In most recent years the Group has enjoyed a walking holiday somewhere in England. The last few years have seen us walking in Sussex, Dovedale, Dorset, the Cotswolds, and the Peak District, among other places.

October 2025 - Dunster, Somerset

In mid-October 2025 about 30 of us travelled to Dunster in Somerset for a walking holiday. We were based at the Yarn Market Hotel, in the main street - which is indeed right next to the Yarn Market historic market building. We enjoyed some good walks in cloudy but dry weather, on flat land and hilly land. John Wood and Stewart Wallis led some longer walks and for those who preferred a less strenuous holiday, Ann and Jenny offered two gentler walks.

On the first morning Mark (a member of the hotel staff) took us for an informative stroll around Dunster. After lunch John and Stewart each led a walk into the surrounding countryside during which some of us climbed up to Bat's Castle - site of a prehistoric settlement with extensive views across the Bristol Channel.

The second day's longer walk was led by John, down to the beach and along the England coastal path, returning to Dunster by field paths and through the castle grounds. Mark led a shorter walk and happily shared his extensive knowledge of the area. We walked part of the South West Coastal Path, with wonderful views in all directions, and ended at the Tea Shop in Selworthy.

On the third day John led a party up to Dunkery Beacon - the highest part of Exmoor - and Stewart led a walk from the cliff-top near Porlock down into the village returning via a beautiful wooded valley. Meanwhile Ann and Jenny led a gentle walk from the hotel along the coast to Minehead. Again the views were extensive. Some chose to return by bus in order to continue exploring Dunster; others chose to explore Minehead.

The leaves were turning colour during our stay in Dunster and many varieties of toadstool were on display in the fields and woods. The views from the high ground above Dunster and above Porlock were excellent and the view across the Bristol Channel towards South Wales was quite clear.

Thanks are due to Ann and Jenny for organising the trip, to Ann, Jenny and Julie for providing quizzes to entertain us in the evenings, to John and Stewart for leading the walks, and to the hotel staff for looking after us.

July 2024 - Selworthy, Somerset

In early July twenty Epsom & Ewell Ramblers joined a 4-night HF holiday at their house in Exmoor. Holnicote is a beautiful house, which is owned by the National Trust and leased to HF. It is in wonderful grounds close to the village of Selworthy. This was our group’s 9th HF holiday in 6 years.

We opted for Gentle Guided walking which offered three walks each day of between 4 and 9 miles. They were all coastal routes on the north coast of Somerset and Devon, giving panoramic views. We visited Lynton and Lynmouth, Nether Stowey in the Quantock Hills and Watchet, with its ancient harbour.

Excellent breakfasts and dinners were enjoyed at the house, with packed lunches provided for our days out. In the evening activities were on offer such as a quiz and indoor bowls. One evening we were taken to visit the Beaver Enclosure in the grounds, although we weren’t lucky enough spot any beavers.

Our group made up half of the guests at the house so it was interesting to meet and mix with other guests at the house. The lovely weather helped to make this another wonderful short break for our group.

October 2023 - Abingworth, Sussex

In late October 2023, 27 Epsom & Ewell Ramblers arrived at HF Abingworth Hall in Sussex for a short walking holiday. Corinne S wrote about the holiday....

"Our Monday to Friday stay proved mainly dry with sunny spells. Following a welcome cream tea on arrival, a substantial evening meal and a full English breakfast the following morning, with full stomachs we set off from the house for our first walk of the week.

One of the choice of three Tuesday walks took in St Mary’s church at West Chiltington (with its fascinating medieval wall paintings) and Pulborough village. The views were outstanding and enhanced by the winter sunshine and early autumn colours. The evening entertainment was a quiz.

The three Wednesday walks were along the beautiful Arun Valley finishing in the historic town of Arundel where we had time to look around the town before meeting the coach. The evening was completed with a fascinating talk from a professional beekeeper.

On Thursday we were taken by coach to starting points at Halfway Bridge, Cowdray Park (home of famous polo grounds) and Midhurst, with all walks finishing at the National Trust property Petworth House with its deer park and stunning grounds. An evening game of indoor curling was arranged which for many of us was a new experience and great fun.

On Friday morning after breakfast we all packed our bags, collected our boots, and said farewell to the staff who had made our stay comfortable and enjoyable."

