The Cotswold Way

The Cotswold Way

Walk Details:

Duration: 7-12 nights / 6-11 days walking

Distance: 102 miles / 164 km

Grade: Moderate to strenuous


One of the National Trails and a challenging walk focusing more on the walking than the exploring along the way. Upon reaching Bath, you will be awarded with a wonderful sense of achievement! There is so much to see and do in Bath, you may wish to add an extra night to explore this magnificent city.


Upgraded accommodation available on request.

If you are looking for a truly indulgent experience, please take a look at our  Luxury Cotswold Way tour , featuring exceptional hotels with fine dining restaurants and/or in-house spa facilities.

BOOK NOW

Prices from:

£935  pp for 7 nights B&B

Price based on 2 people sharing an en-suite room.

Start any day. *


*Please see Key Points for details.


Special Offers - Discover our exclusive Special Offers—tours designed to be ready "off the rack," with guaranteed availability as described.


FIND OUT MORE

Optional Extra: If you would like one of our expert local guides to join you for a walk, please enquire

about availability. Your guide will engage you in all things Cotswolds and explain the hidden secrets, routes, gardens, and history with a level of insight and personal experience that only a private guide can provide. Please contact us for a personalised quote.

Route Description

The Cotswold Way National Trail is a long distance walking trail of 102 miles (163.2 km) from Chipping Campden to the steps of Bath Abbey. The trail can be walked in either direction.

Following the escarpment of the Cotswold hills, the trail offers panoramic views across the Severn Vale passing through beech woods, open pasture with dry stone walls and picturesque villages with limestone cottages.

If you wish to find out more about what it's like to walk the Cotswold Way, please read our guide and top tips!

CLICK + FOR MORE DETAILS:

  • Chipping Campden to Seven Springs

    Arrive in Chipping Campden and explore this historic market town, the loveliest of all Cotswold villages, with its covered marketplace, beautiful 'wool' church, almshouses and silversmiths.


    Head out of Chipping Campden, following the trail up on to the Cotswolds escarpment and enjoy stunning views from Dover’s Hill, where the annual “Cotswold Olimpick Games” are held.


    Walk through fields and up to Broadway Tower, the 18th century folly from where you can enjoy astonishing views across the vale. After walking to the coaching village of Broadway, where an array of fine houses and inns flank the 'broad way', climb back up onto the escarpment, to Shenberrow Hill, from where you will descend into the idyllic village of Stanton. Then, a pleasant walk leads through the parkland of the Stanway Estate, with its Jacobean manor, magnificent gatehouse and medieval tithe barn.


    After reaching the hamlet of Wood Stanway, climb up onto the escarpment to be rewarded with magnificent views towards the Malvern Hills. Continue the walk to the Iron Age hill fort of Beckbury Camp, then descend to Hailes where you will find the ruins of the once magnificent Hailes Abbey. Walk through farmlands into Winchcombe, close to Sudeley Castle, last resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife. 


    Visit the ancient Neolithic long barrow of Belas Knap on the climb up to Cleeve Hill, the highest point of the Cotswolds, where you will be rewarded with spectacular views over Cheltenham, the River Severn, the Malvern Hills, and, on a clear day, the Black Mountains of Wales. 


    Head south from Cleeve Hill and across Cleeve Common with panoramic views. Cross Bill Smylie’s butterfly reserve and start your descent through Dowdeswell Wood to the reservoir. Pass through the beautiful Lineover Wood with ancient beeches and linden trees, then climb up to Wistley Plantation and continue your walk over farmland before descending to Seven Springs (believed by some to be the source of River Thames).

  • Seven Springs to Dursley

    Continue your walk from Seven Springs and follow the trail to Charlton King's Common with its breath-taking views across Cheltenham and the Severn Vale. Walk on the escarpment onto Leckhampton Hill and look out for the peculiar limestone rock formation known as the Devil’s Chimney.


    Follow the trail to Crickley Hill Country Park, enjoy the breathtaking views, and watch the butterflies attracted by this limestone grassland that is extremely rich in plants. The route continues through magnificent woodlands to Birdlip and Coopers Hill, where the annual cheese-rolling event is held.


    Head on to Painswick Beacon, the site of an Iron Age hill fort, then descend into Painswick, one of the architectural highlights of the trail, and the mid-point of the Cotswold Way. 


    Follow the trail on to Haresfield Beacon, with spectacular views across the Severn estuary, then pass through Standish Woods, with bluebells carpeting the woodland floor in spring. From here, you can either continue alongside the Stroudwater Canal and up over Selsley Common, a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, or follow an alternative route through King’s Stanley.


    The two route options converge in Penn Wood, from where the walk continues through the woods on the edge of the escarpment, to finally emerge at Coaley Peak, with spectacular views of the Severn Valley. Follow the trail into another woodland until you reach a valley with Cam Long Down ahead. After the steep climb up, you will be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views. From Cam Long Down, the trail descends into the market town of Dursley.

  • Dursley to Bath

    After leaving Dursley, climb up onto Stinchcombe Hill, then descend into the village of North Nibley. Follow the trail up another steep slope to the Tyndale Monument before the route levels out and leads across grassland and through woodland. The trail then ascends again onto Wotton Hill and leads on to the town of Wotton-Under-Edge.


