Region: South West England

The Category Bath & North East Somerset is a subset of Somerset.

The Category Bournemouth is a subset of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The Category Bristol is a subset of South West.

The Category Cheltenham is a subset of Gloucestershire.

The Category Christchurch is a subset of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The Category Cotswold is a subset of Gloucestershire.

The Category East Cornwall is a subset of Cornwall.

The Category East Devon is a subset of Devon.

The Category East Dorset is a subset of Dorset.

The Category Exeter is a subset of Devon.

The Category Forest of Dean is a subset of Gloucestershire.

The Category Gloucester is a subset of Gloucestershire.

The Category Isles of Scilly is a subset of Cornwall.

The Category Kennet is a subset of Wiltshire.

The Category Mendip is a subset of Somerset.

The Category Mid Devon is a subset of Devon.

The Category North Devon is a subset of Devon.

The Category North Dorset is a subset of Dorset.

The Category North Somerset is a subset of Somerset.

The Category North Wiltshire is a subset of Wiltshire.

The Category Plymouth is a subset of Devon.

The Category Poole is a subset of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The Category Purbeck is a subset of Dorset.

The Category Salisbury is a subset of Wiltshire.

The Category Sedgemoor is a subset of Somerset.

The Category Somerset West and Taunton is a subset of Somerset.

The Category South Gloucestershire is a subset of Gloucestershire.

The Category South Hams is a subset of Devon.

The Category South Somerset is a subset of Somerset.

The Category Stroud is a subset of Gloucestershire.

The Category Swindon is a subset of Wiltshire.

The Category Teignbridge is a subset of Devon.

The Category Tewkesbury is a subset of Gloucestershire.

The Category Torbay is a subset of Devon.

The Category Torridge is a subset of Devon.

The Category West Cornwall is a subset of Cornwall.

The Category West Devon is a subset of Devon.

The Category West Dorset is a subset of Dorset.

The Category West Wiltshire is a subset of Wiltshire.

The Category Weymouth & Portland is a subset of Dorset.

'Covers the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucester, and so is the largest geographical Region in England.'

U3A Regions

'Series walks are designed so that they may be completed at your own pace.  We do not all go out together in one big group but each walker has a copy of the route and is able to start at any time and walk at their own speed.  This has the advantage that quicker walkers are not held up by a slower pace, and vice-versa.  It does not mean that walkers go off by themselves as there is always a group that will walk at your own pace.'

'Our programme of tours runs from March through to November and themes vary according to the season, offering insight into local history, people's lives, wildlife and beautiful architecture that can be found in the 45 acres of garden cemetery ... Want to visit Arnos Vale and take a self-guided tour? Buy one of our Trail leaflets ...'

Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust

'The miles of tracks offer an opportunity to explore some of Dorset's internationally important heathland and its rare wildlife.'

Dorset Council

Member of the Wellbeing Walks - Somerset Grouping

'Barnwood Arboretum is a Local Nature Reserve accessed via a footbridge in the middle of Barnwood Park ... The Friends of Barnwood Park and Arboretum is a group of local residents who are passionate about the area where we live. We work in partnership with Gloucester City Council on the management and development of Barnwood Park and Arboretum ... To make your visit to Barnwood Park and Arboretum more interesting and to find out some interesting facts about the trees you will see there, access a printable copy of the Tree Trail.'

The Friends of Barnwood Park and Arboretum

'Barrington has an extensive network of public rights of way / footpaths which are maintained by a small group of volunteers ... Maps of the footpaths can be found in the church and a large display can be found outside the church and at the village hall. A number of circular walks from Barrington with maps can be accessed ...'

'Making the most of our beautiful natural habitat.'

Member of the Ramblers - Avon Area Grouping

'Celebrate Bath's unique landscape by taking a walk ... Bath is a fantastic walking destination. Walking and hiking in the Bath area takes you to hidden valleys, iron age forts, picture perfect villages and the views are out of this world.' Usually held Mid September.

Bathscape: Exploring, Understanding & Restoring Bath's Landscape

Member of the Wellbeing Walks - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Grouping

'The castle grounds are a haven for walkers with the woodlands offering a great opportunity to view the castle from different perspectives. Follow the John Musgrave Trail to enjoy beautiful views up to the castle from the lake ...'

English Heritage

'Bicton Park Botanical Gardens is home to many rare plants with origins from all parts of the world, including one of the finest collections of trees in Britain. This Heritage garden is maintained by a team of dedicated gardeners who look after and tend the different areas, so that you can enjoy them to their fullest. The 63 acres of land and gardens to explore will keep you coming back time after time as you see them progress through the year and change with the seasons.'

