Explore Stonehenge & Bath

Stonehenge & Bath Independent (self-guided) walking holiday Walking & Tour – mixing walks with sightseeing

“ 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 This incredible experience gives you the opportunity to draw upon our local expertise and walk at two UNESCO - world heritage sites, that of Stonehenge, and the Georgian city of Bath and enjoy the marvellous countryside surrounding Bath and also found in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire is one of the largest counties of South West England.

It is where Foot Trails was born, and so will always be our first love. Wiltshire boasts 6000 years of human history. Traces of Britain’s earliest ancestors can be found amongst its landscapes and stories.

We look forward to helping you unearth the mysteries and wonders of these truly special places, in the Foot Trails way - off the beaten path and crowd free.

Warm Regards Alison Howell Founder & Director 3

About Stonehenge & Bath Stonehenge & Bath is a ‘Walk & Touring’ style Foot Trail - the itinerary is created to enable you to have time to visit and explore the two world heritage sites of Bath & Stonehenge as well as the medieval city of Salisbury. The trail is multi-centre too, staying 3 or 4 nights in each location to give you a sense of holiday / vacation and touring.

You’ll enjoy the sights and atmosphere of Georgian Bath, it’s city heart which is rich in architecture. And you’ll enjoy an array of walking trails and magical countryside landscapes and traditional English villages, both surrounding the city of Bath and within Wiltshire itself.

Your day at Stonehenge will be memorable, guided by Foot Trails knowledgeable founders Alison & David Howell on your very own Journey to the Stones. You’ll hear how Stonehenge was created and learn about this site as well as enjoy a picnic lunch of local produce and hot tea on route.

Read on for a pick of the highlights.

Contents Our pick of the highlights

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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 * Marvel at the wonder that is Stonehenge and learn of its secrets. Many say that a visit to our region is incomplete without it. * Explore the Avon Valley, taking in aqueducts, mills and an undulating landscape. * Walk paths of breath taking Wiltshire countryside. Settle down for a 'Ploughman’s' lunch with bread baked that morning, proper butter, Wiltshire ham and West Country cheeses. * Be spoiled with traditional English produce in your personally selected accommodation. * Bath. It would be a travesty to visit the West Country and miss the city that is a UNESCO world heritage city. At every corner you are treated to spectacular architecture and it really is a special place to happen upon having enjoyed the treats of the surrounding countryside.

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Where & getting here?

This Foot Trail is set in the West Country of England. Bath is a world renowned city, know for an abundance of history and stunning architecture and, of course, Stonehenge needs little introduction.

How to get here?

The nearest train station for arrivals is at Bath Spa, Somerset. Travel is approximately 90 minutes from London Paddington. The journey time by car, about 2½ hours from London.

The suggested international airport is London Heathrow which offers an easy transfer, around two and a half hours to the start of the trail. There is also a regional airport at Bristol with direct bus link to Bath.

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 Bath & Stonehenge experience. 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 & Relax Arrive to Bath and your Foot Trails adventure! Take a little time to settle in and then step out to take your first wander in the city. We’ll include some suggested wanders!

Day 2 - Priorly View & The Georgians (Drop off service included). A delightful wander through the valleys and back to the city. Through the Midford valley, then over the hill to some of the best views of Bath in the gorgeous Prior Park Gardens. Arrive at Bath via the meadows & canals, time then to have lunch and explore some more of the landmarks in the city, like the abbey, Roman Baths and Georgian architecture.

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Day 3 - Along the Avon (Drop off service included). Many superlatives have been used to describe this part of the Avon Valley, due to its intense natural beauty, and it is truly marvellous. The river loops around and flows with wildlife and green pastures along its banks whilst the canal cuts across the valley by two aqueducts. Beautiful coloured barges can be seen drifting along the canal.

Day 4 - Old England!

(Transfer service included) Leisurely morning then a drive through the countryside, your driver will call by some of the lovely places on route, for example Bradford-onAvon, Horningsham and The Deverills. Lunch at the pub, then your trail will start in the ‘Knoyles’, charming old England at its best! Arrive at your second inn on foot.

Day 5 - The mysteries of Stonehenge! (guided) David & Alison will meet you just after breakfast and then we will journey to the world famous site at Stonehenge. We will explore the landscape of the stones and stone circle before making our way into the river valley. Tales and chat along the way.

Transport, guiding, lunch & entrance to Stonehenge are included.

Day 6 - Salisbury & Wilton (Transport to and from Salisbury can be included or take the little village bus)

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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. 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 7 - Time to depart 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.

The trail mileages are summarised in the ‘Trail Details’ and range from your 5 to 9 miles a day. On some days there are options to shorten / lengthen trails.

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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.

During your Stonehenge & Bath trail you will stay at 2 hand-picked hotels that celebrate what the area is all about. One is a collection of Georgian town houses forming this elegant & modern hotel. A little grandeur is required when staying in Bath after all!

The second is a 17th century former coaching inn, which sits in a pretty Wiltshire village. It once served horses, carriages and their drivers, bringing post from London to Exeter, You will receive full details and website addresses of our suggested accommodation with your itinerary when we confirm availability of your trip.

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As featured in The Telegraph

Trail detail & prices Details for the sample itinerary Best start day: Daily miles: Grade: Arrival train station:

Sunday, staying for 6 nights (2 locations) 0 – 7.5 – 9 – 4 – 7 – 7.5 – depart (For the walk only, visits will + miles!)

Easy to moderate, walking with some ascents & descents Bath Spa, Somerset

May to September: April & October:

Standard - £1218 p/p // Superior - £1470 p/p Standard - £1160 p/p // Superior - £1400 p/p

Prices based on 2 persons sharing a bedroom. Twin (2 x single beds) bedroom options available. Solo's welcome (solo supplements apply).

Group discounts (4+) and returning guests thank you discounts offered.

Customise your itinerary 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.

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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 6 nights, bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms * Country breakfast to set you up each day * 4 days of independent walking with a tailored itinerary to suit you and the season * Guided day walk with Foot Trails founders incl. lunch, transport & entrance fees * 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) * Foot Trail’s famous fortifying sweets, nature guide, guest booklet, local information and more

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

 www.FootTrails.co.uk www.facebook.com/FootTrails www.instagram.com/FootTrailsUK

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