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The Cotswold landscape is an entrancing mixture of parkland, cultivated fields with dry-stone walls of Jurassic limestone and patches of unspoilt woodland. With almost all of the cottages, farmhouses and villages passed on this walking holiday made of stone, the scenery blends with the structures creating a delightful fusion of natural and manmade beauty. Stay in a selection of quality, independent B&B's and guesthouses whose hosts welcome you each evening. With straightforward route finding & good walking conditions, this is a perfect introduction to hiking in the English countryside.
England
Moreton-in-Marsh
Winchcombe
12kg of CO2-e PP per day
(49kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)
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Day 1
Arrive Moreton-in-Marsh
Make your own way to Moreton-in-Marsh. The rest of the day is free to explore the quaint town. The high street has many elegant eighteenth-century inns and houses including the Redesdale Market Hall located in the centre of town. Accommodation: The Swan Inn is a family-run inn and all rooms are ensuite.
Meals: Nil
Day 2
Walk to Bourton-on-the-Water - 17 km/11 miles, 5 h
Today's walk to the medieval wool town of Bourton-on-the-Water will take you via Stow-on-the-Wold and Lower Slaughter. The river Windrush flows down the main street of Bourton-on-the-Water. Bourton is well known for its footbridges over the river Evenlode and for its scale model of the village. Accommodation: The Lansdowne is a family run 4* guesthouse where you can expect a warm welcome on arrival (if we are not able to get you booked at The Lansdowne, we will endeavour to get you into an accommodation nearby but please note that there is no similar guesthouse that is of the same standard in this location)
Meals: B
Day 3
Walk to Guiting Power - 11.6 km/7 miles, 4 h
An easy schedule today, which allows ample time to explore Bourton-on-the-Water with its many attractions before setting out on your walk. Guiting Power, nestled in the hills above a small valley, is a perfect example of a Cotswold village. Accommodation: Overnight in a welcoming guesthouse in Guiting Power.
Day 4
Walk to Winchombe, various options
Walk to Winchcombe via one of these options: - Sudeley Castle, . 18.5 km/11.5 miles, 5 h - Warden’s Way & Sudeley Castle, 10.46 km/6.5 miles / 10.46 km, 2.5 h Your walk today leads you to the atmospheric ruins of Hailes Abbey, destroyed under Henry VIII, and the still inhabited Sudeley Castle, where Henry VIII's last wife Katherine Parr lived. Accommodation: A comfortable inn in the heart of Winchcombe. It has a cosy, rustic feel offering local ales and hearty food.
Day 5
Arrangements end after breakfast
The trip concludes after breakfast.
What's included
What's not included
The hotels described are our usual accommodation, however if these are not available then alternatives are used. Rooms generally do not have baths, the main reason being that they take up a lot of space. Some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers. Note that for the dates of your tour we may not be able to get you into the accommodation described. We will endeavour to get you into a similar standard of accommodation nearby (apart from Bourton-on-the-Water where there is no similar accommodation of the same standard), but please appreciate that there is limited accommodation in rural England. Also, although we aim to get you into accommodations with ensuite rooms, this is not always possible. At a couple of places on your tour you may be sharing bathrooms, particularly if you are in a single room.
We grade this walk as ‘Easy - Moderate’ in relation to our other U.K tours, the route is hilly, but not mountainous, the weather is rarely too bad for walking, and there are generally quite a number of villages enroute. Days of up to 20 km are not too long for most reasonably fit people.
Per Person, Twin Share
This is a walking holiday in the Cotswolds that follows footpaths into interesting villages that the Cotswold Way largely misses. There are a couple of days where you will be walking on the Cotswold Way for some of the time. If you like to walk the Cotswold Way National Trail, please have a look at our 12-day trip called Cotswold Way (code WAD).
This is a condensed trip, which means that you will miss out on Stratford Upon Avon, Mickleton, Chipping Camden, Blockley and Broadway. In addition, you will visit Moreton-in-Marsh, which the 8-day walk does not visit.
You will be mainly walking across fields, so being able to follow a map is important although GPX files of the route are provided. Unlike the UK National Trails, there is no dedicated waymarking, but you will find walking path waymarks such as yellow or white arrows, or waymarks for specific trails. Our detailed route notes will be of great use as well.
We recommend footwear with ankle support as it is easy to twist an ankle when you're in the outdoor. Please note that on this walk sections can be muddy after rain and it is certainly worth having boot-type shoes.
Bourton on the Water would be a good place for an extra day of resting or seeing more of the beautiful Cotswolds.
The walks on this trip are of longer distance and the accommodation is of standard quality. The trip is a day shorter, and is point-to-point like a classic hike as you will be following parts of the Cotswold Way - you will stay in a different accommodation on each night. If you would prefer a trip with shorter walks and more upscale accommodation, then The Taste of the Cotswolds trip (TCO) is worth considering.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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Personal Experience
We've been exploring the world on foot for over five decades, and our passion for walking runs deep. Having hiked nearly every corner of Europe, we take pride in sharing the joy, freedom and perspective that only travelling on foot can bring, all with the exceptional service and care our travellers know us for.
Great Value & Quality
Our trips offer excellent value for money, with everything you need for a seamless walking holiday. Each package includes detailed route notes, maps and navigation app, luggage transfers, and comfortable locally run accommodation. We take care of the planning, so you can simply enjoy the walk.
Self-Guided Specialists
We've been operating self-guided active holidays since 1973, taking care of every detail so you can relax and explore at your own pace. With many walking and hiking tours departing daily, you'll enjoy the freedom and flexibility to travel when it suits you.
guided walk
hotel, guesthouse, b&b
8Days
Moderate
self guided walk
hotel, guesthouse / b&b
6Days
Introductory to Moderate
guesthouse / b&b, guesthouse / b&b