The Cotswold Way

Book your stay

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DISTANCE

7 – 20 miles (11 – 32 km) per day

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DIFFICULTY

Easy To Difficult

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DURATION

7 – 12 nights

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Accommodation

B&B Accommodation, Village Inns & Luxury Hostels

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Price

From £650

Walking Tour Overview

The Cotswold Way is a 102 mile long journey through the beautiful Cotswolds area. Starting in Chipping Campden it runs South through rolling hills and finishes in the beautiful city of Bath, a UNESCO Heritage site.

Leave any day you like subject to accommodation availability. The Cotswold Way can be done in various itineraries varying from 7 – 11 nights with the price and daily distances adjusted accordingly. This tour is a good option for those wishing to see some of the finest examples of English countryside as well as get to know The Cotswolds area. because of the length, some itineraries can be challenging, so longer itineraries are recommended for those who wish to have a more relaxed pace.

This journey takes you south through some of the nicest countryside and villages in The Cotswolds before finishing in Bath. Often following the escarpment at the edge of The Cotswold Hills, there are often views that extend to the West over the Forst of Dean and to the hills and mountains of Wales beyond. The route will take you through charming and pretty villages, complete with houses made from the honey coloured limestone of the local area and many sites of interest. Away from the villages, you will be immersed in some of the finest countryside in the country. With green rolling hills of pasture and farmland, the trail will take you across fields, through woodland and over grassland all the while surrounded by the honey coloured limestone of the area, whether it is in the dry stone walls or the charming cottages you pass by. Keep an eye out for sheep (and lambs in the spring/early summer)and enjoy your journey on to the next village as you admire the scenery along the way.

Highlights

Rambling through some of the most picturesque countryside & villages in England
Carefully selected accommodation at which to stay
Average daily mileage 14 miles
Soaking up the history of the area. Ancient abbeys, churches and houses.
Enjoy the satisfaction of completing this fantastic National Trail.

Key Information

From £650.00 – £1700.00 in Bed and Breakfast accommodation with private bathrooms.
Upgraded accommodation is available along the route, please ask for a quote.
Best time to go: March – September

What’s Included

7-12 nights B&B accommodation
Luggage transfers each walking day
Route notes & maps
Local back-up

*Upgraded accommodation is available upon request, please ask for a quote.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Chipping Campden

Arrive Chipping Campden for overnight.

Day 2: Chipping Campden to Stanton (10.5 miles- 16.8 km)

Departing from the attractive village of Chipping Campden, you join the escarpment where you will have fine views to the west as you walk over Dovers Hill and past Broadway tower. Explore the village of Broadway and take a rest before heading to the charming village of Stanton.

Day 3: Stanton to Cleeve Hill (13.5 miles - 21.6 km)

Today’s route from Stanton takes you through some lovely countryside, pass Stanway, home to XStanway House and its impressive Gatehouse and then continue on towards Winchcombe passing the ancient remains of Hailes Abbey on the way. From Winchcombe, you climb up Cleeve Hill home to the highest point of The Cotswolds, passing the ancient burial mound of Belas Knap as you go.

Day 4: Cleeve Hill to Birdlip (15.5 miles - 24.8 km)

Navigate Cleeve Hill and admire the views to the West over Cheltenham where you can see the Malverns, Forest of Dean and Welsh Mountains in the far distance. One of the finest views you will see along your trip. You then leave Cleeve Hill to head to Dowdeswell through woodland before heading across Leckhampton Hill complete with the Devil’s chimney rock feature and head to Birdlip where you spend the night.

Day 5: Birdlip to Kings Stanley (16.5 miles - 26.4 km)

Walk through woods passing the site of the famous annual cheese rolling event, Coopers Hill. Continue on to the pretty village of Painswick, nestled in the hills, before continuing on the rest of the days walk to Kings Stanley. This is very pesant walking through further woodland and then with open sections revealing sweeping views. Overnight in Kings Stanley,home to the oldest baptist church in the county.

Day 6: Kings Stanley to Wotton under Edge (14.5 miles - 23.2 km)

The walking starts off with some ups and downs on this days walk. There are plenty of historical sites to keep things interesting such as ancient burial sites and hill forts. Passing by the small town of Dursley, the route heads back up to the escarpment and you continue the rest of the way to Wotton under edge.

Day 7: Wotton under Edge to Tormarton (15 miles - 24 km)

The walking today is punctuated with many small valleys and streams as far as Hawkesbury Upton where you then leave the escarpment to complete the rest of the day. Passing small villages along the way, this section is pleasantly quiet and fairl easy going the rest of the way to Tormarton.

Day 8: Day 8: Tormarton to Bath (17 miles - 27.2 km)

The final day of walking is predominantly through fields and pastureland and there are some good views to be had before descending into Bath. Highlights include Dyrham Park and there are many interestibng memorials and sights along the way. Coming into Bath is a fitting end to the journey. Admire this UNESCO world Heritage site with its attractive regency architecture and rich history dating from the Roman era.

Day 9: Departure

Departure after breakfast.

Map

An eight night (fewer or more nights if preferred) linear walking holiday of the Cotswolds starting in Chipping campden at the Northern end of the area and finishing in Bath in the South. This tour has seven walking days. The grading and distance is aimed at those with confident hiking ability.

Tour Grading

Distance: 102 miles (163 km). Duration: 8 nights, 7 days walking. Maximum/minimum daily distances: 16.5 miles (26.4 km) / 10.5 miles (16.8 km).

This tour is of moderate difficulty. Average daily walking distance is 14 miles and the terrain is hilly with some reasonable cumulative height gains on some days. Terrain is not generally too rugged. The walking is Mainly on dirt paths through fields/woodland, some stretches of tarmac, and occasional rocky paths.

Longest day 16.5 miles
Shortest day 10.5 miles
Average daily mileage 14 miles
Most cumulative elevation gain in one day 767 ft.
Average daily elevation gain over trip 500 ft

Tour Gallery

Accommodation

There are different categories of accommodation available from B&B accommodation to Village Inns to small & luxury hotels. Ensuite rooms are booked where possible, in some B&B’s a private bathroom may be necessary.

B&B accommodation is generally in guesthouses, often private residences where some of the rooms are used for guests. They are also often smaller in size than Inns or hotels. All of our selected B&Bs will give you a warm welcome with a hearty breakfast for you in the morning. Because these are often private residences, there may not be the facilities you would expect to find in dedicated accommodation establishments. And they do not generally have options for dining in the evening.

Village Inns are generally larger, they may cater for only guests or they may also be a pub which also has guest rooms. They generally tend to have more in the way of facilities and have some kind of bar or dining options and are generally larger establishments than B&B’s

Hotels are usually the biggest of the establishments that we use and are more dedicated just to accommodation than B&B’s or Inns. There is a wide variety of hotels in The Cotswolds ranging from small hotels, to hotels with restaurants, to award winning luxury hotels.

Travel Information

Arriving By Train:
The Cotswolds are at the heart of the British rail network. Direct trains travel from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh frequently.

Arriving By Plane:
Nearest airport: Birmingham Airport (54.1km).

Other nearby airports: Bristol Airport (97.6km), London Heathrow: (164km). From London Heathrow, you can take the Heathrow Express train directly to London Paddington from where you can then take a direct train to Moreton in Marsh

We are happy to arrange private transfers to you starting accommodation, please contact us for futher details.