WELCOME TO BATH

You will make your own way to Bath in time for a meet up at our hotel before we all head out for lunch together at Sally Lunn’s. This historic eating house is set in the oldest house in Bath, famed for its traditional Sally Lunn buns. We will then spend a leisurely afternoon getting our bearings as we explore the elegant Georgian streets of this UNESCO World Heritage city. Yearning for the comfort of wool after your long journey? We will be sure to make time to visit Bath’s premier independent yarn store, A Yarn Story, as we wander through the Artisan District. You will then be free for the rest of the day to grab some supper at one of Bath’s many eateries, or head home to our comfortable hotel for an early night.

DORSET BUTTON MAKING WORKSHOP

After a leisurely breakfast, we will head out for a short walk to a local arts venue. There we will meet with Jen of Beaker Button and spend a fun morning learning how to make Dorset buttons. Jen will share the fascinating history of these handcrafted woollen buttons which were such an important rural cottage industry in England’s West Country in the 17th and 18th centuries. 

After a simple lunch together, you will have free time to explore Bath on your own or join us on a walk up through parkland to view Bath’s spectacular skyline. 

Walk length: 4.5 miles

Elevation gain: 700’

GO WEST, YOUNG (WO)MAN!

Today we leave the comfort of our hotel in Bath to head west, deep into England’s West Country. The wool trade was once a very significant industry in this quintessentially English rural heartland, so it is perhaps fitting that today we will have the opportunity to compare both a historic and a contemporary woollen mill. We begin our journey with a visit to Coldharbour Mill, one of the oldest woollen mills in the UK, having been in continuous production since 1797. We will have plenty of time to explore the restored milling sheds, reliving the sights and sounds of the industrial revolution, before browsing in their small shop where their own range of yarn sits alongside their exclusive range of Devon ‘tartan’ cloth. 

We will have lunch at the Mill before heading deeper into Devon to pay a visit to the John Arbon Mill and the nearby grading depot of the British Wool Board. We will learn about the commercial grading of fleeces for the various types of wool production before heading into John Arbon’s Mill to view the lovingly restored machinery that has been producing high-end knitting yarn since 2001. At the end of our visit, there will be yarn to squish and patterns to drool over.  It will be hard to drag ourselves away but an equally tempting allure awaits - the warm welcome from our hosts at our beautiful coastal retreat which will be our home for the next few days. 

WEAVE YOUR OWN SIT MAT AND TRY IT OUT ON A WALK

What better way to begin our woolly walking adventure than to weave your very own comfy woollen sit mat to take out on your walks? After a leisurely breakfast, we will sit down to enjoy a morning of Peg Loom Weaving with Fiber Ambassador, Lisa. Using a variety of locally sourced fleeces, Lisa will guide us through the simple steps of selecting fleece to weave into a dense, and naturally waterproof mat that you can then roll up and carry with you on your hikes - a woolly alternative to foam or plastic hiking mats. 

We will then grab ourselves some lunch before heading out for our first proper hike together. As we walk onto the nearby coastal path, we will learn more about each other and settle into our stride, getting a feel for how we will walk together as a group and stopping frequently to savor far-reaching views to the sea. Will the weather gods be kind to us today? We can certainly hope so, but we will learn to be prepared with gear for all kinds of weather that they may choose to tease us with on our walks each day. 

Back at our lodgings, we will tuck into a hearty supper before relaxing together with our knitting in the lounge that has been reserved specially for our group during our stay.

Walk length: 7.5 miles

Elevation gain: 1000'

IT’S TIME TO MEET SOME SHEEP!

Today we will head out in the morning for a short drive to pay a visit to Middle Campscott Organic Farm, perched high in the hills overlooking the North Devon coast. Karen and her husband run a small, mixed organic farm supplying produce to their local farmer’s market. Stars of the show are her flock of Shetland sheep, who produce a beautifully soft yarn in natural fleece tones, some of which is then woven into blankets.

Karen is fortunate to live in an area that is blessed with a network of scenic footpaths and walking trails. After bidding farewell to the farm, we will head out for a hike to enjoy the fine vistas and lush green fields along the Coastal Path. If the weather is kind to us, we will carry a packed lunch and take time to sit awhile and drink in the views before continuing on our way. With luck, and if we time our walk well, we will hope to meet with a local shepherd putting his sheepdogs through their paces high on the clifftop pastures.

We will finish our day with a visit to the beautiful sandy beach at Woolacombe Bay, before picking up some supper in the nearby village.

