to Hiroyo for the pic.

Footpath Holidays & Greg Witt Cotswolds Hiking Trip

2008-11-26T07:47:00.003Z

Footpath Holidays and US based travel writer Greg Witt, author of the Rough Guide to Adventure, will be collaborating on a Cotswold Hiking itinerary. The trip runs from 27 June to 6 July and will be based at Three Ways House - home of the famous Pudding Club - in the Cotswolds.

The hiking programme will include some of the best sections of the Cotswold escarpment with far-reaching views across to Wales as well as visiting some of the area's most charming villages, all constructed from that mellow, honey-coloured Cotswold stone.

Rest assured, Three Ways House can be relied upon to provide a memorable Independence Day celebration.

This trip will be a treat for those who yearn for the rural tranquility of the Heart of England.

As an additional bonus the trip starts and finishes in historic Windsor.

Click on the title to visit Greg's web site.

Footpath Holidays receives Rough Guides Accolade

2008-11-26T06:41:00.004Z

This year it has been our privilege to provide some information for Greg Witt's excellent rough guide to adventure.

We are delighted to have been been named as a 'Rough Guides Recommended Supplier'.

Autumn Walking Weekend at Stourhead

2008-11-09T17:01:00.003Z

Wiltshire Walking Weekend

Two days of stunning autumn colours in southwest Wiltshire, based at the cosy Spreadeagle Inn next to the world-famous gardens on Stourhead estate.

Saturday's walk took the group up the long ridge from Kingston Deverill to the wonderful panoramic viewpoint of White Sheet Hill. A descent from White Sheet to reach a well deserved pint of cider at the Red Lion at Kilmington and a walk through the parkland of the Stourhead estate to return to the Spreadeagle.

Sunday morning's walk took the group through the Longleat forest to reach the stunning viewpoint of Heaven's Gate, before returning to the Spreadeagle for Sunday lunch and then heading home.

This has to be the best autumn for leaf colour for many years and there are few places that see a better display than Stourhead and Longleat.

The food and hospitality at the Spreadeagle were excellent. The staff were invariably friendly and helpful - thanks for a great stay.

So This is Twixtmas

2008-11-06T11:24:00.002Z

So when is Twixtmas.

It's the gap between Christmas and New Year.

You know, the few days gap between the Christmas and New Year celebrations when you wish you had something to do.

Why not join our Twixmas walking break at Three Ways House Hotel (home of the Pudding Club) where you can take some healthy exercise in the beautiful Cotswolds and enjoy excellent food and good company in the evenings. Click on the title link for more details of our festive season programme.

Autumn is here. Winter's round the corner

2008-10-29T14:43:00.004Z

Autumn is here and with it a bit of a cold snap...just to let us know that winter is close behind!

There is nothing better than wrapping up warm on a frosty morning and going for a walk. The air is so clear and the views go on forever.

Even better if you can spend the evening in front of a log fire and enjoy
some great food and wine.

Check out our weekends in the Quantocks, click the title link.

Classic Walks in the Derbyshire Dales

2008-09-17T17:02:00.005+01:00

The Derbyshire Dales are a wonderful place to go for a walk.

There are still plenty of places left on our Holiday based in Buxton 5-10 October.

For full details click the title link.

Hope you like the pics

Walking on Exmoor with Greg Witt

2008-09-12T21:50:00.002+01:00

Today Ian had the great pleasure of introducing travel writer Greg Witt to Exmoor National Park. Greg is the author of the Rough Guide, Ultimate Adventures.

A walk around Allerford, Hurlestone Point, Bossington Hill, Selworthy Beacon and a drink at Periwinkle Cottage on Selworthy Green were enough to convince Greg that Exmoor was a worthwhile diversion on a busy schedule.

It's always a pleasure to introduce newcomers to Exmoor. It never fails to please.

Don and Elaine's Excellent Adventure

2008-09-10T20:16:00.003+01:00

This year saw one of our most unusual, enjoyable and complex projects yet.

Don and Elaine from the USA wanted the British 'holiday of a lifetime'; a combination of walking, narrow boating and sightseeing/people-watching with luxury self-catering accommodation and private transportation.

So we did it, all things are possible......ten days in an apartment adjacent to the Royal Crescent in Bath was followed by a week in a picturesque cottage on Exmoor.

A scenic drive from Exmoor and Don and Elaine found themselves overlooking Mount's Bay in West Cornwall. After a week by the sea, a transfer up to the Cotswolds and a night at the famous 'Pudding Club', Don and Elaine had a fortnight of narrowboating on the midland canal system.

Back on dry land and the adventure continued in a cottage in Chipping Campden, the 'jewel of the Cotswolds'. Chipping Campden was followed by time exploring Oxford. From Oxford to an apartment in Chelsea and a stay in London which took in the Chelsea Flower Show.

From London it was back on the water for a week boating on the Llangollen canal, then time exploring historic Chester. After Chester, Don and Elaine enjoyed a week each in the mountain paradises of Snowdonia and the Lake District.

One last indulgence, a few days in Liverpool at the Hard Day's Night hotel. For a couple of Beatles fans, a fitting end to a great trip. Then, after 14 weeks, they flew home tired but happy, to pick up the reins of their own tourism business.