It’s time to lace up your boots...
1. Cotswolds (Great Tew Walk) - 4 miles
There’s nowhere quite like The Cotswolds for a quintessentially British walking holiday. Villages laden with honey-coloured stone, patchwork hills and plenty of Olde Worlde pubs to wind up at afterwards.
One of our favourites is 4-mile circular walk which takes us through Little and Great Tew. Taking a maximum of 2 hours, it’s a lovely one for a crisp autumnal day, as well as being and young explorer and pup-friendly! You can read a detailed version of the walking route here, and the starting point can easily be accessed from our Cotswolds retreat.
When you reach Great Tew you will notice The Falklands Arms; a 16th century pub with a well-deserved reputation amongst tourists and locals, for an excellent spot of lunch. Stepping inside you will be charmed by the low ceilings and traditional leaded windows which provide the perfect observatory to admire the stunning countryside. Treat yourself to a local craft beer from the Wadworth Brewery and a wholesome sandwich, before rounding off with a leisurely walk back to your luxury accommodation to get toasty in front of the fire.
2. Yorkshire Dales (Muker, Keld and the Corpse Way) - 5.5 miles
Named ‘Gods Own Country’ for good reason, the Yorkshire Dales is one of those places that are a joy to visit all year round. As autumn begins to transform the landscape with a blanket of golds and coppers, there is no better time to enjoy a crisp autumnal walk and fill your lungs with fresh Yorkshire air. Miles of rolling hills, dry-stone walls which carve the fields and shimmering valley’s, the landscape is certainly unique.
The Muker, Keld and Corpse Way route is a great walk to embark on to really get a taste of the unique character of the Yorkshire Dales. Starting at the historic Muker village, follow the route here which takes you through cute-as-a-button villages, trickling waterfalls and passes through lush meadows which the area is famous for. For those who enjoy the intrigue of a good ghost story, the route even passes through several derelict farms, one of which is supposedly one of the most haunted places in the country!
Before you head back to your Yorkshire Dales retreat, schedule in a pit stop at the Muker Village Teashop. This is the perfect place to warm up with a proper Yorkshire tea served in dainty porcelain cups and saucer, with an indulgent scone. There’s quite a tempting array of cakes, you might want to take one back to your lodge to devour later!
3. Cornwall (Pentewan Trail) - 3.5 miles
Cornwall is a walker’s paradise and year-on-year, keen explorers flock to absorb the beauty and variety of its coastline. Explore cliff-facing paths, leafy trails leading to pebbled estuaries and fairy-tale coves, while taking in the vistas of this coastal heaven (all 296 miles of it!).
One of our favourites is the Pentewan Valley Trail, which follows secluded woodland paths from our Trewhiddle retreat to the gorgeous sands of Pentewan beach and then continues along the South West Coast Path to the charming fishing village of Mevagissey. The route follows the old railway line which was built in the 19th century to carry china clay to Pentewan Harbour.
We recommend winding up at The Ship Inn in Pentewan, for some comforting old-fashioned pub grub. During the summer there is an expansive beer garden, which provides visitors with prime views of the harbour and surrounding Cornish Riviera. In the winter months the owners light a crackling fire and it’s a lovely spot to soak up an authentic Cornish atmosphere in any season.