The South Cotswold Ring

Walk Details:

Duration: 6, 7 or 8 nights / 5, 6 or 7 days walking

Distance: 78.75 miles / 126 km (7 night tour)

Grade: Moderate


Longer walking days compared to the Cotswold Ring with more undulating terrain on lesser walked footpaths make this a more adventurous walk.


Upgraded accommodation available on request.

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Prices from:

£1035 pp for 7 nights

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

Start any day. *


*Please see Key Points for details.


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Itinerary Options

Longer walking days on less travelled footpaths, offering different villages and scenery to the northern Cotswolds.

The delightful villages of Northleach, Painswick and the town of Cirencester offer a real insight to Cotswold life that can sometimes be lost in some of the more touristy destinations.

  • 7 nights / 6 days walking - from £1035pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Cheltenham Spa and overnight.


    You can also transfer straight to Winchcombe to make this a 6 night tour if you wish.


    DAY TWO

    Cheltenham to Winchcombe

    8.75 miles/14 km


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


    DAY THREE

    Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water

    13.5 miles/22 km


    Follow the Warden's Way up out of Winchcombe towards the Salt Way, passing through Guiting Wood before reaching Guiting Power for a welcome break. The route continues on through open farmland and valleys to join the river Eye through Upper and Lower Slaughter to Bourton.


    DAY FOUR

    Bourton-on-the Water to Northleach

    11.5 miles/18.5 km


    The route passes through Bourton's water park then ascends to the Rissingtons, before descending to Sherborne and then on to the historic village of Northleach with perhaps the finest of all Cotswold wool churches.


    DAY FIVE

    Northleach to Cirencester

    16.5 miles/26.5 km


    Pass close by Hampnet with its charming church and head across country towards the palatial magnificence of Stowell Park. Arrive at the village of Chedworth with its welcoming pub (and nearby fine Roman villa), before walking to Cirencester, the second town of Roman Britain with its excellent Corinium Museum, market square, and the largest parish church in England.


    DAY SIX

    Cirencester to Painswick

    14.5 miles/23.2 km


    From Cirencester walk to Sapperton, once a centre for William Morris's Arts & Crafts Movement. Follow the remains of the Thames & Severn Canal (one of the great feats of 18th century engineering) and pass through a succession of tranquil villages to Bisley with its handsome church and 'Poor Soul's Light', before journeying through woodland to Painswick, 'Queen of the Cotswolds'.


    DAY SEVEN

    Painswick to Cheltenham

    14 miles/22.5 km


    From Painswick walk across Laurie Lee's 'Cider with Rosie' country to Sheepscombe, charmingly scattered along a beautiful valley. Through woodland and across country to Birdlip, joining the Cotswold Way to walk along the Cotswold escarpment with far-reaching views across the city of Gloucester to the Malvern Hills and the Welsh Mountains, before descending into Cheltenham.


    DAY EIGHT

    Depart after breakfast.


  • 8 nights / 7 days walking - from £1185pp

    DAY ONE

    Arrive in Cheltenham Spa and overnight.


    You can also transfer straight to Winchcombe to make this a 6 night tour if you wish.


    DAY TWO

    Cheltenham to Winchcombe

    8.75 miles/14 km


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


    DAY THREE

    Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water

    13.5 miles/22 km


    Follow the Warden's Way up out of Winchcombe towards the Salt Way, passing through Guiting Wood before reaching Guiting Power for a welcome break. The route continues on through open farmland and valleys to join the river Eye through Upper and Lower Slaughter to Bourton.


    DAY FOUR

    Bourton-on-the Water to Burford

    9.5 miles/15 km


    A comfortable walk from Bourton takes you around a series of lakes, the home of flocks of water birds, and passes through Taynton, whose quarries produced the finest Cotswold stone used in the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and many Oxford colleges. For those who want to spend extra time in the area, there are regular buses between Burford and Oxford.


