Country Houses & Gardens on Foot Independent (self-guided) walking holiday Walking & Tour
“ Great walks, staff very helpful and accommodating to our wishes. Inns were comfortable and food was excellent. Had a wonderful time!“ Guests from the USA
Welcome & trail Story by Alison Howell We English folk love our homes and we love our gardens even more so. So we wanted to combine these two pleasures along with our own originated walking trails, to offer you this enchanting walking based experience. From world renowned Stourhead Gardens to some lesser known, if you go weak at the knees at stone cornicing, sweeping drives, grand houses and spectacular flowers and gardens This is the walking trip for you! The trip is multi centre, staying in two or three locations so you can make the most of both walking and time set aside too to tour the houses & gardens on route. Warm Regards Alison Howell Founder & Director
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About Country Houses & Gardens Country Houses & Gardens on foot is a ‘Walking & Tour’ style Foot Trail - the itinerary is created to enable you to have time to visit and explore some of the great houses & gardens of the West Country (South West England), whilst enjoying walks and unhurried time in the countryside. This Foot Trail is multi-centered, staying 3 or 4 nights in each location to give you both a sense of holiday / vacation and touring. The itinerary is flexible, so on some days you can choose how your day will be. Choose extra rest days or sightseeing days if you wish to extend your trail. You can also opt to either use your own car on some days or have all the transport arranged for you with our trusted local drivers. But importantly also a choice of walking Contents lengths and distances. Our pick of the highlights p6 Read on for a pick of the highlights.
Where & getting here?
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Sample daily itinerary
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Where you stay
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Details & prices
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Booking you trail
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Our pick of the highlights * Walk down sweeping drives to admire views of some of the South West’s greatest houses, including Stourhead in Wiltshire and Montacute in Somerset * Experience the fashions, trends and stories of different periods of English history including Elizabethan, Georgian and the Arts and Crafts movement * Smell the heady scent of beautiful flowers, including roses, red campion and lavender * Enjoy some pretty spectacular trees! Willows, oak and lime * Take tea - with teapot and shortbread or scones in a wonderful English setting * Explore former kitchens, banqueting halls, kitchen gardens and topiaries * Walk on trails through picturesque rural English countryside and villages * Admire ponds, fountains, water features and water lilies
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Where & getting here? This Foot Trail is set in the West Country of England covering the counties of Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Bath and Avon. The trail starts to the west of Salisbury in Wiltshire. How to get here? The nearest train station for arrivals is at Tisbury, Wiltshire. Travel is approximately 100 minutes from London Waterloo. The journey time by car, about 2 hours from London. The suggested international airport is London Heathrow which offers an easy transfer, around two hours to the start of the trail. There is also a regional airport at Southampton. Airport cars often make the most convenient transfer and we can arrange this for you.
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Sample daily itinerary... We have created this suggested itinerary as an outline for the optimum Country Houses and Gardens Escape. You will find the mileages & prices for this itinerary in the ‘Trail details & prices’. Custom Itinerary Service If the suggested itinerary; lengths of stay, arrival day, daily mileages are not right for your plans, we can customise an itinerary to you. You can choose your preferred dates - start on any day of the week - stay for how long you wish - include rest days change the daily walk distances. Day 1 - Arrive and Relax Arrive to South Wiltshire and your Foot Trails adventure! Take a little time to settle in and for those that wish take today's short introductory trail to get to know the local area. Day 2 - Salisbury & Wilton (Transport to and from Salisbury can be included or take the little village bus) Starting just outside the city, walk over the water meadows with views to the Cathedral spire, a view captured by the artist John Constable and very much unchanged. 9
Explore the Cathedral (exceptional), the close with its many wonderful buildings and into the wider city. Mompesson House is an example of the many places you can visit. Day 3 - Castles & Houses (Transport to and from the trail can be included or use your own car) A glimpse into old England with a rare peaceful feel. Stride through charming hamlets with old manor houses and thatched cottages before arriving at two ‘castles’. The older castle was built in the 14th century, partly destroyed during the English civil war it stands as quite possibly the most romantic ruin in Southern England. Then a short walk to a picturesque Wiltshire village, the pond and ancient manor house a joy. There’s time for exploring Old Wardour Castle. Day 4 - Landscape Garden (Transport to and from the trail can be included or use your own car) Stourhead is often described as a living landscape. Created by wealthy London banker Henry Hoare, Henry travelled extensively in Europe and was influenced and inspired by the many grottos and temples he saw, he re-created them in the gardens along with lakes, walkways and trees and flowers. At the end of the day travel onward to your next country inn and area. Day 5 - A day for the joy of the countryside! Step out on your trail from the door of the inn. Up on the ridge the vistas stretch dreamily for miles across the Yeo valley. 10
