Overview
The Cotswold Way is a long-distance walk that runs for 163km from the medieval market town of Chipping Campden to the historic city of Bath. Following the Cotswold Hills’ western edge, the Cotswold Way route winds through gently rolling pastures, quiet beech woodland, and fairytale, honey-coloured medieval villages steeped in history. We arrange comfortable accommodation in en-suite rooms at charming hotels and accredited guesthouses on this itinerary, and we transfer your luggage between each of the accommodations.
If you have less time, we recommend our Cotswolds Short Walking Break. Full list of our Cotswolds itineraries is available here.
- Chipping Campden
- Dover’s Hill
- Shenberrow Hill Camp
- Sudeley Castle
- Tyndale Monument
- Bath Racecourse
- Bath Abbey
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Chipping Campden
Arrive in Chipping Campden, a small market town in the Cotswolds. Considered one of the Cotswolds’ most picture-perfect villages, Chipping Campden boasts a traditional covered marketplace along its main street and a wool church, funded by local wool merchants during the late medieval period.
- Accommodation: Volunteer Inn or similar in Chipping Campden
Day 2: Chipping Campden – Broadway | 9.3km
The Cotswold Way starts at the Town Hall in the centre of Chipping Campden. From here, the trail takes you out in to the Cotswolds, with stunning views from Dover’s Hill. The walk then continues onwards across the fields towards Broadway Tower. This is one of the highest points in the Cotswolds, with fantastic views on a clear day. The path then continues on, taking a final descent into the village of Broadway where you spend the night.
- Walking for the day: 9.3km, ↑179m, ↓219m
- Accommodation: Crown & Trumpet Inn or similar in Broadway
Day 3: Broadway – Winchcombe | 19.5km
From Broadway, the Cotswold Way climbs up along broad tracks to the Iron Age hill fort of Shenberrow Camp, before descending into the village of Stanton. From here, the path winds its way towards Wood Stanway, and continuing on with a steep climb from Wood Stanway. Passing the Iron Age hill fort of Beckbury Camp, descend to Hailes with its ruined abbey. Finally, continue on through farmland to Winchcombe, which is known as an ancient Saxon capital.
- Walking for the day: 19.5km, ↑418m, ↓427m
- Accommodation: Blair House or similar in Winchcombe
Day 4: Winchcombe – Battledown/Leckhampton (Cheltenham) | 17.2km/26.7km
After Winchcombe, head through the Sudeley Estate, climbing steadily along field paths up to the Neolithic long barrow, Belas Knap. The route continues across Cleeve Hill before descending into Dowdeswell, passing through Lineover Wood. End the day following Leckhampton Hill’s escarpment, and look out for the distinctive rock pillar known as the Devil’s Chimney. Here there’s the option to shorten the walk by 10km by walking directly into Cheltenham from the north through Battledown instead of continuing to Leckhampton Hill, and pick up from here again the following morning.
- Walking for the day: 17.2km, ↑426m, ↓447m to Battledown, or 26.7km, ↑690m, ↓668m to Leckhampton
- Accommodation: Clarence Court Hotel or similar in Cheltenham
Day 5: Battledown/Leckhampton – Painswick | 34.5km/21.6km
Leave Cheltenham either from Battledown to the north or or Leckhampton to the south, depending on where you ended the walk yesterday. Follow quiet tracks, lanes and paths into Crickley Hill Country Park. Cross Barrow Wake before heading into woodland to reach Birdlip and then on to Coopers Hill. The route emerges onto the golf course at Painswick Beacon, where the ramparts of Iron Age hill forts can be seen.
- Walking for the day: 34.5km, ↑888m, ↓807m from Battledown, or 21.7km, ↑545m, ↓496m from Leckhampton
- Accommodation: St Anne’s B&B or similar in Painswick
Day 6: Painswick – Dursley | 29.2km/26.3km
The route today begins with a descent from Painswick to cross Wash Brook before climbing again to Edge Common. At Stroudwater Navigation there are two route options. The first option is to follow the path along the canal and up over Selsley Common, and the second takes you through King’s Stanley. After the two paths meet again, the Cotswold Way then takes you through woods before heading down into the valley at Farfield, passing through farmland into the market town of Dursley.
