Bath, 17 June 2015: To mark this Sunday's summer solstice, Alison Howell's Foot Trails is encouraging walkers to step out into England's flower-filled meadows with a new guide bursting with tips and ideas for the season.

From what to wear, to where to walk, hikers keen to don a sun hat and stride through the long grass, soaking up summer's sights, scents and sounds, can harness the expertise that underpins the walking-holiday specialist's bespoke itineraries on its dedicated page, An English Summer.

The online tips and ideas are complemented by some of the best summer walks offered by the Bath-based company in the South West. For example, Journey to the Stones, a new expert-led day walk follows a river valley to the chalk downs and traces the footsteps of ancient man to Stonehenge. Price £75, including transfers, picnic lunch, the services of a guide and entrance fee. 

Other new breaks for 2015 that work well for summer include Devon – Far Side of Wessex, where guests follow coastal paths and cross sandy beaches, visit a lost village, call at Agatha Christie's former home, and even ride a ferry boat and a steam train. From £335 per person for three nights, including B&B, one transport drop-off service, waterproof route notes and map, a Walk and Explore box containing local nature and history guides and stories – and a fortifying bag of sweets.

To book, visit www.foottrails.co.uk or call 01747 820626.

Follow developments at Foot Trails on Twitter: @FootTrailsUK, Instagram: @foottrailsUK, and at www.facebook.com/foottrails.
Blog: http://foottrails.co.uk/blog/ and Vimeo http://foottrails.co.uk/our-story/we-are-foot-trails/

The details

Alison Howell's Foot Trails is an innovative and award-winning British travel company and the leading specialist provider of rural walking holidays in South West England, with more than 850 miles of trails in Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, The Cotswolds and Dorset. The successful Foot Trails brand, established in 2002 by Alison Howell, has been built on a passion for rural England, an unwavering determination to provide unique walking-holiday experiences and a strong commitment to ensuring tourism is sustainable and impacts positively on the landscapes and economies of rural communities. 

The company specialises in designing walks for adults to suit individual tastes. Routes are plotted to avoid the crowded national trails, instead following local paths, with notes provided about local history and nature to immerse guests in the cultural landscape and put them back in touch with the natural environment. Country cafes, inns and small hotels are hand-picked for award-winning food and drink and stylish, comfortable accommodation, to add a touch of luxury.