Walk length: 9 miles

Elevation gain: 1700 feet

EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

Exmoor is a unique place that has been shaped by people and nature over thousands of years. Sitting high above the North Devon coast, areas of open moorland adjoin deep wooded valleys and high sea cliffs. We will spend the morning exploring this very special landscape, a haven of tranquility in our densely populated isles. With any luck we will spot some Exmoor ponies on our hike. These small ponies are native to the British Isles and currently on the endangered list, although it can be hard to believe this as many still roam free on the heather clad moorland that they call home. 

After our walk we will head to the coastal village of Lynton for lunch and a wander, before heading back to our lodgings for some time to relax before dinner together.

Walk length: 5 miles

Elevation gain: 1200 feet

A HARBOUR AND A SPA

Today we will pack up our bags and leave our comfortable coastal retreat. We will head south along the coast to Peppercombe Bay. Once there, we will set off for a scenic hike to Clovelly, a uniquely picturesque fishing village that was once owned by the Queen of England! We will explore this unusual, privately-owned village with picture-perfect harborside views, before heading a short distance inland to a country house hotel and spa that will be our home for the next two nights. 

Feeling a little sore after those coastal hikes? Now is the time to relax and unwind in the pool and spa before we dine together in the hotel's award-winning restaurant.

Walk length: 6.5 miles

Elevation gain: 2000’

A VISIT TO AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN

Today, after a leisurely breakfast, we will make the short drive to RHS Rosemoor, where we will spend a relaxed morning enjoying the delights of this enchanting garden. You may explore the many themed gardens, both formal and informal, which will hopefully be looking their best at this time of year. If you still have energy to burn, there are a number of seasonal themed trails around the 65 acre site. 

We will eat lunch at the on-site restaurant before heading back to our hotel for a leisurely afternoon. Time for some knitting anyone?

Walks: optional self-guided trails around the gardens

MOORS AND TORS

After checking out of our hotel today, we will head to Okehampton, a small market town known to be the gateway to the Dartmoor National Park. We will visit the informative Museum of Dartmoor Life to learn about life for the historic people who called this moorland landscape their home.

And then we will head up onto the moors themselves for a hike across this unique landscape which is dotted with many exposed granite hilltops known as Tors. On a fine day, this remote upland landscape is deceptively benign with heather and bracken clad moors stretching as far as the eye can see. But this peat moorland is capable of absorbing vast amounts of water from copious winter rains, and it has resulted in some dangerous bogs or mires, perhaps most famously depicted in literature as the notorious Great Grimpen Mire in Conan Doyle's novel The Hounds of the Baskervilles.

There is nothing to fear on our walk today, however, and we will stay firmly on dry ground, whilst learning to identify the bright green mosses of the peat bogs, and enjoying the many wetland plants and insects that inhabit this landscape.

At the end of the day we will check into our comfortable hotel for the night, an evocatively located  former coaching inn set high on the moors with far reaching views in every direction. 

Walk length: 6.5 miles

Elevation gain: 700’

WOOL, WALKING AND A FAREWELL FEAST

After a hearty breakfast at our moorland hotel, we will load our coach and head across Dartmoor for a busy morning packed with wool and walks. As this will be our last day of hiking together, we will seek out a walk to inspire us with sights and sounds that will linger long in our memories. Then, leaving the moors behind us, we will head into the village of Moretonhampstead to pay a visit to the Dartmoor Wool Loft, a community hub where shepherds, spinners and crafters come together to meet and to promote all things local and woolly. If time is on our side, we will also make a visit to a local farm that rears Dartmoor sheep.

And then it’s back on our coach as we bid farewell to Dartmoor and begin our return journey to Bath: but not before we make a final visit to River Cottage, the Devon home-base of renowned chef, farmer, and environmental campaigner, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall. We will end our trip with a tour of his gardens and a very special, locally-produced Farm to Table Feast, inspired by the season and landscape of this rural English county. 

After our meal, we will return to our welcoming hotel in Bath, with time to pack up our yarn, and our memories, before we begin our journeys home tomorrow.

Walk length: 5 miles

Elevation gain: 900’

HOMEWARD BOUND

Today you will bid farewell to Bath and make your own way to your chosen departure airport at a time to suit.

How long will the walks be?

The length of our walks will vary from day to day, but expect an average of 4-7 miles per walk. We will be walking on most days.

What do you mean by the elevation gain?

Devon is a landscape of rolling hills and river valleys. The coastline is rugged with a high, level path (The South West Coastal Path National Trail) which follows the contours of the coastline. Whilst we are not at a great elevation above sea level, most walks will involve several climbs and descents which can amount to a significant elevation gain over a day’s walking. Walks will sometimes involve moderate ascents where you might expect to get out of breath. Elevation gain per walk will be in the range of 600-2000 feet.

What kind of paths will we be walking on?