    After leaving Wotton-Under-Edge, the trail passes close to the National Trust property of Newark Park. Continue the walk through a woodland towards the village of Alderley, passing through a valley with remainders of Medieval ridge-and-furrow. Follow the trail up to the Somerset Monument before heading towards the village of Hawkesbury Upton.


    After another ascent up onto Horton Fort, the trail crosses farmland to the villages of Horton and Old Sodbury. From Old Sodbury, the Cotswold Way crosses fields into the village of Tormarton, then continues on to the village of Dyrham, passing near Dyrham Park, a 17th-century mansion, garden and deer park.


    Continue the walk through Dyrham Woods and through farmland into the village of Cold Ashton. Climb up to the site of the civil war battle of Lansdown, then pass the famous Bath Racecourse. The trail then reaches Prospect Stile, where you can catch the first glimpse of Bath in the valley below. After crossing farmland, the trail becomes more urban and leads through fine parks and passes near magnificent regency architecture on its way to Bath Abbey.


    Upon reaching Bath Abbey and the carved stone disc marking the end of the Cotswold Way, a wonderful sense of achievement is guaranteed.

Itinerary Options

This tour is more about the walking than anything else because it is challenging in terms of the daily mileage you choose. If done over the shortest time of 6 days walking, the Cotswold Way will test your stamina more than any other walk we offer. Extending your time to 10, 11 or 12 nights will help to break up the journey and offer a more relaxing pace without diminishing the sense of achievement at the end.

CLICK OPTION TO EXPAND:

  • 7 nights - from £935pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Chipping Campden.


    DAY TWO

    Chipping Campden to Winchcombe

    18 miles/28.8 km


    DAY THREE

    Winchcombe to Seven Springs

    14 miles/22.5 km


    DAY FOUR

    Seven Springs to Painswick

    14 miles/22.5 km


    DAY FIVE

    Painswick to Dursley 

    17.5 miles/28 km


    DAY SIX

    Dursley to Old Sodbury

    20 miles/32 km


    DAY SEVEN

    Old Sodbury to Bath

    18.5 miles/29.7 km


    DAY EIGHT

    Depart after breakfast.


  • 8 nights - from £1,080pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Chipping Campden.


    DAY TWO

    Chipping Campden to Stanton

    10.5 miles/16.8 km


    DAY THREE

    Stanton to Cleeve Hill

    13.5 miles/21.7 km


    DAY FOUR

    Cleeve Hill to Birdlip

    15.5 miles/24.9 km


    DAY FIVE

    Birdlip to Stonehouse

    15 miles/24 km


    DAY SIX

    Stonehouse to Wotton-under-Edge

    16 miles/25.6 km


    DAY SEVEN

    Wotton-under-Edge to Tormarton

    15 miles/24.1 km


    DAY EIGHT

    Tormarton to Bath

    16.5 miles/26.5 km


    DAY NINE

    Depart after breakfast.

  • 9 nights - from £1,215pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Chipping Campden.


    DAY TWO

    Chipping Campden to Stanton or Wood Stanway

    10.5 or 12.5 miles/16.8 or 20.1 km


    DAY THREE

    Stanton or Wood Stanway to Cleeve Hill

    13.5 or 11.5 miles/21.7 or 18.5 km


    DAY FOUR

    Cleeve Hill to Birdlip

    15.5 miles/24.9 km


    DAY FIVE

    Birdlip to Stonehouse

    15.5 miles/24.9 km


    DAY SIX

    Stonehouse to Wotton-under-Edge

    16.5 miles/26.5 km


    DAY SEVEN

    Wotton-under-Edge to Old Sodbury

    13 miles/20.9 km


    DAY EIGHT

    Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton

    8.5 miles/13.6 km


    DAY NINE

    Cold Ashton to Bath

    10 miles/16 km


    DAY TEN

    Depart after breakfast.

  • 10 nights - from £1,340pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Chipping Campden


    DAY TWO

    Chipping Campden to Wood Stanway

    12.5 miles/20.1 km


    DAY THREE

    Wood Stanway to Cleeve Hill

    11.5 miles/18.5 km


    DAY FOUR

    Cleeve Hill to Birdlip

    15.5 miles/24.9 km


    DAY FIVE

    Birdlip to Painswick

    7 miles/11.2 km


    DAY SIX

    Painswick to Coaley Peak

    11 miles/17.6 km

    Taxi back to Painswick to overnight.


    DAY SEVEN

    Coaley Peak to Wotton-under-Edge

    13 miles/20.8 km

    Taxi back to Coaley Peak to start the walk.


    DAY EIGHT

    Wotton-under-Edge to Old Sodbury

    13 miles/20.8 km


    DAY NINE

    Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton

    8.5 miles/13.6 km


    DAY TEN

    Cold Ashton to Bath

    10 miles/16 km


    DAY ELEVEN

    Depart after breakfast.

  • 11 nights - from £1,470pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Chipping Campden.


    DAY TWO

    Chipping Campden to Stanton

    10.5 miles/16.8 km


    DAY THREE

    Stanton to Winchcombe

    7.5 miles/12 km


    DAY FOUR

    Winchcombe to Dowdeswell

    11 miles/17.7 km


    DAY FIVE

    Dowdeswell to Birdlip

    10 miles/16 km


    DAY SIX

    Birdlip to Painswick

    7 miles/11.2 km


    DAY SEVEN

    Painswick to Coaley Peak

    11 miles/17.6 km

    Taxi back to Painswick to overnight.