June 2023 - Dovedale, Peak District

Linda B writes:

"Our group has enjoyed its seventh HF walking holiday. This time 27 of us stayed at the Peveril of the Peak house in Dovedale.

As usual we were welcomed with a cream tea followed by an orientation walk around the local area. The house has a lovely view of Thorpe Cloud, a very interesting shaped limestone hill, and is within walking distance of the famous stepping stones.

We were on a four-night gentle guided walking break which included a choice of three walks each day, ranging from three to nine miles. As well as the Dovedale Gorge walk we also visited Ashbourne following the Tissington Trail, a former railway line. Another walk was over the Chatsworth estate, which gave us magnificent views of Chatsworth House.

The food at the HF house was plentiful and tasty and we particularly enjoyed gathering on the terrace for pre-dinner drinks, relaxing in the evening sunshine. The walk leaders organised a fun game of skittles one evening, and there was the regular house quiz on another.

We have already have another HF holiday planned for the autumn, this time at Abingworth in West Sussex."

October 2022 - Bourton on the Water

Julie C tells us about our October 2022 group holiday:

"Twenty-six members of Epsom and Ewell Ramblers went on a four-day walking trip with HF Holidays at Harrington House in Bourton on the Water. The village and this part of the Cotswolds is, fittingly, described as ‘quintessentially English’.

Harrington House is situated right in the middle of the village, which made for some enjoyable exploring when we weren’t walking. The (very quirky) Motor Museum, the Pottery and many small tea shops were fun to visit.  And of course the very pretty River Windrush, with its many bridges, running right through the centre of the village.

Some of our group chose to go on self-guided walks which enabled them to visit local places of interest such as Hidcote Gardens, Chedworth Roman Villa and Broadway village.

Those on the guided walks visited the nearby ‘Rissington’ villages, with their lovely country churches. We were able to spend time in Little Rissington churchyard which has a memorial to the RAF. We visited the source of the Thames, completely dry on the day of our visit, and the very impressive Cirencester Park with its beautiful beech trees lining the long drive down into the town of Cirencester. Those going further afield walked via the Gloucestershire and Diamond Ways, visiting the Wold villages of Notgrove and Cold Aston.

As always with HF holidays there was entertainment in the evenings. HF run an Inter-House quiz and Bourton have missed the elusive first prize for some time. Unfortunately we didn’t change their run of bad luck! On the last night we took part in the ‘Boat Race’ down the Windrush. We were asked to construct ‘boats’ out of any material we could find. Sandwich boxes, leaves, crisp packets, sticks all turned up. These were launched in the Windrush and all, amazingly, reached the finishing line.

The Walk Leaders, provided by HF, were excellent and, along with a great group from Epsom and Ewell, helped to make it a very enjoyable few days." 

October 2020 - Lulworth Cove, Dorset

Julie C reported on our October 2020 holiday - based at Lulworth in Dorset:
Seventeen members of Epsom and Ewell Ramblers spent 5 days in October at the HF Centre in Lulworth Cove, Dorset. This was a self-guided walking holiday, and with the help of pre-prepared walking guides provided by the centre we were able to plan a number of excellent walks.

This part of Dorset is stunning – not only is the Jurassic coastline extraordinary but we also discovered wonderful historic castles inland. We split into groups – both to keep within Covid 19 guidelines but also to give a range of walks of different lengths and difficulty.

Corfe Castle was clearly a must and Susan Anderson led a great walk through the town and up over the surrounding downs. And all the way we had amazing views of the castle on its dramatic hilltop site. The walk ended in the town and we were then able to visit the castle and learn about its extraordinary history.

Walks on the coast were dramatic. One group set off to Swanage – both to enjoy the town and to walk round the coast to the high cliffs of Durlston Head. Another group set out on a walk from the pretty village of Worth Matravers, trying not to be put off by instructions which warned of a ‘daunting gulley’. We survived the gulley and were rewarded with a wonderful walk along the South West Coast Path via St Aldhelms Chapel, where the Coastguard Station is manned by volunteers.

