LOCATION: Across 'middle England': Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset.

DISTANCE: 125 miles / 200 km

SUMMARY: The brainchild of Guy Vowles, this long distance trail is named after the classical style of architecture established by Andrea Palladio in 17th century Italy.

The trail starts at The Old Gaol in the centre of Buckingham and passes Stowe Landscape Gardens (NT) with its famous Palladian Bridge (one of only four in the world).

The route links some of England's finest Palladian buildings, including Stowe House, Blenheim Palace, Barnsley House and the Palladian bridge at Priory Park, Bath. It's now a waymarked path and described as 'an architectural trail'.

PUBS: Queens Head, Chackmore, a village between Buckingham & Stowe; The Peyton Arms, Stoke Lyne is handy for Tusmore between Brackley & Bicester, and has an historic pub interior.  The Woodstock Arms, Woodstock; The Old Swan at Minster Lovell. At Burford, try The Bull. The Village Pub in Barnsley. The Old Bell in Malmesbury is a hotel, but open to non-residents. It's right next to Malmesbury Abbey. The Northey Arms is a Butcombe pub at Box; and The Wheelwrights Arms in Monkton Combe.