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Best of the Cotswolds Self-Guided Walk

9 days

from

$1,749 USD

incl. taxes

View Dates & Prices

Walking & Trekking

Suitable for:

Age 12+

Activity level:

Leisurely

Trip code:

W08CC

Way to Travel:

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity:

Self-Guided Walking

Min age:

The Cotswolds are England's second largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are made up of meadows and scenic rolling hills above a bedrock of Jurassic limestone. This distinctive stone is quarried and used in the construction of the golden-coloured local buildings and gives the stone-built villages of the Cotswolds a beautiful and quintissentially 'English' look.

This 8-night walking holiday takes you through some of the finest North Cotswold villages with shorter walking days, allowing the maximum time to explore the villages and walk at a relaxed pace. Your route includes visits to some of the best-known towns and villages in the region including Broadway, Chipping Campden and Guiting Power as well as the Saxon capital of Winchcombe and the nearby Sudeley Castle, the last resting place of Henry VIII's sixth wife, Katherin Parr. Enjoy the rolling Cotswolds countryside, riverside walks and some stunning horticultural gems in the gardens of National Trust manor houses, such as Kiftsgate or Hidcote.

Accommodation along your route has been hand-picked in characterful Bed & Breakfasts, inns and townhouses, as well as an old bakery! Offering a warm and friendly Cotswold welcome and hearty cooked breakfasts, they offer comfortable stops along the walk and a charming insight into Cotswold life.

Highlights

Explore the Cotswolds - England's 2nd largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (2nd to the Lake District)
Beautiful villages including Guiting Power, Broadway, and Chipping Campden
Visit areas of historical interest from Saxon, Jacobean and Medieval eras
Visit the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle (last resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's 6th wife)
Stunning gardens at historical manor houses
Relaxing walks each day to allow extra time for exploring delightful Cotswold villages

Key information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
Full English Breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers

Countries visited: United Kingdom

What's included

All Breakfasts
All accommodation
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers

What's not included

Hotel upgrades
Transfers to and from hotels
Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Live Chat >

Request a Brochure >

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Days of Walking & Trekking

Day by day breakdown

Day 2 7.0km/4.5miles

Day 3 7.0km/4.5miles

Day 4 10.5km/6.5miles

Day 5 10.5km/6.5miles

Day 6 14.5km/9.0miles

Day 7 9.5km/6.0miles

Day 8 12.5km/8.0miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Expand all

Moreton-in-Marsh

Day 1

Arrive Moreton-in-Marsh

Standing at the crossroads betwen the Fosse Way Roman Road and what is now the A44, Moreton-in-Marsh, a small market town with a central market square and a set of stocks, is a great place to explore before heading out for dinner.
Day 2

Moreton-in-Marsh to Stow-on-the-Wold

Cross the high wolds to Stow-on-the-Wold, complete with village stocks and picturesque square, via the fantastic Mogul manor house at Sezincote and a number of pretty hamlets.

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3

Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton-on-the-Water

Today's route from Stow-on-the-Wold is a leisurely downhill walk across meadows to picturesque Lower Slaughter with its working mill and on to Bourton-on-the-Water, with its many attractions. A longer alternative walk is available for this day if you wish.

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4

Bourton-on-the-Water to Guiting Power

The route follows the River Windrush to the village of Naunton with its ancient dovecote and on to lovely Guiting Power, where the church has a fine Norman arch.

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5

Guiting Power to Winchcombe

Walk through woods and fields before the dramatic descent to the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe, close to Sudeley Castle, last resting place of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife. Overnight in Winchcombe, with its fascinating church and local museums.

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6

Winchcombe to Broadway via Stanton

Follow the pilgrims' route to Hailes Abbey, then over the hills to Jacobean Stanway House, with its magnificent gatehouse and medieval tithe barn and on to idyllic Stanton. Stay in the coaching village of Broadway, where an array of fine houses and inns flank the 'broad way'.

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7

Broadway to Chipping Campden

Walk up to Broadway Tower, the 18th century folly from where there are fine views across the vale before descending to Chipping Campden, the loveliest of all Cotswold villages, with its covered market place, beautiful 'wool church', almshouses and silversmiths.

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8

Chipping Campden to Moreton-in-Marsh

Pass through the charming villages of Broad Campden and Blockley and descend to Batsford, where you may visit the arboretum and falconry centre. On certain days of the week both Bourton House gardens and Sezincote House will be open. Finally, a pleasant stroll across meadows to Moreton-in-Marsh.

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9

Leave Moreton-in-Marsh

Depart after breakfast

Meals included: Breakfast

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Show map

c. Stefano Mazzotti

c. Cotswolds Tourism

c. Cotswold Walks

c. Stefano Mazzotti

c. Cotswold Walks

Essential Info

Visas

United Kingdom

UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.

For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers

Vaccinations

United Kingdom

No vaccinations are obligatory.

Eating and Drinking

Enjoy the local cuisine in quintessentially British pubs, cafes and delicatessens - local delicacies include Cerney Ash or Stinking Bishop cheeses, Crackleberry Farm eggs, Cotswold Cream liqueur and the local ales - try the Yubby beer from the Yubberton Brewery Co. There's also the archetypal English Cream Teas that go down a treat with a nice hot cup of tea!

Weather

The Cotswolds has a temperate maritime climate with warm, rather than hot, summers and cool to cold winters. The hottest month, on average, is July and the coldest is January with rain falling fairly evenly throughout the year. The weather is unpredictable as with the rest of the UK and it is possible to see elements of all four seasons in one day. It is advisable for visitors to check the weather forecast before they arrive in the Cotswolds to get a better idea of the sort of clothing they will need during their trip. Bringing hooded waterproof coats and hats will ensure visitors are prepared for any spells of wind and rain the region may experience.
Spring: The climate is milder in spring making it a good time to visit the Cotswolds. There can be some great sunny days mixed with cooler and wet weather. From March to May the average daytime temperatures are between 9°C and 17°C.
Summer: Most days in summer range from mild to warm with the possibility of some infrequent hotter days, the days are at their longest in the summer. There may be overcast and humid conditions in the summer. From June to August the average daytime temperatures are between 19°C and 22°C.
Autumn: The climate can vary from some pleasantly mild days particularly at the start of September to cooler and colder days in October and November. Autumn is a good time to visit the Cotswolds as it avoids the peak summer season whilst enjoying milder temperatures and longer hours of daylight particularly at the start of September. Visitors can see some wonderful autumn colours. From September to November the average daytime temperatures are between 9°C and 19°C.

Is this trip for you?

Walking Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely)
Average daily distance: 12.5km (7.8 miles)
No. of days walking: 7
Terrain and route: Walks on this holiday are on village streets, country lanes, farm tracks and rural paths.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Live Chat >

Request a Brochure >

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Accommodation

Cotswolds Accommodation

You'll be staying in a mix of HH, HHH, 3 star and 4 star guesthouses, B&B's, inns and hotels including a 17th-century former coaching inn and one of the oldest houses in Chipping Campden, dating back over 600 years. All of the accommodations offer a warm and friendly Cotswold welcome and hearty cooked breakfasts.

For those wishing to extend their stay in the area, ask us about city break add-ons in Bath or Oxford.