And we didn’t have to go far to experience dramatic coastline. A walk from the Centre took us to the well-known beauty spot of Durdle Door – a mighty limestone arch created around 10,000 years ago. Also, just down the road from the HF Centre in Lulworth Cove we could experience the wonderful geological rock formations of the Stair Hole and its folded limestone strata known as the ‘Lulworth Crumple’.

Easily accessible from our Centre was Lulworth Castle. Not as dramatic as Corfe but with its own extraordinary history. Looking perfectly normal from the outside, you enter the castle to find it completely hollowed out - the result of a fire in 1929. This was made even more poignant by the displays of photos of the castle in its heyday before the fire.

Writing during our second Lockdown, I’m sure all the group would agree that we were very lucky to have these 5 days of walking and socialising while the weather was still good enough to make it feel like a lovely extension to the summer. Our thanks go to Linda Buckley for organising this holiday – which proved less straightforward than hoped. When we first signed up for it in 2019 we were supposed to visit Lulworth as a single group. Covid intervened, which meant the HF Centre was unable to take such a large group, resulting in two groups (a smaller group stayed at Lulworth the week before us). Covid restrictions make opening the HF Centres a challenge, but staff at Lulworth and other HF Centres have been working hard to make these holidays possible.

November 2019 - Abingworth

A note from Frances:

18 of our members went on a 3-night walking holiday to Abingworth Hall, a lovely Country House owned by HF walking holidays nestling in the foothills of the South Downs. The house offers ample opportunities for socialising with 3 lounges a dining room serving delicious meals and a conservatory with a bar. A walk through the well-kept gardens leads to a panoramic view across the rolling hills and chalk cliffs of the South Downs.

As usual with HF there were options of a hard, medium or easier guided walk each day. The 3 leaders outlined the following days walks each evening so we could choose what to do. Walking opportunities included amongst other places of interest, Cowdray Park, Arundel, Petworth House Park, The Glorious Goodwood Estate, Chanctonbury Ring and Devils Dyke. The walks also took us through many historic market towns as well as charming villages with thatched cottages, village ponds and quaint shops.

Given it was November we were very lucky with the weather and the autumn colours were a treat. Everyone enjoyed the different walks they took and had plenty of news to share over supper.

There were about 12 other guests in the house too and we were encouraged to mix with them as there were more of us. Of course, this was not a problem for our friendly and outgoing group!

After supper the leaders provided entertainment for us including some country dancing and carpet bowls which proved enormous fun. We were sad to leave after having had such a good time and it was pleasing to hear from one leader that we were one of the best groups he had ever been with!

Frances Appleby (Holiday leader with Richard Watson)

June 2019 - Church Stretton

Richard W reported on our 2019 summer break at Church Stretton:
On the afternoon of 3 June thirty five ramblers arrived at our hotel, appropriately named the Long Mynd. We were quickly made welcome and allocated our rooms before an introductory walk into the town followed by a talk by our guides on the next day’s activities. We then enjoyed an excellent evening meal. Up until then I had assumed that we had more or less taken all the available accommodation but I sat down to share a table with people who turned out to be one of our guides plus some Canadians and a lady from the Isle of Man. Everyone was friendly.

After dinner we joined a game of indoor bowls where we met more guests. The standard of play was variable with a range of techniques employed, ranging from my closed eyes and hope for the best, to a bouncing ball/bomb method that initially succeeded by scaring the nine pins into submission. However, all of this was to no avail and to be honest I can’t remember the outcome but it was a great icebreaker.

The next day we split into our chosen groups with some doing their own thing and others going on a guided sightseeing trip to places in Shropshire. There were three guided walks each day ranging in length from some 7.5 miles (option1) 9.5miles (option 2) and 11 miles (option 3). On Tuesday the walking mainly took place around the Clun Valley, Hopesay, Stokesay Castle and Craven Arms area. I chose option one as I was tempted by the frequent offering of tea and coffee stops. It was a good day affected only by torrential rain in the last hour. In the evening we were treated to a meal that included local Shropshire dishes.

On Wednesday the main theme for those doing the guided walks was the Stiperstones and the surrounding area. The sightseers had a trip to Powys Castle and gardens. In the evening we enjoyed a quiz that much to our amusement included a question on where the Oaks and Derby horse races were held.

