The Heart Of William Morris Country

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DISTANCE

6.75 miles (10 km) per day

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DURATION

3 nights

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DIFFICULTY

Easy To Moderate

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Accommodation

B&B Accommodation, Village Inns, Luxury Hostels

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Travel Information

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Price

£585

Walking Tour Overview

Our Heart of William Morris Country Walk has been curated to give guests a glimpse into the life of one of England’s most influential artists. Morris was a designer, poet, artist, and social activist who is considered a pioneer in the development of modern design. He is credited with starting the Arts and Crafts Movement.

This tour is an easy self-guided walking holiday in the heart of William Morris country. Starting in Bibury, which Morris himself described as the ‘most beautiful village in England’, you stroll through idyllic countryside scenery and quaint Cotswolds villages and end off in Kelmscott, where Morris spent his later years and completed some of his most influential work.

Tour Highlights

Our William Morris walk showcases quintessential Cotswold charm, mixing natural beauty with historical intrigue and classic English countryside appeal.

On this tour, you’ll visit Bibury, called “the most beautiful village in England” by Morris himself.

Visit the iconic weavers’ cottages of Arlington Row for an idyllic postcard scene.

Walk along the tranquil river Coln and take in the scenery that inspired William Morris.

Walk to Fairford, with its magnificent wool church and complete set of medieval stained glass.

Witness Jacobean opulence at Bibury Court Manor House.

See William Morris’ country home and visit the William Morris Memorial that commemorates his deep personal and artistic connections to Kelmscott.

Stroll alongside the river Thames which runs through the village, offering scenic walking paths and views that Morris would have enjoyed during his time in Kelmscott.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bibury

Arrive in Bibury for your first overnight. Bibury is a charming village, with a clear trout stream, picturesque Arlington Row and a Saxon church. The village inspired William Morris so much so that he called it ‘the most beautiful village in England’.

Day 2: Bibury to Fairford (6.75 miles/11 km)

Day 2 takes you on a charming walk across beautiful Cotswold countryside, through a couple of charming villages and across meadows and woodland to Fairford. An often overlooked village, Fairford is worthy of a prolonged visit for its magnificent set of stained glass in the church, one of the only complete sets extant in England. Transfer back to Bibury for overnight.

Day 3: Lechlade/Inglesham to Kelmscott (6.15 miles/9.8 km)

First walk to Inglesham to see the charming unrestored church, much loved by Morris, seemingly frozen in time. Lechlade marks the highest navigable point of the River Thames – it was from here that local stone was taken downstream to Oxford and London for building some of those cities’ finest buildings. Then walk from Lechlade to Kelmscott, following the Thames, and arrive to pass the night in this unspoilt village, where Morris is buried.

Day 4: Visit Kelmscott Manor if open.

Walk along the river Thames to Kelmscott, William Morris’ home in the Cotswolds. Kelmscott Manor, set in beautifully restored gardens, is where Morris found inspiration for much of his work, particularly his textiles, wallpaper, and designs.

Map

This 3 night self-guided walking holiday in the heart of William Morris country takes you from Bibury to Kelmscott, William Morris’ house in the Cotswolds through some of the famous artist’s favourite countryside.

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Distance

Total: 6.75 miles (10 km)

Duration: 4 days

Average daily mileage: under 7 miles (11 km)

Longest day: 6.75 miles (11 km)

Shortest day: 6.15 miles (9.9 km)

Easy to Moderate

Easy to Moderate

There are no prolonged or large altitude gains along this route and terrain is generally not too rugged, making this tour accommodating for most levels of fitness and hiking experience. You’ll walk primarily on dirt paths through fields, with some stretches of tarmac, and occasional rocky paths.

Duration

3 nights

2 days walking

Accommodation

Accommodation on this William Morris themed Cotswolds tour has been hand-picked to provide guests with an authentic experience of the artist’s favourite villages.

Though accommodation may vary from tour to tour, we gravitate towards a selection of quintessential English countryside stays. Some favourties when it comes to our Heart of William Morris walking tour include:

The Swan Hotel at Bibury

Kelmscott House B&B at Kelmscott

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 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 take a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh.

Arriving By Car:

Note that there is some limited on-road parking with no restrictions in the village. Accommodation will often not permit you to leave your car for the duration, or may charge a fee. There is a long-stay car park at the train station.

Private Transfer:

We are happy to arrange private transfers to your starting accommodation.

Please contact us for further details.