    DAY EIGHT

    Coaley Peak to Wotton-under-Edge

    13 miles/20.8 km

    Taxi back to Coaley Peak to start the walk.


    DAY NINE

    Wotton-under-Edge to Old Sodbury

    13 miles/20.9 km

    This day can be shortened to 11 miles if needed.


    DAY TEN

    Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton

    8.5 miles/13.6 km


    DAY ELEVEN

    Cold Ashton to Bath

    10 miles/16 km


    DAY TWELVE

    Depart after breakfast.

  • 12 nights - from £1,590pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Chipping Campden.


    DAY TWO

    Chipping Campden to Stanton

    10.5 miles/16.8 km


    DAY THREE

    Stanton to Winchcombe

    7.5 miles/12 km


    DAY FOUR

    Winchcombe to Dowdeswell

    11 miles/17.7 km


    DAY FIVE

    Dowdeswell to Birdlip

    10 miles/16 km


    DAY SIX

    Birdlip to Painswick

    7 miles/11.2 km


    DAY SEVEN

    Painswick to Stonehouse

    9 miles/14.4 km


    DAY EIGHT

    Stonehouse to Dursley

    9.5 miles/15.2 km


    DAY NINE

    Dursley to Wotton-under-Edge

    7 miles/11.2 km


    DAY TEN

    Wotton-under-Edge to Old Sodbury

    13 miles/20.9 km

    This day can be shortened to 11 miles if needed.


    DAY ELEVEN

    Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton

    8.5 miles/13.6 km


    DAY TWELVE

    Cold Ashton to Bath

    10 miles/16 km


    DAY THIRTEEN

    Depart after breakfast.

Key Points

Friday and Saturday nights in Bath will incur a supplement. 2 night stays at weekends are sometimes easier to achieve than 1 due to demand on accommodation.

What’s included

  • Up to date and easy to follow route notes and maps in a handy sized booklet. One set per 2 people.
  • Digital map download and walking app to track your position as you walk.
  • A helpful and comprehensive information pack, including notes on where to eat and what to visit.  
  • Hand-picked, high quality, accommodation from B&B’s to luxury hotels with en-suite facilities. 
  • Breakfast each morning.
  • Upgraded accommodation available on request.
  • Door to door luggage services. 
  • Local knowledgeable support and assistance when you need it, not just Monday - Friday, 9-5. 

When to go

Any time of year but we suggest March to November. Departure on any day subject to accommodation availability. Some accommodations charge a supplement at weekends or insist on a 2 night stay.

Remember

Many of our walks can be shortened by using either public transport or taxis. We can also adapt these routes to suit the time you have available and your walking capabilities.

Comments & Testimonials

We had the best time on our Cotswold Walk. Thank you so much for all you did to make our trip so memorable. We enjoyed the written directions and checked our status on the GPS app. They worked well together. Thank you, Andrew, for delivering the trekking poles to our hotel and the recommendation for curry in Winchcombe. The accommodations were excellent! We couldn't be more pleased with our experience and we can't wait to tell all our friends. As I said in my Trip Advisor review, our feet our tired but our souls are refreshed. Our heartfelt gratitude.

Kitty and Joel A.

July 2024

I am just writing to say thank you for planning our walking adventure and supporting us along the way. We really enjoyed walking the Cotswold Way. We completed the entire walk, save for one small section between Painswick and Coaley Peak. As it was halfway along the route, and since we had two nights at the lovely Painswick Hotel, we decided to take a rest day there. It was a good decision, as se were all re-energized to complete the second half of the journey.


We found the accommodations overall to be very good, and the trip notes and booklet you provided were helpful in answering any question we might have had. As a result we did not need to contact the office for any clarification along the way. Luggage pick up and delivery was flawless. Again, thank you for your clear communication throughout the booking process, and for providing a great service. It is a trip we will all remember fondly.

Mike G.

September 2024

Many thanks for your email as well as all your efforts in making our walk such a wonderful experience. We will be highly recommending your company to all family and friends! We really appreciate Adam being so responsive to all our inquires, as well as Barbara who proactively contacted us about dinner reservations at the Painswick during our walk. Many thanks!

Eileen S.

October 2023

The Cotswold way 10 day walk was absolutely amazing. We enjoyed every day, even with a couple of rainy ones! The division of daily walking lengths was very manageable and enabled us to take our time and enjoy the walk and still be at our destination in time to have a look around the destination villages. The scenery was spectacular and the terrain (hills) provided just enough of a challenge. People we met, both locals and fellow travellers, were friendly and welcoming. We did encounter some fellow travellers who had NOT booked with you and they were encountering problems with too much mileage each day (apparently unable to secure accommodations) and taxis not showing up ... so I told them...make sure you book with COTSWOLD WALKS the next time!!!!

Lynda A.

September 2023

Overall, the walking was more strenuous than we had anticipated, but we are really proud we finished it. I came to think of our two weeks as a combination of a walking meditation and couple’s therapy. To have the time to be together, to continue a conversation over hours - even days - without the usual interruptions; to take turns "lifting" each other when the going was challenging; to learn more about each other (even after being married for 35 years!), and also ourselves individually; to take on a physical challenge and see it through; to slow down enough to really get to know a place in all its beauty - all of this comes from a trip like this, and I really can't recommend it highly enough. I could go on and on - let me know if you want me to! But to sum up: thank you for a memorable trip that went smoothly and has filled our hearts for years to come.

