West Country Green Walks Go Gold

Only four years old, the Foot Trails company's commitment to green tourism and sustainable tourism was rewarded at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, October 2007

Green travel doesn't mean boring travel. Sustainable tourism doesn't mean doing without travel's little luxuries. The Foot Trails walking holiday company have won an award for 'Tourism Experience of the Year', thanks to their walking holidays in England's West Country.

The company was only formed four years ago by husband and wife team David and Alison Howell. They have lived and walked in the West Country all of their lives, covering Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and the Cotswolds. In 1995 they took three months off to walk through France from the north coast to the south coast, and it was then that they hatched their plan to set up their own walking holiday company. It took a while to turn it into reality, but as the Chinese philosopher said: 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single footstep.'

One thing that the couple agreed on was that walkers deserve their creature comforts at the end of the day. If you've walked for ten or fifteen miles, hopefully in sunshine but perhaps in rain, then you've earned a comfortable room and a tasty meal at the end of the day. The Foot Trails walks and weekends were devised with just that in mind.

One look at the Foot Trails website had me hooked, and requesting copies of their mini-brochures that are available by email. A weekend to see England's wonderful bluebell woods caught my eye, especially as one of them coincides with my birthday. Another option that I really want to do is their Inn to Inn self-guided walk, where you end up each night at a lovely English country inn, for good company, good food, good beer and a comfortable room.

So congratulations to Foot Trails on their award. I'd never heard of the company before but now I've found out about them I want to go on one of their holidays immediately. The hard part would be choosing which one. Just take a look at their website and I think you'll agree. Click here