Luxury Walking Tour of the Cotswolds: The Best of English Elegance

Day 2 marks the first walking day of the tour. Take in the rolling countryside when you cross the green pastures of the high wolds to your first destination, Stow-on-the-Wold. Complete with village stocks and a picturesque market square, Stow-on-the-Wold is an old market town that also boasts a myriad of iron age and roman sites to behold, all set in the Cotswold countryside. Overnight at Stow-on-the-Wold.

Today’s route from Stow-on-the-Wold is a leisurely downhill walk across fairytale meadows to scenic Lower Slaughter, the sister village of Upper Slaughter. Sitting along the meandering banks of the River Eye, Lower Slaughter is one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, and having been untouched in terms of construction since 1906, it is bound to stay so. Step back in time when you take in this truly old-world village with its working mill and romantic stone bridges. Continue on to Bourton-on-the-Water, with its many attractions, antique shops and cafes. Visit the Model Village, the Motoring and Toy Museum, or the Equestrian Center before your overnight at either Lower or Upper Slaughter.

On day 4, the route follows the River Windrush to the village of Naunton with its ancient dovecote and on to lovely Guiting Power, where the church has a fine Norman arch. Transfer back to Lower/Upper Slaughter for overnight from Guiting Power.

Transfer from Bourton-on-the-Water to Guiting Power. Walk through picturesque woods and tranquil open pastures before the dramatic descent to the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe. Winchcombe is home to a fascinating history, with Sudeley Castle, the last resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth wife less than a mile away. Overnight in Winchcombe.

Follow the pilgrims’ route to Hailes Abbey and take in the ruins of the medieval monastery, then continue over the hills to Stanway House, a magnificent Jacobean manor house, complete with remarkable terraced gardens and medieval tithe barn. Next, adventure on to the idyllic small village of Stanton, Gloucestershire or the coaching village of Broadway. It is also possible to overnight in Buckland Manor, 2 miles before Broadway; please enquire for more information.

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 market place, beautiful ‘wool’ church, almshouses and silversmith. Overnight in Chipping Campden.

On your last walking day, pass through the charming villages of Broad Campden and Blockley and descend to Batsford, where you may visit the arboretum and falconry centre if you missed them on day one. Finally, conclude your quintessential Cotswold journey with a pleasant stroll across meadows to Moreton-in-Marsh. Overnight at Moreton-in-Marsh.

Departure after breakfast.