The Great Outdoors

“Walking the wild country, it’s what we were designed to do”

After years of fads and fancies about exercise, most medical opinion these days counsels what country folk have known for years. Brisk walking in the fresh country air is the best of all exercises for human health.

The Nadder Valley, nestled between the north and south chalk drove roads that link Salisbury and Shaftsbury is a perfect microcosm of the English countryside. Stiff, steep slopes open to the sky and noisy with the sound of skylarks give way to hidden valleys and ancient holloways that plunge down through secret woods to the river itself.

Secluded villages, welcoming and open churches, a wealth of fine country pubs and, above all, the wild variety of an unspoilt natural landscape makes the Nadder Valley the perfect choice for an energetic hike or an indulgent pre-prandial stroll. Footpaths are well marked and well maintained and the great swathe of woodland that cloaks the northern ridge and screens an ancient Roman Road is surely one of the most fulfilling walks in Southern England.

At the end of every day, Howard’s House awaits, a haven of welcome and refreshment, a place to sit in a summer evening garden or warm up before a roaring log fire. Whatever the season, walking in Wiltshire is one of life’s great pleasures.