Victoria C.

August 2023

We all thoroughly enjoyed the hike. My daughter and granddaughter both described it as "the trip of a lifetime" and I think the word we would all use to describe it would be "memorable". The places we stayed at, the events of each day, what we talked about, how many sheep we saw, will still be vivid memories years from now. A hiking vacation allows you to truly immerse yourself in the area and the slowness and meditative nature of each day allow you to truly see and take in the environment you are walking through. That along with the fact that we had plenty of time to have real conversations with each other made our hike a memorable holiday.

Elizabeth I.

August 2023

I already wrote to Adam about our outstanding trip, posted a review on Trip Advisor and have recommended Cotswold Walks highly.  In fact, one friend, Laurie Adamson just contacted you to schedule a trip next spring and another friend intends to go the fall of 2024.  Our stays at all four of our bed and breakfast accommodations stand out the most for us. We thoroughly enjoyed each one.  Our trip was perfect.  We only had two very small situations that aren't even worth mentioning. We were extremely pleased with Cotswold Walks, Adam and Barbara, in every way.

Cori D.

May 2023

We had a phenomenal experience on the Cotswold Way and the accommodations were perfect. Some highlights (among many!):


-The Neolithic hill fort sites

-Cam Long Down

-The woods on the route south from Birdlip

-The descent into Bath

-The walking south of Stanton

-Stanton was extremely picturesque, especially the 11th century church

-We enjoyed seeing the William Morris/GE Street-designed church of All Saints in Selsley

-Battle of Landsdowne site

Favorite pub:

-The Old Spot in Dursley; we were there for Sunday roast which was wonderful

Favorite accommodation:

-We greatly enjoyed Noades House in Tormarton especially with the beautiful garden


Thank you again for a tremendous walking holiday!

Matt and Susan S.

May 2023

Hi Adam, I have meant to write to you for sometime now. I want to thank you for an absolutely fabulous hiking trip through the beautiful Cotswolds. The accommodations you arranged for us were superb. Teresa and I enjoyed our trip immensely. It was in fact an ideal trip and we couldn’t have been more pleased with you and Cotswold Walks. I think we simply grinned our way through the Cotswolds! Well done and thank you so much for your efforts on our behalf!

Mary B.

April 2023

We want to say a big Thank You for having organised our vacation. We had a great time and everything worked out very nicely.

Charlotte and Christophe L.

September 2022

We have now been back from our Cotswold walk for a week. We just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our trip and appreciated the itinerary you worked to prepare for us. Everything about our trip was excellent and exceeded all of our expectations. The countryside was beautiful, the lodgings were all excellent, and we certainly enjoyed every pub along the route.


We knew when we were asking to book this trip that we were waiting until very late to try and make arrangements, and that it might not be possible. But we had been unwilling to try and make arrangements any sooner due to how unstable things have been, both with the pandemic and the Ukraine war. We sent out inquiries to six companies and yours was the only one that responded that you could make the arrangements. We are very grateful. Thank you.

Russ E. and Jessica R.

September 2022

We had a tremendous walk through the Cotswolds. Best long distance walk ever. Thank you for the wonderful accommodations. Every location had lovely and helpful people.

Jim H.

August 2022

Dear Barbara, Andrew, Adam and everyone else who helps keep Cotswold Walks working.

My daughter and I just wanted to say thank you for being such a foundational part of our wonderful walk together. Everything went smoothly and we enjoyed something unique at every location and accommodation.

Leigh A.

July 2022

We had a wonderful time, the weather was almost perfect (only had to wear rain gear one day), and the accommodations were wonderful. The trip exceeded our expectations in every way in no small part to Cotswold Walks. We heard from several innkeepers/hosts that they love working with your company.
Denise L.
September 2019
Hi Andrew....we are done! The work on behalf of yourself and your team, was, for the second year in a row outstanding, especially how little time we gave you this year. I preferred the Oxford to Bath walk, but this was also great. The weather on the first three days was dreadful, but I am guessing you don't have any control! We will most likely book to do something next year. Perhaps with some decent lead in time, you will be able to guarantee decent weather!
Janet I.
September 2018
We have just completed our second walk with Cotswold Walks. Last year we did Oxford to Bath and this year Cotswold Way. This year, we booked very late, but nevertheless, Adam and Andrew pulled it off. The prices are great and service was flawless. No question went unanswered, no matter how trivial it was. Their suggestion to take the shortcut into Birdlip was super as I wouldn't have wanted to walk along the side of a busy, narrow road. Accommodation was also good. Our first three days were 13 miles each in a "named" storm, but unfortunately, I can't hold them responsible for the weather! Looking forward to another walk with them next year!
Phillip I.
September 2018
It was terrific! Thank you so much for all your excellent assistance. There was a minor hiccup with our bags one day, but Andrew sorted it for us and all was well. Naomi and I both enjoyed the walk immensely. 

We even got to see the steam train that runs in the valley, more than once. Very exciting.

Again, thank you so much for a memorable experience! I’m already plotting my next walking holiday and will certainly contact you when I’m ready to arrange it.
Laura K.
September 2018
We couldn't have hoped for better weather. It only rained on us for an hour or so as we hiked into Old Sodbury. Everything was in bloom and we had a lovely time.

