How I love this time of year. Do you?

Misty starts to the day, spectacular sunsets, starry skies, a cool yet comforting chill that speaks and promises log fires and hearty meals to come! In fact I have to confess, that despite being 20 c, I have already lit my first log fire!

As I write weeks of planning, writing, visiting our country inns, route research and photography have all come together with the colourful launch of Foot Trails autumn, winter and spring 2011 walking holidays.

Visit www.foottrails.co.uk to see the results!

Our new member site is proving really popular. If you haven´t seen it yet, join up through www.foottrails.co.uk It´s free of charge and gives you access to all our itineraries as well as special benefits and member offers not available elsewhere.

Foot Trails aim is to inspire you in rural England. For walking breaks with an autumnal or peaceful winter slant, than do visit our website now - it´s packed with inspirational ideas, picture galleries and articles. We expect popular breaks and popular times to book early. Do call and we will be delighted to chat over some great ways to enjoy these seasons.

Read on for more news,
Warm regards,
Alison Howell
Foot Trails walking holidays
Walking England's canvas

NEW Foot Trails autumn / winter brochure out soon

Filled with gorgeous full page colour photographs of our walks and landscapes of the rural South West, Foot Trails new brochure is THE place for inspiration for your autumn or winter English walking holiday. You can read it in the bath, over breakfast, or on your sofa with a glass of wine! Where ever you read it it´s bound to inspire you to get out in the English countryside and get exploring. So walking boots at the ready!

Please check your doormats around the end of September, for your copy.

This autumn and winter, and next spring we have the most fabulous choice of both guided and independent walking holidays to choose from in Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and the Cotswolds.

If you would like a copy and don´t already receive our post, then please email enquire@foottrails.co.uk with your name and address and we will post your free copy.

Foot Trails on location

Foot Trails holidays were captured on camera during the first week of September. We were invited to take part in a special film being produced by Wire (Women in Rural Enterprise) which has the aim of showing government just how much rural business like Foot Trails benefit the UK's  local communities and rural economies.

We were thrilled to be asked and over a day Foot Trails and  Hilary and Sam from Henhouse Productions, visited Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset, some of our wonderful country inns, and countless walks and views to film all the shots.

You can see the results soon at www.foottrails.co.uk along with 3 special new films commissioned by Foot Trails to give you a clearer and more visual idea of what being on a Foot Trail is all about. Action!

This month look out for...

September is a plentiful month in the countryside. Hedgerows are adorned with berries, and this year there seems to be an awful lot. In woodland and suitable areas fungi are growing happily and it can be a good month to see deer. I have seen several this month already on my early morning walks.

Here is a round up of some of the gorgeous natural sights you can find in the countryside if you get out this September.
(Foot Trails give you a nature guide in your walk pack to help you identify them)

Berries - it can sound cliche, but they often do look like jewels in hedgerows and on bushes. Look out this month for ripe blackberries and rosehips. Rosehips are filled with vitamin C. Blackberries, well, throw them into gravy and sauces for game, or on a relaxed Sunday, make a delicious crumble. If time is short buy some pastry and make a simple pie. Yum!

Deer - From the mid /end of September until about the start of October, listen out in the forests for the cry of the deer. Love is in the air for the deer, and the males rut (fight with their antlers) to win the females.

Fungi and Mushrooms - Autumn is awash with fungi and mushrooms, look out in the forest and woodlands, in the leaves and around trees or on rotting branches. Grab a guide (or buy one from Foot Trails online shop - £9.95) and you can have great fun spotting species such as the Chanterelle, Earthy Powdercap and the Glistening Inkcap on your walk.

South West Tourism Awards

A phone call to the Foot Trails office this week revealed that we have reached the finals of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards - sustainable tourism. This is wonderful news. The Excellence awards are very prestigious and hotly judged. Winners go forward to the national finals. A judging visit will follow which will include visit to some of our country inns and suppliers. We will keep you posted of news.

NEW guided holidays for Autumn & Winter

For those of you keenly awaiting our autumn and winter 2010 and spring 2011 guided programme, it is available now at www.foottrails.co.uk Visit Holidays then Guided.

David has created the most delightful walks, to make the most of these wonderful English seasons, and of course there are Foot Trails well loved superior English country inns and yummy country pub lunches too.

I am so sorry to those who have been disappointed to find some of our guided holidays already full when you book. Please don´t wait too long. Popular trips do book in advance. This year choices include an Autumn Splendour in the Cotswolds, Peaceful Fireside Treat in south Wiltshire (new country inn), a Refreshing Winter Seascape in early January and a Knights Medieval Castle at the multi award winning Compasses in late January. Booking now.

This newsletter and its content is copyright Foot Trails. Photographs, Alison and David Howell
© Foot Trails 2010