The Cotswolds are protected by AONB status in England, which stands for Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Or, as you will discover on our hiking holidays there, they are Adventurous, Ornate, Nurturing and Blissful. The classic Cotswolds hike is The Cotswolds Way, a picture of pastoral perfection, covering an undulating and undeniably charming 163km. You can also feel like you’ve stepped out of a Jane Austen novel, with both Regency and rambling on the doorstep, on this Cotswoldian circuit starting and ending in Bath. Whichever of our Cotswolds holidays you choose, walking trails in England don’t get more quintessentially English than these.
Our walking holidays
Read more about the Cotswolds
Best time to visit England
England opens up its green and pleasant lands to adventurers between March and October. Here are some top tips on the best time to hike its varied landscapes, whether you’re going coastal or the Cotswolds, to the lakes or over peaks.
Top places to travel in June 2027
June is a joy. She greets you with lavender in Provence, sunflowers in Bourgogne and brings butterflies to Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains. She also greets travellers with warmth and doesn’t crowd them out. Read more about why June’s a keeper.
Meet the people who know the place: Gregor in Ireland and the UK
Meet our Scottish clan leader for our UK and Ireland holidays. Gregor Stewart is the best when it comes to walking and cycling in these islands. He’s also a committed responsible traveller, keen birder and font of knowledge on Highlands, lakelands and wild lands.
Top walking holidays accessible by train
The European train network is a gift to natural adventurers. Check out our list of walking tours that are reachable by rail, followed by a few key pointers on how to book cheap train tickets.
Best places for autumn foliage in Europe
Our favourite places to go walking amongst some of the finest autumnal landscapes in Europe. From Scotland to Slovenia, Austria to Romania, we think there’s some you’ll fall for. If swathes of colour are what you’re seeking, walk this way.
