Cotswold Way 9 Day – 3 star English B&B’s & Guesthouses

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ABOVE AVERAGE

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs.

If you do not have access to hills, it is essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible such as on a treadmill or stair climber. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills is incredibly useful. Also, prioritising resistance weight training will help you develop overall muscle strength.  Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems, opposed to distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking.

If high altitude is a factor, incorporate sessions at a higher altitude to acclimatise your body to reduced oxygen levels if you are able to. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

TERRAIN

FLAT TERRAIN

Whilst training for walking on flat and hard terrain, you should focus on building endurance and ensuring you can maintain a comfortable pace.

Start with regular walks on sidewalks, roads, or paved paths to get used to the surface. Maintain a proper posture and engage your core muscles to support your back, keeping a steady gait. Ensure that you have comfortable, supportive footwear with adequate cushioning. If endurance is important, consider incorporating low-impact cross-training activities like swimming or cycling into your routine.

MOUNTAINOUS / UNDULATING TERRAIN

As terrain associated with mountain climbs is often somewhat uneven and rocky, balancing and core exercises are vital.

Try to also include some form of elevation in more than 50% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up mountains or hills, up and down stairs at work, or up and down at a local oval with a grandstand is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking. Concentrate on doing lots of squats and lunges to build your glute muscles.

About the walking

Typically, days are generally easy-going underfoot and you should be used to covering up to 25km per day with up to 600m of ascent and descent. Trails are usually well defined and cover a variety of terrain. You will be walking on forest tracks, woodland trails, bridleways, across rolling farmland and through wild meadows. You will also walk through villages, towns and on short sections of very quiet country lanes that often do not have footpaths so do be mindful of other road users. A moderate active lifestyle makes walking enjoyable, an exercise regime of 2 to 3 times a week is needed.

Although the route is well way marked, for each of your walks, you will be provided with routes notes, a map and the GPX tracks if you require to use them for your own device.

This walk is available from late April through to early October

Up to the end of May, you may encounter a few showers (it is England after all) and the fields are vibrant with crops of yellow rapeseed in bloom. Meadows and village gardens are blooming with life. From June through to August (summer months), the daylight is longer making it the perfect time for enjoying hillside picnics and sampling local beer in the pub gardens. Into September, the fields are busy with harvest preparations and often summer days can stretch into September. Whatever time of year you choose, you should always be prepared for a change of season during the day!

How to get there and away

Travel to Chipping Campden, England. When do I need arrive on day 1?

This walk starts in Chipping Campden and ends in Bath Spa. You can arrive at your accommodation at any time on day 1. Should you arrive before the check-in time of 3pm your luggage can be stored at the accommodation. If you cannot arrive at your accommodation until after 9pm, please let us know so we can ensure there is somebody available to check you in. Please refer to your accommodation list for directions and information about your first night’s stay in Chipping Campden.

How to get to Chipping Campden, England, the start of your walk

By Air Travel: Chipping Campden does not have an airport or train station but it’s not far from the nearby train station at Moreton in Marsh (which has excellent train links to London Paddington). At London Paddington you can easily connect with central London or the airports of London Heathrow and Gatwick.

From London Heathrow to London Paddington: The Heathrow Express service is by far the easiest. Trains run every 15mins and with a journey time of 15mins from London Heathrow to Paddington, this is the quickest transfer time. It is a good idea to pre-book tickets (purchases on the day are more expensive). Tickets can be booked at https://www.heathrowexpress.com/news#/ and are from £15 one way. From Heathrow arrivals, follow the signs for ‘Heathrow Express’. As there are 4 services an hour, you do not have to rush.

Alternatively, a cheaper but longer journey would be to use the London Underground to Paddington. From the arrival’s hall, follow signs for the London Underground and take the Piccadilly Line, changing at Earls Court for Paddington (around 1-hour journey time and around £8). Tickets must be purchased before boarding the train.

From London Gatwick to London Paddington: At London Gatwick train station, take the Gatwick Express to London Victoria station (30mins travel time) and change for a tube on the District Line to London Paddington (20mins). Ticket prices will vary and again, do book in advance for the cheapest tickets.

London Paddington to Chipping Campden via Moreton in Marsh: A straightforward, direct train departs London Paddington and arrives in Moreton Marsh 1hr 30mins later. Tickets are best purchased in advance from The Trainline website.

On arrival into Moreton in Marsh, if you wish to book a transfer from Moreton in Marsh to Chipping Campden, we can add this to your booking (20mins journey time and approximately £40 per car). Or you can take the bus from Moreton in Marsh station which is around a 30min journey time and around £5. Bus timetables can be accessed here.

If you are travelling from Birmingham Airport or from one of the main Birmingham train stations, you will need to a catch a train service from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford upon Avon. On arrival at Stratford upon Avon, change for a bus service direct to Chipping Campden (total journey time around 3hrs, £15, departs outside the train station).

ONWARD TRAVEL FROM BATH SPA, ENGLAND

Bath Spa has a mainline station which has regularly hourly services to London Paddington (1hr 30mins), or Bristol Temple Meads (15mins). From Bristol you can change for services to the north of England or further south west into Devon and Cornwall. If you are heading north it might be cheaper (and quicker) to return to London Paddington first. It is worth doing your homework to avoid high train fares.

For all train travel in the UK, prices, timetables and ticket reservations can be made through The Trainline.

If you are going to be in London for a few days before or after your walk it might be more cost effective to purchase an Oyster Card which is a prepaid travel card for the London transport network. You can purchase one at stations and many small stores. For travel on the London Transport network, please access https://tfl.gov.uk

A useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from, or to other destinations in the UK or Europe.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Never board a train in the UK without a ticket. Although some rural train services permit onboard ticket purchases the majority of train services do not allow this and will either fine you (up to £200) and/or ask you leave at the next stop.

Train travel in the UK can be very expensive. Booking trains in advanced is always the most cost effective. Often travelling off peak (after 9:30am and not between the hours of 3:30pm -6:30pm) can significantly reduce ticket prices.

Onward Travel From Bath

Bath Spa train station has excellent and frequent services to Cardiff (1hr 15mins), London Paddington (1hr 30mins), Bristol (15mins) along with many other destinations into the South West of England. If you wish to travel north from Bath Spa, you would usually have to change trains in Bristol.

For all train travel in the UK, please check The Trainline or National Rail for timetables, prices and ticket purchases. For bus travel within and across the Cotswolds, including Stratford-Upon-Avon and Cheltenham, please check Stagecoach Travel.

Another useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from, or to, other destinations.

Insurance

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.