Whilst we will sometimes be walking on country lanes, farm tracks and easily identifiable paths, the majority of our walks will also involve walking on more informal paths through rough fields, woodland, open countryside and moorland. We may also walk on stony paths and tracks which may be narrow and steep. Paths may be wet and muddy (occasionally slippery) after rain. We will encounter a variety of stiles, and livestock. None of our walks will require specific technical skills.

What about the weather?

British weather has a reputation for being changeable, and this can be particularly true in the Spring. Periods of calm, fine weather can quickly be interrupted by longer spells of wind and rain (sometimes heavy) or by low cloud, mist and fog. Average temperatures for May in Devon are in the range of 44-59 degrees Fahrenheit although it can feel colder than this in the hills. There is an average of 9 days of rain during the month. Your walking leaders will make regular weather assessments, and plans and routes may occasionally have to be changed at short notice.

Will I need any special clothing or equipment?

We will send you a recommended equipment list closer to the tour, but you will be required to wear suitable outdoor footwear for the terrain and conditions. These must be waterproof walking boots, with sturdy soles, good tread and ankle support. You will also be expected to carry an appropriate waterproof jacket (with hood) and waterproof trousers. Goretex, or similar, is ideal. Walking poles, whilst not required, are recommended. You will need a comfortable backpack large enough to carry spare clothing, your packed lunch and water/snacks for the day. 

How can I prepare for the trip?

This tour is graded as having a Mobility Comfort Level of 5+. As such, you agree that you will be very comfortable with distances, hikes and walking tours up to 6-10 miles in a day. By its very nature, walking across varied terrain in changeable weather for several hours can be strenuous. In order to enjoy your trip to the full we recommend the following:

• continue to enjoy regular walks of 6-10 miles in the lead up to the tour

• try to seek out opportunities to walk up hills

• get used to wearing the boots and carrying the backpack that you intend to use on the trip to ensure that they are comfortable.

Who will be leading our walk?

Both Liz and Lisa are UK qualified Hill and Moorland walking leaders.

THE RISKY BIT...

Walking in the countryside is an adventurous activity that carries a certain level of inherent and unavoidable risk of personal discomfort, accident or injury. Part of the attraction of hill walking is the challenge of tackling different terrains, landscapes and weather conditions. Every effort is made to minimize potential risks and hazards. The most common accident and/or injury in the outdoors include slips, trips and falls, as well as personal injury such as blisters, strained muscles, scratches and stings, sunburn, getting cold and varying degrees of personal discomfort due to weather and/or ground conditions . Of course, more serious accidents/injuries may occur due to the natural environment (steep, uneven, rocky, wet, slippery ground), personal health issues and extreme weather conditions. By taking part in this activity, you are aware of and accept these risks.

And finally...

As with all of the best laid plans, the routes that we have planned for you may be subject to change. Your walking leaders will be continually monitoring weather forecasts and local conditions and some changes may occur at short notice for your comfort and safety. During the walk, it may also become necessary to adjust our itinerary due to adverse weather conditions, pace of the group, fitness and ability levels, accidents or injuries, etc. In extreme circumstances the walk may be terminated. The decision to change or terminate the walk lies solely with the Walk Leader.

If you have any questions that have not been answered here, please contact us at info@rowantreetravel.com

Liz lives with her family on a smallholding in the Cambrian mountains in Wales.  A keen knitter since childhood, she remembers watching her mother spin yarn from the family sheep, and she now keeps her own small flock of Shetland sheep to indulge her passion for all things woolly. Liz is also a keen hill walker, and loves to escape to her beloved mountains, seeking inspiration amongst the colours and textures of the wild upland landscape of mid-Wales. A linguist and Latin America specialist by training, Liz previously spent many years studying and travelling in southern Chile, where she was bewitched by the alchemy that rural women could perform with some roughly-spun wool and a few leaves in a dye pot over a wood fire. It was here that Liz learnt to weave. Now settled back home in Wales, she teaches weaving, whilst also running wildwoven, a woolly fair trade business, providing opportunities for rural women in Chile to supply highly-textured, hand spun yarns to discerning weavers and fibre artists. Liz is also a UK accredited Hill and Moorland Walking Leader.

We are delighted to be joined by Lisa Denison on our tour of the West Country. Lisa is an accredited UK Walking Leader, with her own freelance walking business, Quiet Walks, based in south west Wales. Lisa is also an avid fiber enthusiast, and when not out walking in the hills, she cares for her small flock of mainly Icelandic sheep. A late-comer to the joys of fiber craft, Lisa is currently learning to spin the fiber from her own flock. She regularly makes rugs and woven items from her own or locally-sourced fleeces and she loves to encourage new adventures in craft and the outdoors; her weave and walk days are deservedly popular!