Everything worked fine with the room reservations and luggage except for one small thing--the reservations that you made for us to eat at the Mount Inn in Stanton were not recognized by the folks at the Mount Inn. I have no idea where the breakdown was but they were able to seat us, so things worked out for the best.

Recommendation: it may be a good idea to double-check any dinner reservations that are made a week or so before your clients are due to arrive to ensure that things go smoothly.

Another minor thing that we noted was that the weekend of 12-13 May was followed by a Bank Holiday on Monday, 14 May. I should have checked, but we were a bit surprised at the number of people on holiday in the Cotswolds over those three days. We discovered that dinner reservations would have been desirable on Saturday 12 May in Chipping Campden. We tried a couple of restaurants before we were squeezed in before another party arrived.  

Recommendation: it may be a good idea to notify your non-British clients of any Bank Holidays that may occur during their visit with the suggestion that they will encounter larger crowds than usual.  

The last minor nit is that I had no idea that your paper currency was in the process of being changed to polymer. I had £200 in 5 and 10 Pound notes that were left over from a previous trip to England in 2015. No merchant would accept them and I couldn't get them exchanged at any bank as I did not have an account with a local bank. When in London, I had to make a trip to the Bank of England on Threadneedle Street to get the obsolete bills exchanged for valid ones. I decided not to go the Mint to exchange a few old £1 coins.

You may want to explain the currency situation to your clients before they arrive. The current £20 note is scheduled to be phased out in 2020 and the £50 note sometime after that.  

I hope that you take these minor suggestions for what they are: small tweaks that will help your clients. I am a member of a hiking club in Nashville, Tennessee and another group of hikers plans on hiking the Cotswold Way next year. I have recommended your company to them.

Thanks again, we had a splendid time.
Rick L.
August 2018
Dear Rick, Thank you so much for your comments, we advise everyone to book their restaurant choices in advance, especially at weekends. We will take your comments on board, thank you for recommending us!
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday on the Cotswold Way Tour. The organisation all went seamlessly and, overall, we were pleased with our accommodation.

As you know, we used our own maps and guide book. We found the route finding straightforward and the signposting very good.

We appreciated the fact that on most days we were able to stop at some point at a pub/cafe for food and refreshments. A favourite feature of the trail for us were the the many extensive views, for instance in the Prestbury Hill area. We also did not find the terrain particularly challenging. For this reason we thought the Cotswold Way would be a suitable trail for a family.
Lucia C.
August 2018
We had a good hike. Everything went smoothly. The distances were well spaced, the B&Bs were generally pretty nice and - thanks to you guys - our luggage was always waiting at day's end. Our off days in Cheltenham, Painswick and Tetbury were memorable, giving us time to meet up with local friends, see the gardens at Highgrove, and just put up our feet for a bit. The longest day - 15 miles - was also wet...and we got a bit lost; however, we were put back on the right path by a friendly farmer. Food at the Falcon Inn in Painswick was excellent. The Swan Inn in Pennsylvania was too close to the noisy highway, but Malcolm's food was delicious. All 'n all, a nice stroll through lovely country. Thanks!
Virgil M.
August 2018
With the exception of the Swan B&B in Pennsylvania, we enjoyed all our lodgings. The issue with Swan was that it was close to a very busy road and, because of the air temperature, we kept the window open and due to the road noise, did not sleep well. However, dinner and breakfast were really great. I suspect that there was no other option given the distance we hoped to hike each day. 

The book you provided to us was very well laid out and worked well. Also, we wanted to thank you for your trip notes for the walk to Hidcote Manner from Chipping Campden and for the day hike in Painswick.

Overall, we all felt that with your help, the trip was a five star trip. 
John L.
June 2018
We loved the hike and everything went smoothly as far as transporting our luggage — well except for one day when our bags got in an accident and were late — of course, that day we arrived at the B&B early!

The trip notes in the book were great and before we left Canada we photocopied and enlarged the maps and had them in plastic covers. It’s probably not possible for you to do that but it would be super helpful and much easier to read and follow along the trail than using the book.

Altogether we had a wonderful time in the Cotswolds and will definitely recommend you to our friends. 
Hilary F.
May 2018
Well I can say that my experience with your company was better than I could have hoped for! I hope I can come and do it again. I thought it was really good value for money. Andrew was immensely helpful at ever stage! I had a health problem prior to my trip but was able to cut most of my hiking down to about 7-10 miles per day and use buses to cover the extra miles. The welcome pack was great- I especially made good use of the map. 

For me, highlights were coming up on Cleeve Hill with breathtaking views and the funny lambs up near the bench. Obviously the blue bells and garlic and plethora of wildflowers are always a treat this time of year. 

I really enjoyed the farm shop and cafe for a late lunch on the first day after chipping campden (I forget what it was called). But mostly I’m just a cheese-and-crackers kind of hiker so I didn’t try out many pubs or cafes along the way. 

For accommodation, for the most part they really were lovely. Honestly I was a little worried that as a “solo” traveler I would get stuck with the tiny left over corners and put in a broom cupboard-cum-guest room, but I was pleasantly surprised it was not the case. The host at the bantam tea house was incredibly sweet when I arrived early and exhausted from my flight from Australia. The Charlton estate (?) in cheltnam was stunningly beautiful and the host was very sweet. The only place that was a little unpleasant was The Fox in hawksberry Upton: the place smelled a bit of smoke and damp, and the breakfast room has no windows and I was in there alone to find it also had a motion triggered light, so if I didn’t wave my arms in the air like a crazy person the light would go off and I’d just be in the dark haha! In future I think you could use that place as a last resort. The place I stayed on my last day before coming into bath (I forget what it was called, maybe The Swan?) had the funniest, sweetest host who cooked the most decadent dinner and yummy breakfast.  