An agricultural area. You can explore historic ham stone Somerset villages with their gorgeous cottages and wander inside the rare 13th century church. At the hill fort of Cadbury the views from the top extend across Somerset to a distant Glastonbury. Is this fort Camelot? Day 6 - Two castles and an abbey (Drop off service included) Start the day with a visit to Sherborne Castle, built by Sir Walter Raleigh as a hunting lodge. There are delightful grounds to explore. Then make your way to the town to marvel at the very fine Abbey. The abbey is world renowned, founded by St Aldhelm in AD 705, the acoustics and ceiling are both incredible. Across the countryside, curving hills and gorgeous views to your next inn. Day 7 - To the Avon via Italianate Gardens (Transport to and from the trail can be included or use your own car) There's a humble feel to today's trail as you explore along the River Frome valley. Along the way time to pause at a 14th century castle, for over 300 years home to the Hungerford family. Then it's to the tranquil setting of Iford and its rather special gardens. Day 8 - A visit to Bath Enjoy breakfast and then jump on the train to the city of Bath (10 minutes and one of the best train rides!). 12
To help you make the most of your time in Bath we have created this trail especially to include both the famous and well known sights as well as the lesser known. You will discover and be able to stop at museums and historic sites as you wish on the way. Day 9 - Priors & Canals A delightful wander through the valleys and into the city. Along the trail you will find the abandoned ruins of an 18th century canal, hard to imagine 100,000 tons of coal once passing through this peaceful valley. Onward through the valley and then over the hill to some of the best views of Bath in the gorgeous Prior Park landscape gardens. Day 10 - Depart at your leisure At the end of your Foot Trail it's time for your onward travel, full of memories and tales of your adventures. Walks / hikes lengths? Our approach to walking is very much about enjoyment, something achieved but not too much that you are not excited to do it again! When we put together the trails we plan them with a day out in mind, so 2 to 3 hours walking in the morning, a nice place to pause for lunch such as a pub or cafe. Then a couple of hours walk in the afternoon.
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As featured in The Telegraph
Where you stay personally chosen Where you stay is a key part of your Foot Trail & experience. One of the reasons guests choose Foot Trails is for our choice and quality of accommodation. The country inns and country pubs where you stay are small, personal and friendly with excellent hospitality. Each one is in an English village with comfortable bedrooms and delicious local food and drinks to enjoy with dinner after your walk. Alison, Foot Trails founder, chooses each inn personally. Centuries old, each building provides a relaxing and authentic setting in which you can kick off your boots and eat dinner at the end of an inspiring day on the trail. On the Country Houses & Gardens on foot trail you will enjoy a different country inn every three or four days (depending on your itinerary), giving you the opportunity to explore and tour the region before moving on. With the featured 9 night itinerary you would stay in 3 different country inns. On this particular trail you can enjoy an ancient inn which has been established since Medieval times, an 18th century thatched pub in a village with flagstone floors and a riverside inn & restaurant where bedrooms gaze out on the river & church, once a dye house it has much character and charm. You will receive full details and website addresses of our suggested accommodation with your itinerary when we confirm availability of your trip. 16
Trail detail & prices Details for the sample itinerary Best start day: Daily miles: Grade: Arrival train station:
Monday, staying for 9 nights (3 locations) 2 – 7 – 7 – 5.5 – 9 – 6.5 - 5 - 5 - 7 – depart (For the walk only, gardens & houses will + miles!) Easy to moderate, walking with some ascents & descents Tisbury, Wiltshire
May to September: April & October: Inclusive transport
Standard - £1325 p/p // Superior - £1595 p/p Standard - £1260 p/p // Superior - £1515 p/p +£200 p/p
Prices based on 2 persons sharing a bedroom. Twin (2 x single beds) bedroom options available. Solo's welcome (solo supplements apply). 8 night trails start from £1240 p/p. Group discounts (4+) and returning guests thank you discounts offered. Customise your itinerary
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If the itinerary featured, lengths of stay, arrival day, daily mileages are not right for your plans, we can customise an itinerary to you. You can choose your preferred dates - start on any day of the week - stay for how long you wish - include rest days change the daily walk distances. Prices for custom itineraries are quoted per trip and will vary from the prices quoted above.
