Cotswold Way Classic Walking Tour

Welcome to the delightful market town of Chipping Campden! This historic town boasts well-preserved features that can be dated back to the 14th Century. The town charter was received in 1175 from King Henry II and is a notable early example of town planning. “Chipping” comes from the Old English word that means market. Make your way to your hotel, and enjoy a comfortable night’s rest before your tour starts in the morning.

Leave Chipping Campden and begin your journey on the Cotswold Way trail, which first leads out onto the Cotswold escarpment. Along the way today you’ll enjoy the magnificent view from Dover’s Hill, the site of annual “Olimpick” games dating back to 1612, with events such as wrestling, leap-frog, and shin-kicking. Continue walking across the sprawling fields to reach the Broadway Tower, then pass through Broadway village, which is known for its connection to the Arts and Crafts movement. Follow the trail further to the village of Stanton and spend the night.

Please note that the delightful village of Stanton, which is built entirely out of Cotswold stone, is very small. There are very limited accommodations available, so you may need to extend your walk slightly to nearby Stanway, depending on availability.

Today’s walk starts with a steep but rewarding climb up to the escarpment. Enjoy the captivating view across the Vale of Evesham toward the Malverns. Continue to follow the trail past Beckbury Camp, a hill fort from the Iron Age. Walk through peaceful farmland until you reach Winchcombe, a town that is proud to be certified as “Walkers are Welcome”. There is plenty of history to explore here from the Neolithic, Roman, and Medieval time periods. Don’t miss the Sudeley Castle and Gardens, which is the UK’s only private castle, and also the burial place for Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII. Enjoy staying overnight in this noteworthy town.

Leave Winchcombe in the morning through the grounds of the Sudeley Estate. Follow the steadily climbing trail to Belas Knap, an ancient long barrow from the Neolithic period, then continue to Cleeve Hill, which is the high point of the Cotswolds. As you journey to Cheltenham, you’ll have several opportunities to view the town from above, first from Cleeve Common and then from Charlton Kings Common. Both viewpoints offer wonderful views of Cheltenham and the surrounding area. The trail traces the escarpment to Leckhampton Hill, where you’ll come upon Devil’s Chimney, a remarkable rock pillar. To reach Cheltenham, you’ll have to leave the Cotswold Way and travel down the Gustav Holst Way. The historic town of Cheltenham is known as the UK’s most complete Regency Town, where you can see many fine examples of period architecture. Don’t miss the excellent culinary options for foodies, or the museums dedicated to famous sons of Cheltenham: composer Gustav Holst, and naturalist Edward Wilson.

Note that today’s walk is 12 miles total, since you’ll walk 10 miles along the Cotswold Way, plus 2 miles from the trail down into Cheltenham. An optional taxi transfer into Cheltenham is also available. Spend the night in this delightful town.

Enjoy a peaceful day today as the Cotswold Way follows along quiet paths, tracks, and lanes until it comes to the Crickley Hill Country Park. Stop here to enjoy scenic viewpoints and informative archaeological sites, including evidence of settlements from the Neolithic Period, and a hill fort from the Iron Age. Stop at the cafe for refreshments before continuing your walk across the rolling grassland hills of Barrow Wake. From here, the trail heads into a woodland area before emerging at the village of Birdlip, which is your stop for the night.

As you walk from Birdlip today, you’ll pass the remains of the Great Witcombe Roman Villa, then continue through a beech forest to reach Cooper’s Hill. Each May, Cooper’s Hill hosts its famous Cheese Roll event, a crazy race in which a wheel of cheese is rolled down a steep hill and competitors chase it in a race to the bottom. After Cooper’s Hill, follow the trail to the ruins of another hill fort from the Iron Age in Painswick Beacon. Soon after this, you will come to Painswick. This picturesque town is the midpoint of the Cotswold Way National Trail. Painswick is known for its Rococo Gardens, which are worth visiting if you have the opportunity, and gained additional notoriety in J. K. Rowling’s novel A Casual Vacancy. Depending on your plans, you can travel immediately from Painswick or spend the night here before travelling on in the morning.

Begin the second half of the Cotswold Way by following the trail as it descends and crosses the Wash Brook. After this, climb back up to the Edge Common and continue through a forest. When you reach a clearing in the trees at Haresfield Beacon, stop to take in the beautiful view of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. There is also a hill fort here from the Iron Age. Descend into the lovely Standish Woods, where the ground is carpeted in the spring with wood anemone and bluebell, and with ferns in the summer. Emerge from the forest again into the grassy pastures of the Stroud Valley. You will soon reach historic Stonehouse, where you will spend the night. This village was listed in the Domesday Book (1086), England’s earliest records.

Today’s route begins with a walk through Dursley, and after this there is a steep climb to the top of Stinchcombe Hill. Soon afterwards, the trail climbs steeply again up to the Tyndale Monument and the Brackenbury Camp Hillfort. This is an excellent place to stop, rest, and enjoy the view of the surrounding area, including the town of Wotton-under-Edge. Follow the trail over the rolling hills, through wooded areas and up to viewpoints before coming to Wotton-under-Edge, where you’ll spend the night. This historic town has many listed buildings, independent shops, and restaurants that you’re sure to enjoy.

Start your walk today by passing an old drover’s pond and continue south on the Cotswold Way toward Horton, following Bath Lane. You’ll come to Horton Court, a National Trust property which is probably England’s oldest vicarage. Beyond this, the trail ascends up to Horton Fort, where you’ll find panoramic views of the Severn Vale and beyond. Continue respectfully as you cross some farmland, then through Horton village. When you reach the village of Old Sodbury, you will stop for the night.

After you leave Old Sodbury, the Cotswold Way takes you through Dodington Park, which is an extraordinary parkland designed by architect Capability Brown in the 18th Century. Cross a few more fields to come to the town of Tormarton. Walk through Tormarton and follow the Marshfield Road south for a time, then continue on the trail as it crosses some arable land then skirts the perimeter of Dyrham Park. Dyrham Park is a 17th Century manor built on an ancient deer park which is now owned by the National Trust and was featured in the BBC adaptation of Poldark. From here, the day’s walk concludes with a climb through a wooded area until you reach the village of Cold Ashton, your stop for the night.

What a wonderful finale to your Cotswold Way tour awaits you today! First, descend past Little Down promontory hill fort and the renowned Bath Racecourse into a lovely and secluded valley at Lower Hamswell. Watch for glimpses of the city of Bath in the valley below you and note that the trail slowly becomes more and more urban. You’ll pass a number of parks and stunning regency architecture as you approach Bath Abbey. Outside the western doors of the abbey look for the stone disc in the pavement that marks the ending point of the Cotswold Way. You have now completed the entire trail!

There is much to see and do in Bath – enough that you may choose to extend your stay here to have more time to explore this fascinating and historic city. Don’t miss the spectacular Roman baths that gave the city its name. Rest well here in Bath, with a sense of accomplishment. Well done!

Sadly, your Cotswold Way 12-day adventure has reached its end. Bath offers easy transportation options to help you on your way home. Trains are available from Bath Spa to London, or a bus can take you to Bristol Airport.