All in all, a fantastic trip- hopefully I can do it again next year
Jessica C.
May 2018
Dear Jessica, Thank you so much for your feedback, with regards to The Fox, we understand that it is now under new ownership, so we will keep an eye on it for an improvement.
First of all, Thank you for your great organization, moving bags, booking accommodation etc.

All accommodation was clean and comfortable with some especially spacious and luxurious. Breakfasts were good with some absolutely delicious.

1) Memorable moments. Wild flowers, Dyrham house gardens, Butty Bach beer, spectacular views over Severn, weather, arrival in Bath (where we first met in 1973 at university, this trip was celebrating our 40th. Wedding anniversary), meeting some amazing fellow walkers from all over the world.

2) your guide book and marker posts made the path easy to follow.

3) the Bank cafe in Dursley, Royal pub in Charlton Kings, the Mount in Shenton. All these places served delicious meals.

4) Of particular mention were Troy house ( super breakfast), Detmore house, Old Sodbury house, Apple Tree guest house in Bath. Valley views was super too, with an excellent breakfast and spectacular view.

We loved every minute of the walk and have decided to do another one next year. We'd like to tackle the South Downs Way and wondered if you knew of a similar company, unless you do that too!
Nick W.
May 2018
I would like to say a heartful thank you for your organizing my walk. The accomodations, the luggage transfer and the booklet on the Cotswold walk were all excellent! I could not have wished for anything different. Keep up the high quality of your work.
Christiane S.
Inzlingen, Germany
October 2017
My wife and I had a marvellous walk. The baggage arrangements were seamless and invisible to us. The bags were simply there waiting for us every day, which is a pleasure - a real pleasure because we get to look at all the things we don’t have to carry on our backs! The B&Bs were all great - very friendly, welcoming, helped either organize the taxis to dinner or else drove us there when required. The couple at our accommodation in Wood Stanway were a hoot!

The trail itself is a very fine English walk. More forest cover than we expected, maybe a bit more mud than we’d like, and there are a couple of hill climbs that got us grunting (especially after lunch in Dursley!). But we love the way a week or so of walking slows life right down and we had many friendly conversations along the way. The weather was decent and the long walk down the hill at the end in Bath was more than a bit sad. Thanks for making it all happen. We would happily recommend you to anyone interested in walking this splendid bit of English countryside.
Geoff and Janet P.
Vancouver, Canada
September 2017
Thank you for organising our Cotswold Way walking trip. We had a good time. The accommodations were fine and the hosts were gracious and welcoming. It was a great way to see the countryside. I would recommend this trip and your service. All in all, it was a very delightful trip.
Patrick P.
September 2017
We had a great time walking the Cotswold Way during the first week of September. The itinerary of 102 miles in 8 days tested us but we made it and there was a real sense of achievement when we reached Bath. Although we have lived in the Pacific Northwest of the US for many years we are originally from England and enjoyed reacquainting ourselves with the beautiful Cotswolds and all they have to offer.

On Day 2 [16 miles] we approached the end of that day’s hike by climbing Cleeve Hill in the rain and struggling with a 30 mph wind. We made it to the top only to find a couple of hardy golfers teeing off and an Australian couple we had met earlier retracing their steps because they had lost their way. On Day 4 [also 16 miles] the path ran for seemingly miles alongside and through the vintage-1891 Painswick Golf Club – the juxtaposition of golf tees and greens, a quarry, 5000-year old settlements and the Cotswold Way made for interesting walking!

The maps and guidebook were excellent. All lunch places were good but the real find was faggots and peas. I hadn’t tasted this Gloucestershire delicacy in close to 50 years!
Andrew F.
Portland, Oregon, USA
September 2017
Thank you to all of you for organizing everything for us so that we could take this memorable trip. It was so nice having our suitcases waiting for us after a long day of hiking. Also, thank to you for being there on the phone when we got lost! It was so comforting knowing you were there, just a phone call away, when we needed someone to talk to and get us back on the trail again. We will recommend your company to other people we know who would like to walk in the Costwolds.
Adele and Frank A.
California, USA
August 2017
As a former travel agent/owner, I have worked with numerous tour operators. I found the trip you booked for us to be without a single hitch. All the accommodations were nice, the route well marked, and any special requests met with complete satisfaction. I would not hesitate to recommend your services to friends and family.
Pam S.
Florida, USA
August 2017
We walked the Cotswold way, great experience, perfect organisation, nice interesting people we met, nice hosts, soaked shoes, burnt faces, wonderful landscapes! Everything that makes a holiday great.
Siegfried Ü.
Preding, Austria
July 2017
Leslie and I loved our hike of the Cotswolds. The accommodations at the B&B’s were wonderful. If we ever do it again we will not attempt it in 6 days though! We have and will continue to recommend your company to our friends. 
Keith S.
Virginia, USA
July 2017
Thanks for the excellent arrangements. All went off without a hitch.
Glenn H.
USA
June 2017
We had a wonderful walk. It was so much easier having our bags transported every day and knowing we had a place to stay every night. I did the French Camino last spring and carried my pack for 28 days. Ugh! Thanks to your staff for making this such an easy journey.
Joey L.
Colorado, USA
June 2017
Thank you for organising a brilliant walking holiday in the Cotswolds for us recently. On the whole the accommodation was very good. We were unfortunate in a way to be on holiday during the really hot spell of weather with daytime temperatures in the low 30's and night time temperatures not much lower. On several occasions we had 'attic' rooms which were extremely hot in that somewhat unusual weather. We much appreciated the places where we were given a fan for the room.

