Cotswold Way

The Cotswold Way is a much-loved walk that stretches 100 miles from the medieval market town of Chipping Campden in the North Cotswolds to the historic City of Bath. Following the western edge of the Cotswold Hills, the trail journeys through gently rolling, sheep-grazed pastures, stunning beech woodland, and dreamy, honey-coloured villages built from the delightfully warm Cotswold stone.

You will cross ancient commons in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, pass Neolithic burial barrows, beautiful stately homes, and historic battle sites. The path along the escarpment twists and turns, affording ever-changing views to the west towards the River Severn and the Malvern Hills.

Along the way, you’ll pass some of the Cotswolds’ most captivating historical sites. Sudeley Castle stands as a testament to the region’s royal past, while the ancient Belas Knap Long Barrow offers a direct connection to the Cotswolds’ Neolithic inhabitants. The Tyndale Monument, dedicated to the 16th-century scholar William Tyndale, commemorates his legacy and his role in making the Bible accessible to English speakers. Each of these sites, along with others scattered along the trail, ties the natural beauty of the area to centuries of human history and achievement.

The Cotswolds countryside is a haven for wildflowers, birds, and insects. In springtime, expect to see cowslips and hope to spot orchids. Carpets of bluebells colour the woodlands, sweet with the scent of lily of the valley. When walking through meadows, watch out for rare butterflies such as the Adonis Blue or the Duke of Burgundy, and high above you’ll spot the Skylark and the Red Kite.

If it all sounds like a scene from a picture postcard, then it’s because it is. Quite simply, it’s incredibly idyllic, it’s quintessentially English, and it’s an absolute delight to walk.

Our Holidays

We offer a range of walking holidays along the Cotswold Way. You can walk the whole route in anything from 6 to 11 days, or we offer the Northern and Southern sections as holidays in their own right.

Please bear in mind that the distances each day are trail distances only. They do not take into account walking to your accommodation. On some days the accommodation might be on or close to the trail but on other days you may need to walk one or two miles to get to your overnight stop.