England: The Cotswolds Walking Tour
DISTANCE
38.2 miles (61.5 km)
DIFFICULTY
Easy to moderate
DURATION
6 nights
5 days walking
Accommodation
Boutique Inns and Luxury B&Bs and Hotels
Travel Information
Price
£2050 pp
Walking Tour Overview
If you dream of an exclusive holiday in the heart of England’s Cotswolds, filled with charm and comfort, this self-guided walking journey is the perfect choice. Enjoy the freedom to wander at your own pace, following thoughtfully designed routes that lead you across rolling meadows, through flower-filled fields, and along peaceful woodland trails where you’ll encounter little more than sheep, horses, and perhaps a friendly villager or two.
On some days, your walk carries you from one delightful inn to another, with our easy-to-use navigation app and detailed notes guiding you to sweeping viewpoints, inviting pubs serving classic ales, and cosy tearooms perfect for pausing over a cream tea. Each evening, retreat to elegant country hotels and historic manor houses, where old-world character meets modern luxury.
Appropriate for most fitness levels, this walking tour of England has an easy to moderate activity level, taking you through the countryside on accessible dirt paths, turf, and gravel trails. Along the way, gentle hills and well-marked trails make the journey rewarding without being overwhelming. With every step, you’ll discover the timeless beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality that make the Cotswolds one of England’s most enchanting regions.
Tour Highlights
Wander through storybook scenery of hills, meadows, and tranquil woodlands alive with wildflowers and grazing sheep.
Stay in atmospheric country inns and heritage-rich manors, complete with manicured gardens and warm hospitality.
Walk sections of iconic English trails, including the panoramic Cotswold Way, the gentle Heart of England Way, and the historic Monarch’s Way.
Discover Cheltenham, the “Western Gateway to the Cotswolds,” renowned for its graceful Regency buildings and cultural vibrancy.
Visit the magnificent Sudeley Castle & Gardens, the final resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth wife, and a treasure of English history.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cheltenham
Arrive in Cheltenham, the cultural heart of the Cotswolds, known for its Regency architecture and elegant green spaces. Settle into your hotel, perhaps explore the promenade or tThe Wilson Art Gallery, and meet at 5:00 p.m. for orientation.
Day 2: Winchcombe to Broadway (9.3 miles/14.9 km )
Start at the historic Sudeley Castle, final resting place of Katherine Parr, before following the Cotswold Way past Hailes Abbey and Beckbury Camp’s Iron Age fort. Pass Stanway House and the charming village of Stanton before reaching Broadway, the “Jewel of the Cotswolds.” After exploring its honey-stone streets, transfer to your country hotel for dinner.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Hidcote to Dormy House via Chipping Campden (9.6 miles/15.4 km)
Begin at Hidcote Gardens, then walk through rolling hills to Chipping Campden, once a thriving wool town. Continue along the Cotswold Way, with an optional detour to Broadway Tower for sweeping views across the countryside. Return to your hotel to relax or enjoy the spa.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Chipping Campden to Moreton-in-Marsh (7.1 miles/11.4 km)
Walk the Heart of England Way through the hamlets of Broad Campden and Blockley, once a silk-weaving hub. Pass Batsford Arboretum before descending into the historic market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, your stop for the night.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Broadwell Crossroads to Upper Slaughter (5.4 miles/8.7 km )
Set out from Broadwell Crossroads, walking through open farmland to historic Stow-on-the-Wold. Continue past oak woods and on to Upper Slaughter. A scenic detour leads through Lower Slaughter to Bourton-on-the-Water, famous for its riverside charm.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Bibury to Coln St. Aldwyns loop (6.8 miles/10.9 km)
Explore Bibury, home to the iconic Arlington Row cottages, before following quiet paths along the River Coln. Stop in Coln St. Aldwyns for lunch or a pint before looping back through meadows and farmland to Bibury, where you spend the night in a historic inn.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
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Distance
Total: 38.2 miles (61.5 km)
Duration: 5 walking days
Average daily mileage: 7.6 miles (12.3 km)
Longest day: 9.6 miles (15.4 km)
Shortest day: 5.4 miles (8.7 km)
Duration
6 nights
5 days walking
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour has been hand-picked to provide guests with a luxurious experience of England’s Cotswolds.
All of our selected B&Bs, Inns, and Hotels will give you a warm welcome with a hearty breakfast in the morning to set you off on your day’s walk.
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Consisting of gradual hills, accommodating terrain, and an average of 7 to 10 miles per day, this walking route is considered easy to moderate and is appropriate for most levels of fitness. You’ll walk through quintessential English countryside on gravel roads, turf, packed earth trails, and some loose gravel paths.
Highest elevation gain in one day: 850ft (260m)
Average daily elevation gain: 590ft (180m)
Travel Information
Best time to go: March – September
Arriving By Train:
The Cotswolds are at the heart of the British rail network. Direct trains travel from London Paddington Station to Cheltenham Spa Station frequently.
Arriving By Plane:
Recommended airports: London Heathrow, Birmingham International
From London Heathrow, you can take the Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth Line metro to London Paddington station, where you can catch a direct train to Bath Spa station. The journey from London Paddington to Bath Spa takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The journey is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes from Birmingham International.
National Express bus services also go to Cheltenham bus station, and these run fairly frequently from London.
Arriving By Car:
There are often on-street parking restrictions in the centre of Cheltenham, and you may need to go out from the centre some way to find on-street parking with no restrictions. Long-stay car parks are available around the city.
Private Transfer:
We are happy to arrange private transfers to your starting accommodation.
Please contact us for further details.
Price
£2050 pp
Two people sharing a room
Luxury accommodation with a private bathroom
Pricing includes:
- 6 nights of luxury hotel, inn, and select B&B accommodation
- Luggage transfers each walking day
- Transfers on appropriate walking days
- Route notes and maps
- Local backup on call
Please contact us to enquire about the single supplement for this tour if you plan on travelling alone.