There is never a bad time to put on your walking boots, pack a bag, and go for a walk in the Cotswolds, the scenery is stunning whatever the time of year, and each season brings something different. Summer though is just gorgeous, with sunshine on your face, hill walks with sensational sunset views, and wildlife aplenty; here are five of our favorite summer walks to motivate you:

Newark Park

This gorgeous National Trust walk passes through woodland rich in bird-watching areas and wildlife, descends into a valley with incredible views at its base ambles up a relatively steep hill alongside thick blackberry bushes, and ends up beside a beautiful, peaceful lake. It’s a varied route and one of the most lovely summer walks that the Cotswolds have to offer.

Belas Knap Long Barrow and Cleeve Common

If a walk with a pub at the end is right up your street then you’ll love this route. Begin by following the Cotswold Way through fields southwest of Cheltenham and briefly along a lane before starting the 600ft climb to Belas Knap. Then head west to Cleeve Common with its famous Single Beech and Iron Age hill fort perched on the ‘Cotswold Edge’ with unbelievable views that reach into Wales on a lovely clear day. Follow the path back down to Postlip and back into Winchcombe where you can end up at any one of the gorgeous traditional English pubs, The Lion being our favorite!

The Cotswold Way

Journey on one of the many summer walks available on The Cotswold Way, or challenge yourself to do the whole 100 miles of scenic walking with panoramic views of the Cotswolds, stretching north-eastwards from Bath to Chipping Campden. With long-distance views from the Cotswold escarpment, and journeys through picturesque villages and past famous ancient sites, this route is a real treat and gives you a great insight into the whole of the Cotswolds.

The Diamond Way

Created by the Ramblers’ North Cotswold Group to celebrate its 60th Jubilee in 1995, this 65-mile walk is the perfect way to explore some of the prettiest villages and towns the Cotswolds has to offer. The circular route (well actually is a diamond shape hence the name, but you know what we mean!) crosses farmland and woodland, passing through sleepy hamlets and along meandering streams. The whole of this summer walk will take a week to complete but if you’d prefer, try one of the shorter circular walks along the route that are between three and seven miles long and are just as beautiful.

Three Villages Walk

This is a great circular summer walk within the Cotswold Water Park which takes you along some of the Thames Path National Trail and will take approximately 3 hours to complete. This is a lovely walk that leads you through three picturesque villages of the Western Water Park; stroll through the charming areas of Ashton Keynes, South Cerney, and Somerford Keynes. Wildlife spotting along the way includes the Tufted Duck, the Burnet Moth, the Lapwing, and the Downy Emerald, and when the weather is great it is definitely worth a stop off at the Cotswolds-only beach in South Cerney, a beautiful sandy beach on a gorgeous lake surrounded by trees and rolling countryside.