- Walking for the day: 29.2km, ↑701m, ↓774m or 26.3km, ↑632m, ↓706m
- Accommodation: Woodland House B&B or similar in Dursley
Day 7: Dursley – Hawkesbury Upton | 20.3km
Back on the Cotswold Way, the path climbs steeply to Stinchcombe Hill before descending through woodland to North Nibley. Continue on to the Tyndale Monument where the path begins to level out across grassland and through woodland leading onto Wotton Hill and then Alderley. From Alderley, take the chance to see medieval ridge-and-furrow remainders on either side of the valley. Finally, climb up to the Somerset Monument before heading towards the village of Hawkesbury Upton. Due to a lack of accommodation in Hawkesbury Upton, your inn for the night is in nearby Old Sodbury, with return transfers to and from the trail provided.
- Walking for the day: 20.3km, ↑598m, ↓489m
- Accommodation: Sodbury House or similar in Old Sodbury
Day 8: Hawkesbury Upton – Cold Ashton | 22.7km
Start the day with a transfer back to Hawkesbury Upton to start your walk up to Horton Fort, with views out over the Severn Vale. Continue on to Horton and then Old Sodbury before walking through Dodington Park to reach Tormarton. End the day heading through Dyrham village and woods as far as Cold Ashton, where you are met and transferred to your accommodation in the nearby village of Marshfield, where there are more amenities.
- Walking for the day: 22.7km, ↑363m, ↓344m
- Accommodation: The Catherine Wheel or similar in Marshfield
Day 9: Cold Ashton – Bath | 16.3km
Start the day with a transfer back to Cold Ashton and descend to Lower Hamswell before a visit to Lansdowne Hill, the site of a civil war battle. Continue on towards Bath Racecourse, before emerging into Weston where the path becomes more urban as you reach Bath, the final stop on your tour.
- Walking for the day: 16.3km, ↑237m, ↓404m
- Accommodation: Harington’s Hotel or similar in Bath
Day 10: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Volunteer Inn
- Crown & Trumpet Inn
- Blair House
- Clarence Court Hotel
- St Anne’s B&B
- Woodland House B&B
- Sodbury House
- The Catherine Wheel
- Harington’s Hotel
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at the guesthouse you are staying at or at the village pubs and restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate, with most days offer 3-5h of walking and distances ranging from 9-26km. The terrain is varied, but these are gentle wolds and not mountainous areas (read more about difficulty grades).
The trail follows well-maintained footpaths, bridleways, open fields and some minor roads. The Cotswold Way is a nationally recognised trail and signposted well. Generally, the route is easy to navigate, and we will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from March until mid-October.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The weather in the Cotswolds is generally mild throughout the year with temperatures ranging from 10-26C during the spring and summer months. For more information, see our blog, Best time to visit England.
Getting there
Up-to-date travel advice on the United Kingdom is available here (for Canadian citizens) and here (for US citizens).
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Birmingham Airport (BHX) or Heathrow Airport (LHR).
By train or bus
- Moreton-in-Marsh station is located on the Cotswold Line between London, Oxford and Hereford. There is a railway station at Birmingham Airport with frequent services to Moreton-in-Marsh (nearest railway station to Chipping Campden) via Oxford.
- From London Paddington station, direct trains run to Moreton-in-Marsh. 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. Alternatively, you can walk from the station to the Corn Exchange (a 5min walk), and from here you can take a bus to Chipping Camden. Please note buses do not run on Sundays.
UK Visa and entry requirements:
IMPORTANT: From 2025, the UK is implementing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many countries around the world. Up until 08 January, the ETA requirement only applied to nationals from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
On 08 January 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to visitors from eligible non-European countries, including Australian, Canadian and US nationals. Then, on 02 April 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to eligible European countries, referring to most of Europe.
You can view the full list of countries that this applies to here and apply for your ETA here, or on the UK ETA app. The ETA usually takes up to three working days to be processed, although we advise applying as early as possible, in advance of your travel dates. People travelling with an Irish passport don’t need an ETA.
You can read more about the UK entry requirements on our blog.
Inclusions
Included
- 9 nights accommodation
- 9 breakfasts
- Transfers on day seven and eight
- Door-to-door luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (accommodation list, GPS map of the route, baggage transfer information, itineraries, route information of cafes, restaurants, local bus timetables, etc.)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
