Cotswold Way

Start your exploration of the Cotswolds in the enchanting market town of Chipping Campden. Within easy reach of Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Chipping Campden boasts an elegant high street with many of its buildings dating back to the medieval period. Its centrepiece is the 17th-century limestone market hall which was built to provide shelter for traders of cheese, butter and poultry over the past centuries. For many walkers, an extra night is often added to explore the beauty of Chipping Campden (or nearby Stratford-upon-Avon) before beginning the walk.

Accommodation: Bantam Tea Rooms
Located in the heart of Chipping Campden, Bantam Tea Rooms overlooks the 17th-century market hall. The building itself is over 300 years old and has featured as a dairy, butchers and antiques hall. More recently, in the 1950’s ‘Mrs Betty Brock and her Babes’ ran the property as a tea room, which eventually became this welcoming accommodation for walkers!

Leaving the historic streets of Chipping Campden head out onto the Cotswold Way hiking through crop fields and grazing pastures as you gently ascend to Dovers Hill and the ancient remains of a Roman vineyard. The route continues through wild meadows and woodland to the panoramic viewpoint and folly tower of Broadway, where below, the pristine tree-lined streets of Broadway town make for a great lunch spot. From Broadway, a steady climb continues through a succession of forests and rolling meadows before your final descent of the day to the thatched cottages and limestone houses of Stanton village.

Walk: 16.5km
Ascent: 400m
Descent: 400m
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Post House
Dating back to the 17th century, this family run guest house offers comfortable en-suite accommodation. Complete with friendly dogs, Ivy and Radish, your host Jo, provides a hearty breakfast with homemade preserves, fresh breads, croissants and of course, a traditional English breakfast.

Begin the day with an easy stroll across wild meadows and farmland to the hamlet of Stanway, where you will pass by the 16th century Jacobean Manor, Stanway House. Climbing out of Stanway, ascend to high grazing pastures before descending to Hailes, where you can visit the ruins of a Cistercian Abbey, built in 1246. Only a few KM’s further sees you arrive into the lively town of Winchcombe, home to Sudeley Castle and burial place of Queen Katherine-Parr, the last wife of King Henry VIII. Onwards from Winchcombe, the trail rolls to Cleeve Hill, the highest peak of the Cotswolds. Here, soak up far-reaching views of Cheltenham Spa and across to the Malvern Hills before arriving at your accommodation for the night.

Walk: 20.5km
Ascent: 570m
Descent: 370m
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Cleeve Hill Hotel
At the foot of Cleeve Hill and only a few minutes stroll from the nearby pub, this hotel has been welcoming walkers for many years (guests always enjoy the honesty bar, stocked with local gin!). En-suite rooms are comfortable with complimentary tea and coffee in good supply. Serving organic, locally sourced produce is the perfect set-up to tackle Cleeve Hill!

After a morning climb to the summit of Cleeve Hill follow an undulating route along the western Cotswold escarpment, high above the town of Cheltenham. A short climb leads to Devil’s Chimney, a twisted funnel limestone rock formation on the rugged trails of Leckhampton Hill where views expand over the Vale of Gloucester. The trail continues into the ancient forests of Crickley Hill as you make your way to the village of Birdlip, located on the old Roman Road between Gloucester and Cirencester.

Walk: 25.5km
Ascent: 600m
Descent: 620m
Meals included: Breakfast & Walkers Lunch
Accommodation: Royal George Inn
A 3* hotel in Birdlip that offers an extensive bar and restaurant serving all the British pub classics, such as bangers (sausages) and mash, fish and chips and slow cooked beef pie. On tap are a number of local beers, along with an extensive selection of gins from across the UK.

A predominantly wooded walk this morning that follows the forested tracks of Buckle, Coopershill, Upton and Popes Wood as you make your way to Painswick. This honeypot village is about half-way along the trail so if you’re considering adding a rest day, Painswick is the perfect place to do so (we’d definitely suggest a visit to the UK’s last remaining Rococo Gardens if you do). Climbing out of Painswick, the trail traverses woodlands to Haresfield Beacon where you can see across to the River Severn and Forest of Dean on the Welsh border. Descending between the towns of Stonehouse and Stroud, pass by the old woollen mill of Kings Stanley village before arriving at your accommodation.

Walk: 27km
Ascent: 1140m
Descent: 1350m
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Valley Views B&B
This B&B sits on the Cotswolds Way trail within the village of Kings Stanley. Pam welcomes you into her home where you can relax in the garden or your en-suite room. Nearby take a stroll to the local Kings Head pub for dinner before heading back to your comfortable room.

A challenging and enjoyable day as you climb to the Cotswolds Escarpment and up to Coaley Peak. Along the way, visit Nympsfield Long Barrow (a Neolithic burial site dating back to 2500BC). From Coaley, the route rolls on to the market town of Dursley, perfect for a spot of lunch. The steady climb out of Dursley heads up to Nibley Knoll and the Tyndale Monument, built in honour of William Tyndale (translator of the New Testament, 1530). From here the route turns south-east through Westridge Woods to Wotton Under Edge.

Walk: 24km
Ascent: 850m
Descent: 800m
Meals included: Breakfast and Walkers Lunch
Accommodation: The Swan Inn
A favourite with the locals, The Swan Inn has been welcoming travellers since the 17th century. This old coaching inn has a bar, snug and restaurant so you don’t have to wander too far after a day walking the ‘Wolds. Rooms have been designed in keeping with the history of this historic property.

After leaving the market town of Wootton, climb to the woodland above the fields of ‘Nanny Farmer’s Bottom’. It’s then downhill to the hamlet of Wortley and southwards along the valley through the former wool-producing villages of Alderley and Hawkesbury. The route then heads through crop fields, grazing pastures and across the grandeur of Dodington House and Park, built in 1798. The route today finishes at the sleepy village of Tormarton.

Walk: 24km
Ascent: 600m
Descent: 530m
Meals included: Breakfast & Walkers Lunch
Accommodation: Compass Inn
Nestled in 6 acres of grounds, relax in your spacious en-suite room before dining in the organery (a vine-covered conservatory restaurant). Choose between pub classics or a la carte dining and round things off with a nightcap in the cottage bar.

An early start today would allow ample time to explore the lavish 17th-century baroque manor house and grounds of Dyrham Park. South of Dyrham, climb to the settlement of Cold Ashton as the route turns south-west towards Lansdowne Hill (the site of a bloody battle between Royalists and Parliamentarians during the English Civil War in 1643). With Bath now in sight, descend to the outskirts of this Roman city. Follow the final few km’s along the Georgian streets and architectural landmarks of The Royal Crescent and Lansdowne Circus, before finishing at the official ‘Cotswold Way’ limestone marker at the foot of Bath Abbey.

Walk: 27km
Ascent: 420m
Descent: 570m
Meals included: Breakfast & Walkers Lunch
Accommodation: Henrietta House
Steeped in history, this double fronted Georgian property dates back to the 1780’s and is located in the ‘new town’ of Bath. All rooms are en-suite with period furnishings and artwork. Breakfast is lovingly made by the resident chef, who even roasts fresh granola each morning.

With plenty to do in Bath, you may wish to add another night or 2 to further explore the city and nearby villages. Bradford-on-Avon is well worth a visit if you have the time. If you are departing on this day, your accommodation would be happy to store your luggage after check-out if you require.

Meals included: Breakfast