    DAY FIVE

    Burford to Northleach

    12 or 13.5 miles/19.2 or 21.6 km


    Walk along the Windrush Valley via country lanes to the lovely villages of Little Barrington and Windrush. Pass through the Sherborne Estate and then on the the historic village of Northleach with perhaps the finest of all Cotswold wool churches.


    DAY SIX

    Northleach to Cirencester

    16.5 miles/26.5 km


    Pass close by Hampnet with its charming church and head across country towards the palatial magnificence of Stowell Park. Arrive at the village of Chedworth with its welcoming pub (and nearby fine Roman villa), before walking to Cirencester, the second town of Roman Britain with its excellent Corinium Museum, market square, and the largest parish church in England.


    DAY SEVEN

    Cirencester to Painswick

    14.5 miles/23.2 km


    From Cirencester walk to Sapperton, once a centre for William Morris's Arts & Crafts Movement. Follow the remains of the Thames & Severn Canal (one of the great feats of 18th century engineering) and pass through a succession of tranquil villages to Bisley with its handsome church and 'Poor Soul's Light', before journeying through woodland to Painswick, 'Queen of the Cotswolds'.


    DAY EIGHT

    Painswick to Cheltenham

    14 miles/22.5 km


    From Painswick walk across Laurie Lee's 'Cider with Rosie' country to Sheepscombe, charmingly scattered along a beautiful valley. Through woodland and across country to Birdlip, joining the Cotswold Way to walk along the Cotswold escarpment with far-reaching views across the city of Gloucester to the Malvern Hills and the Welsh Mountains, before descending into Cheltenham.


    DAY NINE

    Depart after breakfast.

Key Points

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.

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 returned to Belgium and wanted to let you know how satisfied we are about our holiday in the Cotswolds. It is really a beautiful region and we enjoyed every minute of it. The hotels and B&B's were wonderful, with a special mention for Guiting Power, Burford and Cirencester! We will recommend your company to all our friends and family!
Damienne D. C.
Belgium
July 2017
Thank you very much for organising the lovely holiday for me. I had a ball, even though I got lost constantly. This would be a function of my inability to read a map, though considered quite intelligent otherwise. Also, we in Oz have a different perspective of distance, so a short walk for us is probably a longer walk in the UK. When I got lost, I merely waited and asked the first person I saw. One of my nicest experiences in getting lost was on day one when I ended up on Cleeve common and Cleeve hill. The golfers were very kind. They recommended lunch at the golf club, which was lovely and then one of the group took me to the foot of Belas Knap, a special place.
Elfriede S.
June 2014
We had a very good time and were very lucky with the warm sunny weather. We walked the full walk on Thursday from Burford to Northleach and then returned by a slightly different route on Friday. The walk to Northleach was very pretty but the first section to Little Barrington on the road was quite hard work, although the views of the river were nice. We walked this section on the way back on Friday and with tired legs it was an effort. On Thursday, the Australians decided that they didn't want to repeat this road section, as they had walked it on Wednesday. Therefore they took a taxi to Sherborne, where we met up with them. We had lunch at the shop/cafe in Sherborne. This was very good and just what we needed; to be recommended!
The general comment on the hotels from the Australians and us was very positive and the quality and 'old English' feel about them was perfect. We had dinner in the hotel in Burford and the food was very excellent. The hotel in Northleach was also very attractive. The bed was particularly comfortable and the pillows were just like home! (something that often lets down even the most expensive hotel). Again the food was very good, although at this price, we thought that to pay extra for a cooked breakfast was a little unnecessary.
We were very pleased to join our friends and we all enjoyed the holiday. Thank you for the map which we will post tomorrow.
Tony F.
UK
May 2013
We had a fabulous walk and your organisational support made it really easy and very pleasant for us. Nothing went wrong! We appreciated how easy it was to work with you to make the walk we had in mind a reality. Thank you so much.
Pam W.
South Australia
June 2012

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