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Luxury Tour

A Grand Tour Of The Cotswolds On Foot

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DISTANCE

7 – 14 miles (11 – 22 km) per day

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DURATION

9 nights

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DIFFICULTY

Moderate

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Accommodation

B&B Accommodation, Village Inns & Luxury Hotels

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Travel Information

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Price

From £1040

Walking Tour Overview

The Grand Tour of the Cotswolds on Foot is a 9-night adventure that takes you through the best of the Cotswolds, starting and ending in the beautiful town of Cheltenham. This scenic journey covers charming villages, historic landmarks, and stunning countryside, offering a perfect blend of the region’s nature, history, and culture.

You’ll explore quaint Cotswoldl towns like Winchcombe, Broadway, and Stow-on-the-Wold, visit historic sites such as Sudeley Castle and the Roman villa at Chedworth, and enjoy the tranquil beauty of places like Painswick and Lower Slaughter.

With daily walks ranging from 7 to 14 miles (11 to 22 km), this tour is suited for those with a good level of fitness. The route is clearly marked, but may cover considerable distance in a day, in addition to altitude fluctuations across varied terrain.

Accommodation is carefully selected for comfort and character, providing a restful retreat after each day’s walk. Whether you’re admiring the rolling hills, discovering ancient villages, or experiencing local culture, the Grand Tour offers a comprehensive and memorable way to explore the Cotswolds.

Tour Highlights

Admire the Regency architecture, stunning Imperial Gardens, and the prestigious racecourse in Cheltenham.

Walk through the picturesque hills towards Winchcombe, passing the ancient burial mound of Belas Knap and visit Sudeley Castle, with its magnificent gardens and rich Tudor history.

Climb to Broadway Tower for panoramic views across the Cotswolds, then wander through the idyllic village of Broadway, known for its beautiful high street and William Morris Arts and Crafts heritage.

In Chipping Campden, explore the fine gardens of Hidcote and Kiftsgate Court, both celebrated for their exceptional design.

Continue along the pilgrim’s route to Hailes Abbey, an evocative 13th-century Cistercian site that once hosted thousands of pilgrims.

Enjoy a scenic stroll through Batsford Arboretum in Moreton-in-Marsh, home to an impressive collection of trees and peaceful walking trails, before indulging in the quaint shops and traditional market square.

Visit Bourton-on-the-Water’s Model Village and the Cotswold Motoring Museum, where vintage cars and motoring history come to life.

Explore Northleach’s historic wool church and the fascinating Mechanical Music Museum, and Cirencester’s remarkable Corinium Museum and Parish Church.

Take in breathtaking views across the Cotswold escarpment and rolling hills as you wrap up an unforgettable tour.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Cheltenham

Overnight in Cheltenham, a beautiful town celebrated for its Regency architecture and fine shops and restaurants. From the art gallery and museum at the town’s promenade, to the racecourse that hosts the famous Cheltenham Festival, and Imperial Gardens, Cheltenham is a warm welcome to the Cotswolds for a wide range of guests.

Day 2: Cheltenham to Winchcombe (7 miles/11 km)

Starting from the classical Pump Room, the route crosses Cleeve Hill – the highest point in the Cotswolds – to Belas Knap long barrow and descends to Sudeley Castle and the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe, with its fine wool church.

Day 3: Winchcombe to Broadway (10.5 miles/17 km)

This is a fabulous day’s walk. Follow the pilgrims’ route to Hailes Abbey (open to the public), then over the hills to Jacobean Stanway House, with its wonderful gatehouse, medieval tithe barn and extraordinary fountain. Pass through Stanton, so unspoilt that it has featured in many films, and arrive in the village of Broadway, one of the inspirations for the arts and Crafts Movement.

Day 4: Broadway to Moreton-in-Marsh (12 miles /20 km)

Walk up to Broadway Tower, the 18th-century folly, where the view is stunning and then it is but a short step to Chipping Campden, the loveliest of all Cotswold villages, and once the wool centre of Europe. Pass the old butter market, visit the fine ‘wool’ church, and perhaps the world renowned silversmith. Continue through Broad Campden and Blockley and descend to Batsford, with its arboretum and falconry centre. Finally, a stroll across meadows to Moreton, for overnight.

Day 5: Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water (12 miles/20 km)

You are soon among typical Cotswold villages with a detour to see gorgeous Sezincote if you like. Then it is Stow-on-the-Wold, complete with village stocks and picturesque square, down to Lower Slaughter and finally to Bourton-on-the-Water for overnight.

Day 6: Bourton-on-the-Water to Northleach (11 miles/17 km)

The route weaves around Bourton lakes, then crosses the hills to Sherborne. Stroll through landscaped Sherborne Park and continue to the tranquil and historic village of Northleach, with its glorious wool church, mechanical music museum and air of timelessness. Overnight Northleach.

Day 7: Northleach to Cirencester (14 miles/22 km)

Head for Chedworth with its welcoming pub (and nearby Roman villa, one of the best preserved in the country), before continuing to Cirencester, after London the second town of Roman Britain, with its excellent Corinium Museum and its majestic market square overlooked by the huge and recently restored parish church.

Day 8: Cirencester to Painswick (13.5 miles/21 km)

A stroll through the 18th century landscape of Cirencester Park brings you to Sapperton, once a centre for William Morris’s Arts & Crafts Movement. Follow the old Thames & Severn Canal, and then walk through perfect rural England to Painswick, ‘Queen of the Cotswolds’, noted for its fascinating churchyard and the Rococo Garden.

Day 9: Painswick to Cheltenham (13 miles/20 km)

Walk through the countryside immortalised in Laurie Lee’s ‘Cider with Rosie’ to Sheepscombe (which features in the book), which straddles an enchanting valley. The Cotswold Way takes you along the Cotswold Edge, with panoramic views towards Gloucester, the Malvern Hills and the Black Mountains in Wales. Overnight Cheltenham.

Day 10: Departure

Departure after breakfast.

Map

This route includes the best parts of the Cotswold Way (between Chipping Campden and Painswick), as well as some exceptional villages and landscapes that are not on the official route, including Northleach and Cirencester.

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Distance

Total: 93 miles (150 km)

Duration: 8 walking days

Average daily mileage: 11.6 miles (18.6 km)

Longest day: 14 miles (22 km)

Shortest day: 7 miles (11 km)

Moderate

This tour is better suited to those who have hiking experience and a reasonable to good level of fitness.

It consists of longer walking days between 9 and 13 miles across varied well-marked walking surfaces and conditions. A reasonable pace should be maintained to cover distances in good time.

Elevation gain and descent through the day can accumulate and there may be one or two larger uphill sections on the route.

Highest elevation gain in one day: 1469 ft (448 m)

Average daily elevation gain: 972 ft (296 m)

Duration

9 nights

8 days walking

Accommodation

Accommodation on this tour has been hand-picked to provide guests with an authentic experience of Bath and the Cotswolds.

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 Grand Tour of the Cotswolds include:

Clarence Court Hotel at Cheltenham

The Bell Inn at Moreton-in-Marsh

Blair House B&B at Winchcombe

Crown & Trumpet Inn at Broadway

The Old Manse Hotel at Bourton-on-the-Water

Wheatsheaf Inn at Northleach

Ivy House B&B at Cirencester

Troy House B&B at Painswick

All of our selected B&Bs, Inns, and 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.

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 Cheltenham 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.