Cotswold Way (various tour options)
€1070
per person
Join us on a self-guided walking tour of one of England’s best National park trails – The Cotswold Way. It begins at the small market town of Chipping Campden and takes you all the way to the city of Bath (the published option below is shorter, but we offer complete programs reaching Bath as well!). For the most part, the route follows a Cotswolds Area of remarkable beauty and dives deep into the English countryside revealing picturesque villages, marvelous small cottages, and local traditional pubs. You will enjoy a combination of experiences you can only encounter in England – passing through lush green fields still bordered by stone walls and hedges, stumbling upon Neolithic sites, contemplating beautiful village churches all in the presence of remarkable natural surroundings. The city of Bath UNESCO World Heritage Site is a well-deserved final destination of the tour which gives the tour a tasteful cultural finish.
Level 2/3
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Destination
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Duration7 (6-12) Days I Level: 2/3 (of 5)
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What is includedHand picked B&B, guesthouse and small hotel accommodation incl. breakfast; Luggage transportation; People transfers to/from the trail when changes in overnight places require that; Detailed roadbook, maps and GPS tracks (1 set per reservation); Emergency phone support
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What is not includedTravel to the start or from the finish of the walk; Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks; Travel Insurance; Personal equipment; Transport when you need to skip a stage.
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Best periodApril, May, June, July, August, September, October
FROM OUR GALLERY
Self-guided inn to inn hiking tour along the Cotswold Way in England, United Kingdom
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Day 1: Arrive Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden is named one of the most charming Cotswold towns so you might want to foresee an earlier arrival in order to have a little more time to spend there. *Easiest arrival via London (2hrs. train ride to Moreton-in-the-Marsh, followed by a short bus or taxi ride).
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Day 2: Chipping Campden to Stanton (17km; 5-5,30; +450m/-500m)
Time to start your first walk of the self-guided hike. From the picturesque Chipping Campden, set out on the Cotswold Way along the Cotswolds escarpment, providing panoramic views from Dover's Hill, the site of the renowned 'Olimpick' games. Wander across vast fields to reach the iconic Broadway Tower before descending into the charming village of Broadway. You then ascend onto tracks that lead to Shenberrow Camp, an Iron Age hill fort. End the walking day in the natural beauty of Stanton, known for its honey-coloured houses.
*Accommodations in Stanton are very limited (normally you would stay overnight in Toddington (2 miles from Stanton). Transfers from/to the trailhead will be organized in these cases.
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Day 3: Stanton to Winchcombe (13km; 3,30-4hrs; +420m/-440m)
From Stanton, continue your independent hiking tour along the Cotswold Way, taking in the breathtaking scenery of Stanway Estate and admiring the grandeur of the Jacobean manor and Europe's highest gravity-fed fountain. Ascend to the escarpment for more breathtaking views of the Vale of Evesham and the Malvern Hills. Explore the historic hill fort of Beckbury Camp before descending to Hailes, where you will find a ruined abbey and a charming church. Continue walking through picturesque farmland to the enchanting Cotswold town of Winchcombe. Home to magnificent Sudeley Castle and Gardens, Winchcombe is a Walkers Welcome town and has been a mecca for tourists since the Middle Ages visiting the tomb of St Kenelm. Now it boasts beautiful Cotswold streets full to bursting with independent shops, galleries and eateries as well as some lovely places to stay.
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Day 4: Winchcombe to Dowdeswell (18km; 5-5,30hrs; +550m/-540m)
Leaving Winchcombe, you can witness the splendor of Sudeley Castle once again, which is steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful gardens, before following the path up to the ancient Neolithic long barrow, Belas Knap. Descend through Breakheart Plantation, onto Cleeve Hill, where you will enjoy extensive views over Cheltenham from Cleeve Common - site, housing 455 hectares of biological and geological interest, and also the highest point on the Cotswolds (330m). Your hiking tour continues through a butterfly reserve and quiet lanes before descending through Dowdeswell Wood, ending the day in Dowdeswell - a tranquil hamlet surrounded by lush green meadows and charming stone cottages.