'The Blackdown Hills are a little-known group of hills lying on the border of Devon and Somerset. Broadly, the area extends from Wellington in the north to Honiton in the south and from Cullompton in the west to Chard in the east.'

Typically about a dozen events during the Week.  Held Late March.

'Scenic Sunday rambles of 8-10 miles throughout the year in the beautiful countryside and on the coast. Convenient coach transport to and from these walks, and at the lunchtime stop. Wednesday walks of 4-8 miles throughout the year, usually accessible with public transport.'

'We are into walking, dining out, theatre, cinema, country pubs, barbecues, making friends and socialising. The group was called the Bournemouth Boghoppers 25 years ago when we took over from the original S.E. Dorset YHA Group. The nickname has stuck and has become our official title. We have no fixed age range but most of the members are in their forties, fifties & early sixties. We aim to have regular Sunday walks in the Purbecks, across Dorset and the New Forest. Please note that this group does not allow dogs on the walks. The walks are usually 7 to 10 miles. But we are not all about walking; we are very much a social group as well.'

Member of the Ramblers - Dorset Area Grouping

Coastal, garden, seasonal walks and so on ...

'Bradford on Avon boasts some spectacular natural scenery together with fascinating architecture. Come and walk around here and we are sure you'll be inspired!'

Usually held Early September.

Access to details of some forty parks, estates, nature reserves and other open spaces across the City.

'Bristol HF Rambling Club walks take advantage of wonderful local walking countryside within a radius of about 40 miles from Bristol, encompassing the Mendips, the Cotswolds and the Wye Valley. Members are offered the opportunity to lead a walk, but this is not essential.'

Member of the Ramblers - Avon Area Grouping

'Bristol Walk Fest (Bristol Walking Festival) features the best walks that Bristol and its surrounding area can offer. The Festival aims to attract a wide audience from those that are very new to walking to the more experienced rambler.' Usually held During May.

'The East Devon parish of Broadhembury, with a population of some 700, lies partly within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It includes the historic and picturesque village of Broadhembury and surrounding hamlets of Kerswell, Luton, Colliton and Dulford.'

'Walking leaflets are available from Brockworth Community Centre, or download ...' Five circular walks of from 2.5 to 5.0 miles.

'There are some excellent walks around the village and its surroundings, detailed in a booklet developed by the Bromham Footpaths Group. This is a band of dedicated walkers who meet every Thursday morning and spend a couple of hours exploring and re-visiting our byways and footpaths before returning to a local hostelry for tales of derring-do!'

Member of the Ramblers - Avon Area Grouping

'A Guide to Popular Walks in and around Bruton, Somerset.'

Bruton Town Council

'Discovery, tranquillity and history – an ancient gem in the Tavy Valley landscape ... You’ll discover meadows, orchards and woodlands where you can enjoy far-reaching views of the Tavy Valley. Our way-marked trails are a riot of colour through the seasons, with an unmissable carpet of bluebells in spring.'

National Trust

'The parish of Buckland Monachorum is located between Plymouth and Tavistock about 10 miles north of Plymouth city centre and on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park within the Borough of West Devon ... Part of the parish falls within the National Park and the rest of it is within the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.'

ALERT Section of Parish Council Website originally referenced here seems no longer. I have cited instead a Section on Footpath Maintenance.  A Map showing the footpaths in the Parish can be found, for instance, via the Devon Section of FootPathMap.

Buckland Abbey, Garden & Estate [National Trust]

'Here, we have detailed a few walks that have been walked by Parish Councillors over the years ... Burrator is one of the largest and most sparsely populated Parished in England, over 5945 hectares. Ancient manors and hamlets are found at Hoo Meavy, Meavy Barton, Goodameavy, Lovaton and Welltown. There are four larger settlements within the Parish: Meavy, Sheepstor, Dousland and Walkhampton.'

'You can visit the castle and gardens, walk in the grounds and visit the stunning beaches and coastal paths which make up the estate.'

'Calstock Parish stretches from Gunnislake in the east to the bounds of Kit Hill. There are 40 Public Rights of Way identified by standards set by Cornwall Council who classify county paths as Gold, Silver and Bronze. It is significant that all parish paths are Gold with only one classified as Silver. Many of the paths are rich in industrial heritage, provide magnificent views of countryside and the Tamar with links to woodland and quiet lanes and roads.'

Member of the Ramblers - Cornwall Area Grouping

Member of the Ramblers - Cornwall Area Grouping

Member of the Ramblers - Cornwall Area Grouping

'Discover the beautiful Lutyens-designed terraced garden with dramatic views of Dartmoor. There's plenty to see from the rose garden to the quaint Bunty House (Wendy House) complete with its own miniature garden.'

National Trust

'Cheddar is world famous for its cheese and stunning gorge, but many visitors are unaware of the rich diversity of landscape and walking country we have here. Through the Walkers are Welcome scheme, Cheddar promotes itself as a walker-friendly destination offering a number of walking routes of varying grades, starting from the village centre. We hope you enjoy your visit!'

Cheddar Walking

Member of the U3A - Gloucestershire Grouping

Member of the U3A - Dorset Grouping

Member of the Ramblers - Gloucestershire Area Grouping

Member of the Ramblers - Gloucestershire Area Grouping

Member of the Ramblers - Avon Area Grouping

'In 1861 Parliament passed the Clifton and Durdham Downs (Bristol) Act securing both the same Downs to be open and largely resorted to as Places of Recreation for the Inhabitants of Bristol and its Neighbourhood for time immemorial.'

The Downs [Bristol City Council]

Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project

'The Coleford area abounds in natural beauty, intriguing history and is a playground for outdoor pursuits. It has been crying out for its own walking festival. Coleford Area Walking Festival has been a collaborative project led by Coleford Area Partnership and Coleford Town Council. We are very grateful for the support of so many local organisations and individuals. Without your support and that of so many volunteers the festival could simply not happen.' Usually held Mid May.

'Walking Routes ... Rights of Way ... Walking Groups'

'The Cornwall AONB contains some of the most stunning landscapes in Cornwall and is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. The AONB holds a diverse range of landscapes from the rugged uplands of Bodmin Moor and West Penwith to the tranquil estuaries of the Fal, Helford and the Fowey. Its only a short hop from here to the stunning North Cornwall Coast with its dramatic coastal scenery and great collection of surfing beaches. Whether you’re interested in wildlife, heritage, walking or just plain relaxing, the Cornwall AONB has it all!

'Find out about our public rights of way, cycle routes and trails, countryside access, wildlife and local nature reserves.'

'The Cornwall group generally walk on the 2nd Sunday of each month. We also organise cycling, canoeing and surfing occasionally.'

Corsham is a Wonderful Place to Walk 'An historic market town, Corsham is surrounded by beautiful countryside ... In March 2014, Corsham was awarded Walkers are Welcome status. This means that the town is not only a wonderful place to walk, it’s also welcoming to walkers, particularly after a long day’s wandering, with a great mix of pubs and restaurants ready to offer food and drink and a relaxing atmosphere.'

Usually held Mid June.

'Founded in 1993 and is owned and operated by husband and wife team Andrew and Elizabeth Guppy. The company remains the leading walking and hiking specialist in the Cotswolds. Their knowledge of the area and its footpaths, tracks and byways is unrivalled - and much imitated.'

'There are many kilometres of picturesque and peaceful footpaths around the Cotswold Water Park, with the added bonus of it all being very flat!'

'Walking in the Cotswolds provides a wealth of choices with gentle strolls, hilly hikes and a variety of circular walks including many level, stile-free walks for wheelchairs and easy access.'

Oxfordshire Cotswolds Walks [West Oxfordshire District Council]

'Countryside Mobility provides easy access to the South West's countryside attractions for anyone who has difficulty walking, through a "Tramper" all-terrain mobility hire scheme. The Tramper provides access for anyone with a permanent or temporary mobility limitation to outdoor attractions across the region. Partner sites include National Trust properties, RSPB nature reserves, Country Parks, lakes and inland waterways.'

'Small independent publisher based in Gloucestershire near the historic town of Tewkesbury. We publish descriptions of long walks having strong local connotations and a depth of feeling for the old footpath ways through the countryside.'

'Our AONB covers 380 square miles of countryside criss crossing the boundaries of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset. The area is visually stunning, with a broad mixture of different types of landscape, as well as a rich historical heritage.'

'Welcome to Culm Valley Publishing. Based in the heart of the West Country, CVP specialises in walking guidebooks for Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. Our spectacular coastlines, historic towns and, of course, Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor are included, together with the Quantocks, the Mendips, the Blackdown Hills and many other areas of outstanding natural beauty. All the walks in our books are circular.'

ALERT  'In order to concentrate on the freelance writing that I do for regional and national magazines, I have decided to retire the books. They are still available from many retail outlets and I have a few stashed away, but once these have gone they will no longer be reprinted by CVP. In due course, Tor Mark, a Cornwall-based publisher, will take over the Licence to reprint them.' [17 September 2020]