What is included? * Our services in arranging your itinerary * Our guest support in preparing for your trip, and on call support during your trip * Accommodation for 9 nights, double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms * Country breakfast to set you up each day * 9 days of independent walking with a tailored itinerary to suit you and the season * Transport drop off services if required for your itinerary * Transfers between your country inns included with supplement * A comprehensive Walk and Explore box, posted to your home address) Including: * Local maps with your trails clearly marked (on our fully waterproof paper) * Innovative trail cards, one for each day, with clear easy to follow directions in word (on waterproof paper) * Trail cards also include local histories and stories to enjoy and read as you explore * Suggested departure times so that you don't miss lunch, recommended lunchtime stops at hand picked country pubs or cafes (lunch not included) •
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Foot Trail’s famous fortifying sweets, nature guide, guest booklet, local information and more 19
Booking your trail If you would like help choosing the best trail for you then call us on +44 (0) 1747 820626 or email us at Enquire@FootTrails.co.uk. We plan, write and create all our own walking trails and are here to offer you our expert advice. If the trails featured, arrival days or lengths of stay are not right for you, you can choose your preferred dates and start on any day of the week. We will create a custom itinerary for you based on your preferences. Prices for custom trips are quoted per trip and vary from the prices quoted in the brochure. You can make your booking by calling us on +44 (0) 1747 820626 or if you prefer you can email us at Enquire@FootTrails.co.uk. We will ask you a few details to enable us to make a reservation for you. We will then be able to confirm the availability of your trail. Due to the crafted nature of our trails there may be a day or two's wait while we contact our inns and hosts. We will email you with confirmation of your itinerary, accommodations and details for your deposit. Payment of your deposit will confirm your booking. Balances are due 8 weeks before arrival. We accept all major credit cards, PayPal and bank transfers.
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Words from our guests “My wife and I found The Foot Trails website and sent an email inquiry to them. We received an immediate and thorough answer and we were pleased with this company from that point on. They were able to customize a very specific tour for our vacation in the Cotswolds. They made all our arrangements and provided everything we needed to make our stay fantastic. If you want to take a walking tour in England you should contact Foot Trails” Mark, USA “We've used Foot trails 4 times now & would book with them again. Great organisation which makes the holiday even more relaxing knowing all the planning & research has been done for you. Foot trails is a company where you can just pick your destination & that's all you have to do. They have a standard & stick to it, keep up the good work!” Fleur & friends, UK You can read more reviews from our guests on our tripadvisor page – www.tripadvisor.com/foottrailsUK
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Why a Foot Trail? A Foot Trail avoids the formulaic nature, crowds and predictability of mass tourism and focuses instead purely on the quality of your experience. Take a Foot Trail and you will explore deep beneath the surface. You will walk and hike in real and authentic places. Enjoy real, not manufactured tourism moments. Shared conversations with a local person, the stillness of time spent in beautiful landscapes and the joy of encountering stories and moments from England's past. Three words describe a Foot Trail perfectly -
Simple - Crafted – Authentic The press say: "One of the 7 Adventure Vacations you need to take in your lifetime." JetSetter.com, 2019 Foot Trails are one of England's best loved regional walking travel companies. We work within our local community, crafting walking experiences from scratch, aiming for a positive outcome for us all.
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Bookings & contacts Call +44 (0) 1747 820 626 with your chosen date, we will then confirm your place for you upon which a £125 deposit per person will be payable. Bank transfers, PayPal & all major credit & debit cards accepted. +44 (0) 1747 820 626 (landline) Enquire@FootTrails.co.uk
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