Introduction:

Hello. My name is Heather Newman and I am a Blue Badge Guide for the Heart of England, the South Central region and the South West (Devon and Cornwall).

I have grown up in the beautiful English countryside and my love for it has only increased by doing an Countryside and Environmental Management degree at Harper Adams University and being based for 3 of those 4 years in the Shropshire countryside. This has stimulated my love for this beautiful and interesting area of the United Kingdom. One of those years, however, was spent as a ranger on a national park and it puts me in a unique position to give people an insight into the countryside, land management, and rural life.

I have been involved in tour guiding and walk leading since my time at university as my parents run a walking holiday company that my grandparents set up. After university, I began working full time for the business (as the third generation!) leading walking tours around towns, cities, and also countryside walks as either half-day or full-day. I now also split my time between leading walks and driver guiding which I feel gives the opportunity to see a large amount of the region, especially areas a coach can’t reach!

I have an interest in gardens, country houses and various other topics which I have explored further through courses provided by the University of Oxford.

Although I grew up in the south/southwest of England I have a deep family connection with the Heart of England area with family in Birmingham and the surrounding area and also family roots in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire.

As well as the Heart of England I am also a Southern region guide. I was born in Salisbury and grew up a stones throw from Stonehenge and Avebury, places I am now privileged to be able to share with other people as a guide. I have, since university, lived in Dorset (Hardy country) and have now moved back into the rolling hills of Wiltshire. As a walking guide I have taken groups along the Jurassic Coast of Dorset and through our TWO national parks, the New Forest and the South Downs. As a driver guide I can show you all of these and so much more!

I have recently also gained my South West (Devon and Cornwall) Blue Badge. I have grown up in and around the south west of England and have spent much of my guiding career walking leading across the region. I also have worked as a countryside ranger on Exmoor one of the two national parks in the region, the other being Dartmoor.

I also have the Windsor and Eton accreditation which allows me to guide the castle as well.

I look forward to sharing with you some interesting and very varied regions of Great Britain.