South of England
The countryside of South of England is noted for its great variety. It ranges from the rocky coastlines of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset to the beaches, dunes and saltings of the Norfolk coast, and from the wild expanses of Dartmoor and Exmoor to the neat fields and pretty villages of the Cotswolds.
Our programme of hiking tours in the South of England include the Isle of Wight Coast Path, Cotswold Way, Two Moors Way, Dartmoor Way, Tarka Trail, Mendip Way, North Downs Way, Thames Path, Cross-Cotswold Path, Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path, Ridgeway, South Downs Way, Saints' Way, a handful of trails exploring the Cotswolds and the South West Coast Path, the spectacular National Trail around the coastlines of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset.
Here are our favourite walking holidays in the South of England:
The South West Coast Path is a spectacular 630-mile (1,008km) trail around the south-western tip of England. Beginning at Minehead in Somerset it follows the coastline through Devon and Cornwall to Poole in Dorset. We have divided the trail into ten sections to provide a selection of walking holidays ranging in length from three nights to four weeks or more.
The Cotswold Way runs along the western edge of the Cotswold Hills from the beautiful old ‘wool' town of Chipping Campden to the historic city of Bath. Between the two it follows a meandering course along the western rim of the escarpment where the land drops suddenly to reveal distant views, through beech woodland, along the banks of mill-streams, across upland pastures and sheltered valleys concealing picturesque villages built from mellow, honey-coloured stone.
The South Downs Way runs along the length of the chalk downs of Hampshire and Sussex from the historic little city of Winchester to the dazzling white cliffs of Beachy Head. For much of its length this delightful National Trail meanders along the crest of the Downs, but the route also dips into the beautiful river valleys cutting through the Downs and visits some very pretty villages with their friendly old pubs, thatched cottages and gardens bursting with flowers.
This delightful circular walk links the ‘show piece' villages and towns of the northern Cotswolds. Beginning at Chipping Campden it visits Blockley before arriving at Stow-on-the-Wold, a charming town where narrow alleys or ‘tures' lead off invitingly from the market square. The trail then cuts through the heart of the Cotswolds past Upper Swell to Winchcombe, before meandering along the western edge of the Cotswold Hills to back Chipping Campden.
Circumnavigating an island is always a rewarding experience and the path around the Isle of Wight's spectacular coastline is especially satisfying. The variety of the coastal scenery is amazing, with towering stark white cliffs, the spectacular chalk stacks of ‘The Needles', the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, wooded ‘chines', golden beaches, dramatic landslipped bluffs, sheltered undercliffs, tidal creeks, estuaries, mudflats and salt marsh.
The Ridgeway runs from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. The trail follows part of an ancient track established by prehistoric man that stretched across the country from Dorset to Norfolk. It passes through two distinct landscapes. The western half of the trail follows a broad track along the North Wessex Downs with far-reaching views. The eastern half begins by following the banks of the River Thames before heading into the Chiltern Hills.
Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path
This holiday combines two contrasting paths, each of which is a superb walk in its own right. The Peddars Way is an enjoyable mix of country lanes, footpaths and tracks through a varied landscape of open heath and meres, woodland, rich farmland divided by flower-filled hedgerows and pretty flint and carrstone villages. The Norfolk Coast Path runs from the Victorian resort of Hunstanton to the busy port of Cromer along a coastline that is famous for its remoteness and wild beauty.
The Two Moors Way s a walk of stunning contrasts, linking the National Parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor. Starting at Ivybridge on the southern edge of Dartmoor and finishing at Lynmouth on Exmoor's North Devon coast it also crosses some beautiful mid-Devon countryside.
The North Downs is a long chalk ridge running through South East England from Farnham in Surrey to Dover on the Kent coast. The North Downs Way National Trail follows this natural line through some of the most historic and scenic countryside in southern England . Part of the trail follows the Pilgrims' Way, an ancient route taken by countless pilgrims on their way to pray at the shrine of Thomas à Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, immortalised in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.