*Accommodations in Dowdeswell are very limited (normally you would stay in Charlton Kings/Cheltenham (2 miles from Dowdeswell). Transfers from/to the trailhead will be organized in these cases.
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Day 5: Dowdeswell to Birdlip (17km; 5-5,30hrs; +580m/-450m)
Beginning in Dowdeswell, the hiking trail trail winds through Lineover Wood, which is known for its large-leafed lime trees and impressive 'heritage' beech (believed to be over 600 years old and thought to be the third largest beech in England). Ascend to Wistley Plantation and then past Seven Springs, which constitute the highest source of Thames River. Continue on Charlton Kings Common, which has stunning views, and then on to Leckhampton Hill, which has the Devil's Chimney rock pillar. This leads to Crickley Hill Country Park, which features viewpoints and archaeological discoveries, before crossing Barrow Wake's grassland and arriving at Birdlip through woodland.
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Day 6: Birdlip to Painswick (14km; 3,30hrs;+340m/-430m)
The final leg of your self-guided hiking journey along the Cotswold Trail will take you from Birdlip to Painswick, through enchanting beech woodlands, the on to Coopers Hill and its thrilling cheese-rolling tradition. Discover the historic Painswick Beacon, which features the ruins of an Iron Age hill fort amidst sprawling common land. Finally, in Painswick, known as the ‘Queen of the Cotswolds’ admire the iconic Rococo Garden - an 18th-century work of art.
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Day 7: Departure day
Get in touch with us if you are looking for a tour options, ending in Bath!
TOUR LOCATION
Price
1070 Euro per person in twin/dbl room
Single room & Solo traveler supplement
Single room supplement: 490 Euro
Solo Traveler supplement (incl. also sgl. room supplement): 730 Euro
Tips
Daily departures between the beginning of April and mid-October. Getting to Chipping Campden: Train services connect London to Moreton-in-Marsh (2h) and Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon (1h). If you wish to take a taxi from Moreton-in-Marsh this will need to be booked ahead of time as there is no taxi rank at the station or in the town. The cost is about £25. Or you can walk from the station to the Corn Exchange (a 5 minute walk) and from here you can take a bus to Chipping Camden. It is the Line 22 bus, it takes approximately 25 minutes and the buses leave hourly (appr. £3-5). Please note buses do not run on Sundays. Getting from Bath (in case you have taken the complete program): Fast and frequent train services connect Bath to London (1h30). If you have left a car in Chipping Campden getting back from Bath on public transport rail/bus takes about 3.30 hours. We don’t recommend you leave a car in Bath as long term parking is expensive. Please visit the Traveline Website or National Rail Enquiries for further information on public transport and timetables. One piece of luggage is allowed per person for the daily luggage (up to 20kg).
Accommodation & luggage transportation
We use handpicked quality B&B’s, guesthouses and country inns of typical Cotswold character. Honey coloured cottages, roaring log fires, comfortable country bedrooms and the warmest of welcomes are what we look for to make your stay extra special. Your room will have an en-suite or private bathroom. A delicious breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included. Most of your accommodation will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request. Dinner is available either at your hotel or at nearby pubs and restaurants. Daily door to door baggage transfer is included in the cost of your holiday. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. Samples of the inns we would normally book (subject to availability), or similar category: Days 1/2: Chipping Campden - Noel Arms Hotel; Day 3: Winchcombe - White Hart Inn; Day 4: Cheltenham - The Abbey Town House; Day 5: Birdlip - Royal George Hotel Birdlip; Day 6: Painswick - Troy House;
Send an enquiry about this tour
The reservation confirmation you will get right after placing an order only confirms that your booking is received and an agent has started working on it. It doesn't mean your tour is guaranteed! Wait to hear from us with final confirmation before booking flights or making any other arrangements, related to your holiday. The dates as listed below do not correspond with real-time availability!
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