Posted: 29th August 2017
English walking travel company “Foot Trails ™” is unveiling 6 new English self guided walking trips to showcase rural South West England to travellers in it’s new 2018 brochure.
The longest of the new Foot Trails ™ “Complete Cotswolds, Chipping Camden to Bath”, is a trail originated by Foot Trails ™ Alison Howell and David Howell , as a new and alternative option to the Cotswolds Way.
Available up to 15 nights and 135 miles in length, from Chipping Camden to Bath (The Cotswolds Way is 102 miles) the trail has been inspired by Foot Trails ™ Founder Alison Howell and husband and Expert Trail Creator David Howell’s family connections in the Cotswolds. Including walks in roman Cirencester, in tribute and memory of Alison’s grandparents, Tony & Joan, who lived in the market town.
Alison explains:
” We wanted to create a versatile experience that offers an alternative to The Cotswolds Way. Why? It is getting busier and busier and our guests prefer to walk off the beaten track.
We wanted to use smaller, quieter local paths. We also wanted to offer something that held meaning. With strong farming and family connections in the county we set ourselves the challenge of creating an alternative route and mapped out local paths, connecting places, villages and landscapes we love to create the new 135 mile trail.” Alison explained
” We walked a lot of paths! And got through several pairs of boots, but we did it. I feel we’ve come up with an experience that celebrates rural communities and the essence of the county.”
Foot Trails™ offer a custom made approach to walking. This enables not only rest days and flexible start days, but flexible itineraries, versatile walking distances, rest days or a break from walking to do something else are possible.
Alison explains:
“We originate every trail using in-house expertise, and our guests can have input from the person who did this, so we have a wealth of knowledge that means we really can plan walking to suit guests needs. With walking, we believe one size does not fit all.”
Also new in Foot Trails ™ offers this year, Castles, Lakes & Salisbury in Wiltshire, a Staying in One Place experience up to 4 nights including new trails in Salisbury and English Country Houses & Gardens combining walking with visits to National Trust houses and gardens throughout the South West region including Wiltshire and Somerset. This experience can be from 4 nights to 12 nights. Other new walking experiences include Stonehenge, Bath & Wiltshire a walking and touring style multi centre experience where guests have the option to explore Stonehenge independently or as a guided walking experience with picnic.
Foot Trails ™ was founded in 2005 by Alison Howell following a 680 mile walk across France with David in which they slept in a 2 man tent called Therese. Alison returned to England frustrated by the stereotypical image of walking and with a passion to offer a new approach to walking and rural tourism.
Foot Trails ™ became the first British travel company in 2008 to achieve the Big Tick for Rural Action to mark a pioneering approach to rural tourism and a positive impact on rural communities and in 2013 the company was awarded Green Tourism’s highest acoldade, a Gold Star for Activity Providers.
Foot Trails ™ new brochure can be viewed here
For more information about Foot Trails ™ walks in South West England visit www.foottrails.co.uk
Ends.
Foot Trails ™ is a regional specialist that offers custom made self guided walks and also privately guided walks (by Alison and David Howell) in Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, The Cotswolds, Bath, Avon and Devon. (South West England)
In 2014 Alison Howell was awarded one of 20 scholarships by the UK Department of International Trade to study at Kellogg management school, Chicago, USA
For interviews with Alison Howell, further information or images please contact:
Alison Howell, Founder & CEO 07808 194 939
Foot Trails ™ HQ 01747 820 626
alison@foottrails.co.uk
Images available on request