Our accommodation in Cold Ashton was excellent with a very friendly host. She prepared us a wonderful evening meal finished with freshly picked fruit from her garden. As the weather was good we were able to enjoy our meal in her lovely garden. This was possibly the highlight of our holiday. The accommodation in Bath was to have a hard act to follow but didn't disappoint and probably provided the best breakfast of the holiday.

The map and instruction book enabled us to find our way without problems and the path is generally well signposted anyway. We recommend the Tulsi Tandoori in Bath for an evening meal and a visit to Bath Abbey to see the exquisite embroideries in the many diptychs and in the altar cloths. Many thanks again for all your hard work in organising the holiday so that everything ran smoothly.
Andy and Julie R.
Bournemouth, UK
June 2017
Wonderful walking tour through the Cotswolds. All accommodation was very nice. All the hosts and staff were really nice and left us nothing to desire. All the food was really good, we met many friendly people on the way and in the pubs and inns. Real fun was a quiz evening in the Dog Inn at Old Sodbury, we teamed up with three locals and scored the fewest points - but it was one of the best evenings.

The way is mostly very easy to find. Everything was very well organized, the taxi driver awaited us at the Birmingham airport, our bags awaited us every evening - there was nothing to complain. The weather was marvellous - no drop of rain (but a lot of sweat), so it was one of the best holidays we ever had. Highly recommended.
Rosmarie and Wolfgang W. 
Germany
June 2017
The walk along the Cotswold way was incredibly beautiful and I really loved it! Accommodations were all really nice and people who ran them really friendly. I had a hard time on the way from Painswick to Dursley because I ran out of water and I could not find any place to fill my bottle/buy something to drink along all the way. Beside that, everything was great and I would really like to thank you for your perfect organization!
Silvia R.
June 2017
Thank you for our great trip. Everything went very smoothly and we were very impressed with the whole organization. We were blessed with remarkably good weather (almost too hot by the end) and we were glad of the warm welcome we received each afternoon from our hosts. All in all, it was a great experience and one that we would thoroughly recommend. We're already thinking about the next one!
Anne-Marie and Nicholas H.
June 2017
We had a wonderful walk. Thank you for all the arrangements. We were very lucky with the weather...didn't even need our rain gear! We all had a great time.
Betsy D.
June 2017
Your organisation was great. Everything went very efficiently except for the last baggage delivery in Bath and that was speedily rectified. The walk was great, lovely countryside and interesting historic villages, and the route notes in the book you supplied were very good. I didn't need to use the supplied map at all. I did go off course a couple of times but on retracing my route realised it was my fault for missing a sign. You need a reasonable level of fitness but don't have to be super fit, there is quite a lot of up and down but you made this clear on your website. I had no problem with distances or hills. Thanks again for your superior organisation.
Pat D.
June 2017
We did very much enjoy the Cotswolds walk and this route certainly tracks through some of the best countryside in the UK. Overall we thought the planning and organisation was excellent and the accommodation was a very good standard. All of the places we stayed were receptive to any needs we had with no negative experiences at all. Some were somewhat better quality than others but all satisfied everyone in the group. The route notes also were entirely satisfactory.
Richard W.
Hobart, Tasmania
May 2017
Elizabeth, my husband and I recently finished our hike and had a fabulous time. No problems at all with the luggage transfers, and we thought all of our accommodations were wonderful. We especially enjoyed the champagne at our accommodation in Bath. Thank you and your staff for a memorable holiday!
Mary and Fred Z.
California, USA
May 2017
It was an amazing trip and everything went so smoothly. Thank you for a lovely experience.
Michelle and Jeff I.
Oregon, USA
May 2017
We had a very nice hike on the Cotswold Way in May. Thank you and your team for making all of the arrangements for us. In general, we thought the accommodations were very good. The wild flowers were especially beautiful. The wild garlic blanketed the woodlands and was very fragrant, especially after a little rain. The varied colors of the trees as they were leafing were also very beautiful. I have included a couple of photos. We also spent several hours at Dyrham Park as we walked into Cold Ashton. It was a very interesting National Trust property with great gardens and landscape features.
Andrea G.
USA
May 2017
Trip went well. Baggage delivery each day was very reliable. Maps were helpful. Key issue was wet gear drying out overnight. Rained 4 of 6 days. We stayed dry but for our feet. Wool socks helped when wet...but weary of hiking 8-9 hours with soaked feet. This is just the reality of the walk which we understand and accepted. Overall, it was a wonderful trip...fantastic scenery...friendly people...and memorable ale. We would certainly recommend your company.
Maggie and Bob C.
USA
May 2017
We had a fabulous time thank you. The hotel in Bath was very nice but having walked around 18 miles (I can't remember exactly) it was rather a blow to find that we had to climb 6 flights of stairs! However, it was a truly wonderful holiday. All the accommodation owners spoke very highly of your company. I like a company that looks after not only its customers but also its suppliers. Thank you for a wonderful and memorable week.
Dawn S.
Chester, UK
May 2017
Thank you for a very well organised and enjoyable walk. The way marking is very good. The booklet and map supplied were good and had all the information we needed. The baggage transfer and taxi arrangements all worked very well. Minor problem when one taxi firm were unable to carry us because of illness, but another firm was soon found. The accommodation was all good and there were no accommodation problems with the dog. Most of the route is dog friendly with dog gates beside the stiles. Given that our dog is an experienced walker, we were surprised that about half way through she started to get sore feet from the dry and gritty tracks.
Mick R.
North Yorkshire, UK
May 2017
Just a note to thank you for organising our walk, we had a lovely time and all eight of us completed the walk without too much difficulty although there were some sore feet. The accommodation you arrange for us was very satisfactory despite a small problem at the Falcon Inn which was very quickly sorted out by the manager. So thank you again for a most enjoyable holiday. Yours sincerely, Denis
Denis B.
UK
June 2014
Hi Andrew, just to say thanks for organising everything for my walk so well. The walk went very well, no doubt blessed by great weather, the accommodation was spot on and I was greatly relieved not to be carrying my bags. Thanks again for a great service, Peter
Peter S.
June 2014
We had a splendid time. Everything went off without a hitch. All accommodations were good but the standouts were Upper Hill Farm and Labarum Cottage. We also particularly enjoyed Folly Farm for dinner.

