Standard Tour

Luxury Tour

The Cotswolds Classic Guided Walking Tour

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DISTANCE

6-8 miles per day

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DIFFICULTY

Moderate

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DURATION

6 nights

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Accommodation

Comfortable and Characterful hotels

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Travel Information

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Price

£1695

The Classic Cotswolds England Walking Tour Overview

Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of the Cotswolds with our Classic Guided Walking Tour. This carefully curated 6-night journey invites you to explore some of England’s most picturesque villages and landscapes, all while enjoying the comfort of hand-picked accommodations.

With daily walks averaging 6–8 miles, this tour offers a harmonious blend of scenic exploration, historical insights, and cultural experiences. Each day unveils new facets of the Cotswolds’ rich heritage, from medieval abbeys to quintessentially English cottages.

Your adventure begins in the charming village of Chipping Campden, renowned for its historic architecture and vibrant arts scene. From there, traverse rolling hills, verdant meadows, and ancient woodlands, visiting iconic locations such as Broadway, Winchcombe, and Bourton-on-the-Water.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, nature lover, or simply seeking the charm of rural England, the Classic Cotswolds Guided Walking Tour promises an enriching and memorable experience.

Highlights

Begin your journey with the peaceful rural charm and quintessential honey-coloured cottages of Chipping Campden.

Climb to the iconic Broadway Tower, where sweeping views stretch across 16 counties on a clear day.

Explore Tudor history at Sudeley Castle—one of the Cotswolds’ crown jewels—with its royal ties, beautiful chapel, and award-winning gardens.

Unwind at Bourton-on-the-Water, often referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds,” with its charming arched bridges and riverside paths.

Round off your Cotswolds experience with a visit to the world-famous Hidcote Manor Gardens. Designed as a series of outdoor “rooms,” these Arts and Crafts gardens are filled with vibrant plantings, hidden alcoves, and thoughtful design.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Chipping Campden

Arrive in Chipping Campden for your first overnight and meet with your guide for a pre-tour briefing. Enjoy a group meal at the hotel in the evening.

Day 2: Hailes Abbey to Broadway (7 miles/ 11 km)

Transfer from Chipping Campden to Hailes Abbey. Follow the pilgrims’ route to Hailes Abbey, then over the hills to Jacobean Stanway House, with its magnificent gatehouse and medieval tithe barn and on to idyllic Stanton. Arrive at the coaching village of Broadway, where an array of fine houses and inns flank the ‘broad way’.Transfer back to Chipping Campden for overnight.

Day 3: Broadway to Chipping Campden via Broadway Tower (4.5 miles/7 km)

Walk up to Broadway Tower, the 18th century folly from where there are fine views across the vale before descending to Chipping Campden, the loveliest of all Cotswold villages, with its covered marketplace, beautiful ‘wool’ church, almshouses and silversmith. Overnight in Chipping Campden.

Day 4: Broadwell to Bourton-on-the-Water (7 miles/11 km)

Transfer to Broadwell and walk across the high wolds to Stow-on-the-Wold, complete with village stocks and picturesque square, via the fantastic Mogul manor house at Sezincote and a number of pretty hamlets. Continue down via the pretty village of Lower Slaughter to Bourton-on-the-Water to your hotel for the next 3 nights.

Day 5: Winchcombe circular walk (8 miles/13 km)

Day five starts and ends in the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe, close to Sudeley Castle, the last resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth wife. This walk takes you up to the ancient burial mound of Belas Knap before continuing on to Cleeve Hill on the edge of the escarpment with commanding views to the West and towards Wales. Transfer back to Bourton-on-the-Water for overnight.

Day 6: Bibury circular walk (8 miles/13 km)

Transfer to Bibury, known for its picturesque Arlington Row cottages and the River Coln. The circular walk takes you through peaceful countryside landscapes, passing by rolling hills, meadows, and babbling streams. Encounter classic Cotswold stone villages like Ablington and Coln St. Aldwyns, showcasing traditional architecture and local charm, enjoy views of lush greenery and historic churches, and perhaps even spot local wildlife along the way.

Day 7: Departure

Departure after breakfast.

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Duration

6 nights

5 walking days

Price

£1695 pp

Two people sharing a room

Hotel accommodation with a private bathroom

Pricing includes:

6 nights of accommodation

An afternoon tea

A pub lunch

Luggage transfers each walking day

Route notes and maps

Local back-up on call

Pre-tour briefing if you arrive before 6pm

Please contact us to enquire about the single supplement for this tour if you plan on traveling alone.

Distance

Total: 34.5 miles (55.5 km)

Duration: 5 walking days

Average daily mileage: 7 miles (11.2 km)

Longest day: 8 miles (13 km)

Shortest day: 4.5 miles (7.2 km)

Accommodation

Accommodation has been hand-picked to provide guests with an authentic Cotswolds experience.

Though accommodation may vary from tour to tour, we gravitate towards a selection of quintessential English countryside stays. Some favourites when it comes to our Classic Cotswolds guided walking tour include:

All of our selected hotels will give you a warm welcome with a hearty breakfast for you in the morning to set you off on your day’s walk.

Moderate

This tour has consistently longer walking days of between 9 and 13 miles across varied walking surfaces and conditions, although these will still be on well-marked paths. Elevation gain and descent through the day can accumulate, and there may be one or two larger uphill sections per day, depending on the itinerary. A reasonable pace should be maintained to cover the daily distances in good time. For these reasons, this tour is better suited to those who have hiking experience and a good level of fitness.

Highest elevation gain in one day: 767ft (233m)

Average daily elevation gain: 500ft (152m)

Travel Information

Best time to go: March – September

Arriving By Train:

The Cotswolds are at the heart of the British rail network. The closest train station to Chipping Campden is Moreton-in-Marsh, and trains run from London Paddington on direct services. The journey time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from London Paddington. It is then approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Moreton-in-Marsh to Chipping Campden. Direct trains travel from London Paddington Station to Moreton-in-Marsh frequently.

Arriving By Plane:

Recommended airports: Birmingham International and London Heathrow.

From London Heathrow airport, Heathrow Express trains or Elizabeth Line metro trains run from the airport to London Paddington train station, from where you can get onward train connections.

Arriving By Car:

Note that there is some limited on-road parking with no restrictions in the village. Accommodation will often not permit you to leave your car for the duration, or may charge a fee. There is a long-stay car park at the train station.

Private Transfer:

We are happy to arrange private transfers to your starting accommodation.

Please contact us for further details.