Thursday was our last walking day. We walked from the hotel and concentrated on Pole Bank and the Long Mynd Valleys. We did encounter some heavy rain showers and hailstones but again enjoyed some fantastic views. The sightseers went to Haughmond Abbey and walked along the canal and river to Shrewsbury. In the evening after dinner we were invited to a singalong with the ShropshireStrummers Ukulele Band. This was a fantastic way to end a most enjoyable few days.

Quoting one of our number ‘many thanks to Linda for organising a holiday with something for everyone’.

2018 - Long week-end in Bourton on the Water

This was the first HF holiday our group had taken for a very long time. Bourton on the Water is a beautiful Cotswold Village, known for its picturesque High Street with the River Windrush running through it. Twenty-four of us arrived at Harrington House on 30 April for our 3 night break. The House is a lovely Georgian building of golden stone, set just behind the main street of Bourton on the Water. The rooms in the house had been recently redecorated to a very high standard with new bath/shower rooms. As with all HF houses there were boot cleaning facilities and a drying room.

Our first gathering was for afternoon tea where we were introduced to the House Manager and our three walking guides. The weekend arrangements were explained to us and then we were taken for a walk around the very attractive village.

We met in the bar later for our pre-dinner drinks and a presentation of the next day’s walks. Three circular walks were on offer on Saturday, all starting from the house. The walks on Sunday were linear and we were taken to our starting points by coach. The walks were of varied lengths (6/8/11 miles) and gradients, meaning that there was something on offer for everybody.

Walks were leisurely with lots of opportunities to stop and take in some lovely scenery and pretty villages, all with churches which we were able to visit and others with interesting shops and tearooms. There was, of course, a stop for the substantial packed lunch provided.

(Photo: D Richards)

On Saturday we visited Upper & Lower Slaughter and returned to Bourton, with plenty of time to look around the village. On Sunday we visited Little Barrington, passing through the sleepy hamlets of Westwell and Holwell. All three walks ended in the delightful small market town of Burford, where we had time to explore its packhorse bridge and high street lined with 17th and 18th century houses and inns and lovely cheese shops. We returned to the house by coach.

Evening meals were delicious and went down well with wine from the bar. Following this, on each evening the walk leaders had organised activities such as quiz nights or a games evening for those who wanted to take part. These were all light-hearted and a lot of fun.

Although the weather had turned a little cold and drizzly over the weekend, the consensus was that we all thoroughly enjoyed our break and look forward to another HF holiday soon. David & Linda.

2017 - Peak District

Julie C reported on our 2017 holiday:

On 3 September thirty nine members of the Epsom and Ewell Ramblers set off by coach for Kerridge in the Peak District National Park. En route to our destination we stopped at Shugborough, a National Trust park and house. Perhaps the most interesting part of this Georgian mansion was the apartments once lived in by the 5th Earl Anson, Patrick Lichfield, cousin to the Queen and celebrated photographer. We knew we had got off to a good start when we arrived at Hollin Hall Hotel to be welcomed by a roaring fire in the beautiful entrance hall of this lovely Victorian country house.

Over the next few days we enjoyed five exhilarating walks through varied countryside. The steep walk up to the White Nancy viewpoint was perhaps the most challenging but we also enjoyed the canal walk from the hotel, the Monsal Trail along the route of the old railway line to Bakewell, and the Macclesfield forest walk with wonderful views of the reservoir and surrounding countryside. A visit to Lyme Park - used for the notorious ‘lake’ scene in the film of Pride and Prejudice (did anyone manage to find ‘Darcy’s Pond’?) – included a walk taking in the wonderful countryside surrounding this beautiful house.

Our hotel was just a few miles north of Macclesfield, at one time the centre of the silk weaving industry. A fascinating tour of the perfectly preserved mill was followed by time to explore the Silk Museum next door.

Bob’s tireless research of what appears to have been a very large number of pub restaurants definitely paid off. We enjoyed excellent meals throughout the week. It was no mean feat of his to find establishments able to accommodate forty hungry people all wanting to eat at once.

On our journey home we stopped at Canons Ashby, a charming house built from the remains of a medieval priory following its dissolution by Henry VIII, and for the most part unchanged since the early seventeen hundreds.

Many thanks to Bob for the hard work and meticulous planning which made this such an enjoyable holiday and to Malcolm, our coach driver.