As for lunch, we ate at a spot in Broadway, one in Winchcombe, one in Tormartin, and the Indian restaurant. All were good. Otherwise, we ate energy bars. Of note, Eight Bells is closed for remodeling until October.

Thanks again for the arrangements and assistance you provided. Very satisfied customers!
Richard D.
USA
August 2013
In a word, it was terrific! We were very lucky with the weather, the hiking itself was interesting, the distances just about the right length and our accommodations friendly and comfortable.

So, thanks again for a great trip.
Thayer C. and  Tom W.
USA
July 2013
We had a great time. The arrangements were excellent, and the accommodation all that we could have wished for, with the B&Bs being outstanding.
 
It was, of course, very hot and humid, and each day we were soon soaking wet with sweat, indeed the only blister we got was where a walking pole rubbed against a very damp finger on my left hand. The other hand was fine! 
 
We were very fortunate with the rain. We delayed setting off from Birdlip until 10 am because it had been raining heavily earlier, and we arrived at Cold Ashton ten minutes before the heavens opened, so we never wore our kagoules (if that is the correct spelling!).
 
Of course, our suitcases contained fleeces, pullover, cardigan, vest, gloves and woolly hats, none of which were required!!
 
We were most impressed with the service which you gave, and will be delighted to recommend you to our friends.
John P.
UK
July 2013
The whole thing was seamless -- the hotels, the restaurants and the ferrying of the bags and assorted people throughout the nine days. You did a terrific job of making sure we were well taken care of. Thank you for all your efforts. We especially appreciate that one day when you drove us to Belas Knap and then on to someplace south of Cleeve Hill so we could walk to Leckhampton Hill, call your taxi connection, and make it to our dinner reservations in time. We enjoyed your restaurant choice there too, as the Montpelier Brasserie. Thank you also for the maps, phones and books that helped us navigate.
We really enjoyed it all. Thank you for all you did. We will recommend you to everyone we talk to.
Kay S.
USA
June 2013
The Cotswold Way offers an enticing mixture of history, forests, stone villages and distant views from the escarpment. Not to mention an abundant selection of real ales. Andrew of Cotswold Walking Holidays was extremely efficient in coordinating accommodation and luggage and people transfers for our two large groups walking the entire way in opposite directions and meeting up in Painswick.
Alan S. - Bush Walking Group
Sydney, Australia
May 2013
Just a brief note to tell you 'thank you' for a wonderful trip. This was the best walk of my life; enjoyed each of the towns on the Cotswold Walk. The accommodations were wonderful; the owners very friendly and accommodating. Thank you for all of the work that you did in giving us a most memorable trip.
Jean S.
PA, USA
April 2013
Spent some time trying to think which day was best but unable to do so. I enjoyed them all, even the first day in the rain. Town wise, I probably enjoyed Wotton Under Edge the best. Good range of accommodation, which added to the trip experience. The Badminton Villa in Bath was a perfect way to finish the walk. I had to cut down on the full English after the first couple of days, even then I usually had lunch as a habit and not a necessity!
Greg B.
NSW, Australia
September 2012
We are savoring a cocktail in front of the fire at the Priory and reflecting on a very enjoyable trip. Thanks for helping us and coming out to see us. We had a great time in spite of the mud and rain.
Dan and Meredith A.
Illinois, USA
September 2012
Overall it exceeded expectations, it was a brilliant holiday.
Jamie and Paula B.
Australia
June 2012
All the walks were good each day had its own quality even the rainy ones. Overall I would describe the holiday as very good.
Thea L.
Denmark
April 2012
The highlight of our eight week overseas holiday! The most useful guide for us was Trailblazer the Cotswold Way. A few times we felt we had lost the track, but we kept on going and always came out in the right spot!
Rob and Ann B.
Australia
April 2012

More about Cotswold Walks

READ MORE
READ MORE
READ MORE

We would love to hear from you if you have any questions or queries regarding our walks or if you would simply like to gather more information.

Please visit the contact page to get in touch.
CONTACT US
Share by: