Hiking in England conjures up memories of abandoned seaside castles, rolling fields filled with lambs, and clusters of thatch-roofed houses. Nothing about the English countryside could be more charming. 

While the historic pathways that follow the Cornish coast of Cornwall and wind through the Cotswolds pass through innumerable historic locations including Roman-era Christian churches, it is often the little things that become treasured  memories of England: lanes of huge oak trees, tea in a local bakery, or a covered bridge over a forest stream. Whatever the image, these memories all bring with them a sense of peace unique to the English countryside.

Ryder-Walker features two trips in England – the Cornish Coastal Path in Cornwall and The Cotswolds. Both of these hiking routes follow historic public pathways that have been protected and enshrined in English law since the 1600s. 

Cornwall is the most southwesterly county in Great Britten and the Cornish Coastal Path follows the dramatic Atlantic coastline, taking you to wave-battered cliffsides and seaside fishing villages. The Cotswold’s trail represent an almost fairy tale route that winds through the famous Cotswold Hills, considered by many to be the most beautiful and charming section of England.

Wherever you are hiking in England there is a bounty of interesting and historic sights to enjoy on your journey. Strolling past a famous witches hut, a haunted hotel, and a Roman bridge isn’t an odd afternoon at all in the Cotswold’s. Visiting a castle or a tin mine in Cornwall is always an adventure. 

Meanwhile, the English countryside is dotted with a plethora of charming local farms, where you can meet entire packs of lambs which play in large open pastures. From these local farms comes an excellent farm-to-table cuisine that balks the English tradition of less exciting cuisine, offering delicious cuts of meat, pies, locally baked bread, and locally sourced fruits and vegetables. The coastline offers delicious seafood, locally sourced produce and wonderful cheeses, pasties and their famous cream tea. 

The history on display in England is second to none. The end of the Cotswold Way, for instance, is in the historic city of Bath. Bath is famous for its architectural innovation of the curving apartment block, which maps the city into a maze of stunning historic apartments that twist around each other rarely meeting at right angles. In the city’s center are the Roman baths themselves, complete with a museum and a nearby teahouse.

If you are looking for a seaside adventure, countryside ramble or a historic trek, England is an excellent option. The local bed and breakfasts are the most charming in the world, contrasted with royal hotels that have been in operation for hundreds of years. The hiking in the Cotswolds meanders between forested hillsides and farmland, while the countryside of Cornwall crashes into the rocky English beaches and precipitous coastline.