Cottages & Gardens
Here are a few suggested walking tours inspired by the grand & humble gardens to inspire you for your next adventure in England.
Walking tour with time to make visits
A dreamy explore style walking holiday that takes you to the South West’s most treasured country houses & gardens. Combine walking in the English countryside with visits to stately homes, landscaped grounds and traditional cottage gardens.
Country city, architecture, museums and classic Cotswolds
The city of Bath, surrounded by wooded hills, the river meandering through. it’s a country city at heart. Walks in the countryside, time in the city, museums, houses & gardens to visit, The ultimate walk & sightsee holiday.
A few of our treasured houses & gardens:
Montacute House & Gardens (Somerset)
Choose Foot Trails Country Houses and Gardens and you can enjoy exploring Montacute House and Gardens. Montacute is a masterpiece of Elizabethan renaissance architecture and design. With its towering walls of glass, glow of hamstone and surrounding gardens, it is a place of beauty and wonder. Outside you will find formal gardens, surrounded by wider parkland.
Capability Brown - Garden Designer
Lancelot Brown, more commonly known as “Capability Brown” was an English landscape architect. He created over 170 parks including several you can see on your Foot Trails including our Wessex Ancient Kingdom trip.
He was nicknamed Capability because he would tell his clients that the property had “capability” for improvement. Of course to some gardeners he is seen as a vandal, removing many grand formal gardens in favour of his romanticised landscapes.
Stourhead Gardens (Wiltshire)
The jewel of landscape gardens, on Foot Trails Wiltshire trails, you’ll find Stourhead House and Gardens. Now looked after by the National Trust it was created by wealthy banker Henry Hoare.
Despite its tremendous beauty, with a lake, grand house, temples and grottos, all inspired by Henry’s extensive European travels, Henry’s personal story was tragic, outliving all his children.
Hidcote Gardens (The Cotswolds)
The delightful and characterful gardens at Hidcote were created during the peak of the Arts & Crafts movement, which had been centred locally in Chipping Campden. It has linked ‘rooms’ of hedges (the garden is divided into a series of outdoor rooms) all planted to give a different atmosphere or colourful scheme. And there are rare trees and shrubs and herbaceous borders.
How do our trips work?
Typically you stay for 2 nights at each selected country inn with a different and varied walk each day. It allows for a little less packing & moving on, and a little more exploring like a local. Luggage transfers are included when you hike to your next country inn.
Your itinerary consultant is here to guide you through creating and arranging your Foot Trail. Simply get in touch below to start a conversation.
Like to find out more?
Free brochure with daily walk information, accommodation details and example pricing available. To request your brochure just pop your details in below. We look forward to hearing from you.
