Cotswold Walks

Thousands of miles of public footpaths and National Trails to explore walking in the Cotswolds

Walking in the Cotswolds

With thousands of miles of footpaths, rights of way and National Trails criss-crossing beautiful countryside, vibrant market towns, picture-postcard villages and some of the best views over the Cotswold Hills, it's not hard to see why keen walkers love the Cotswolds! Are you ready to find your perfect walk?

Whether you like linear walks or circular trails, the Cotswolds has some of the best walks and most dramatic views in the country. Walking surely has to be the best way to explore the Cotswolds, the wonderful Cotswold countryside and the best places in the area.

Think of walking in the Cotswolds and the first thing that springs to mind is probably The Cotswold Way. For easier walks, most towns and villages have circular routes that usually take in the pretty stone houses and rolling hills you might find in Cotswold country. For instance, you can embark on the Rollright Stones walk and take in these mystical stones and stunning Cotswolds countryside.

A lot of Cotswold towns, such as Winchcombe, Dursley & Tetbury, have annual walking festivals. Cotswold Voluntary Wardens also organise hundreds of guided walks that are all free to follow and do not require booking.

National Walking Trails in the Cotswolds

The are two National Trails in the Cotswolds, The Cotswold Way and the start of the Thames Path.

There's also the Windrush Way (Winchcombe to Bourton on the Water), and parts of the Wysis Way pass through the Cotswolds. The Wysis Way links Offa's Dyke Path National Trail at Monmouth to the beginning of the Thames Path National Trail in Gloucestershire.

Other popular Cotswold walks include the Rollright Stones Circular Walk, Broadway Tower Circular walk, the walk from Chipping Campden up to the stunning viewpoint at Dover's Hill and the walk from Bourton-on-the-Water over to Lower Slaughter and on to Upper Slaughter. Or explore Cleeve Common, the largest common and highest common in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and also the highest point on the Cotswolds at 330m with outstanding views over the surrounding countryside.

102 mile walking route through the Cotswolds

The Cotswold Way

The Cotswold Way

If you are up for the challenge, the Cotswold Way offers hikers an opportunity to walk from the Cotswold town of Chipping Campden in the north Cotswolds to the Roman city of Bath in the south (or Bath to Chipping Campden of course) over 102 miles (165km) in one direction.

The path of the Cotswold Way has been promoted as a long-distance walk for over 50 years, though the trail itself has existed for much longer of course!

The Cotswold Way hugs the western edge of the Cotswold Hill and there are breathtaking views everywhere and no shortage of picturesque villages to stop and admire while on your trek. The route of the Cotswold Way is very well way-marked so following the trail is easy, but it is always a good idea to take a guidebook, map or smartphone walking app (we'd always suggest the backup of a book or map even if you are planning on using a smartphone).

How long does it take to walk the Cotswold Way?

Although many people walk the full length of the Cotswold Way each year, others break it up into shorter chunks and walk sections at a time over many weeks, months or even years.
If you are walking the full length of the Cotswold Way then expect to take 6 to 10 days.

Or if you don't have time to walk the full route of the Cotswold Way you can choose a start point somewhere along the route to enjoy a day walking a section of the Cotswold Way and marvelling at the great English countryside and limestone grassland.

If you're on holiday in the Cotswolds but you don't have your own car you could use public transport to travel to a start point on the Cotswold Way, walk a section which takes you close to another place served by public transport and return to your base without having to worry about finding a place to park and how to get back to pick up your car.

There are plenty of places to stay along the route of the Cotswold Way with welcoming pubs, restaurants, farmhouses and B&Bs situated every few miles.

What is the best time of year to walk the Cotswold Way?

The Cotswold Way can be hiked year-round, but there's something special about crisp winter days, autumn, and early spring. In the spring and early summer the meadows, trees and vegetation are at their vibrant finest - just make sure you take plenty of sunscreen during the summer as there's not much shelter from the sun along the route. For stunning colours, the trees and woodlands are at their most radiant during early autumn.

Cotswold Walking Blogs

The Gloucestershire Way - Part 2 - The magic of the Cotswolds
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The Gloucestershire Way - Part 2 - The magic of the Cotswolds

Part 2 of Philip's now three-part blog about the walking the Gloucestershire Way.

Cotswold Strolls - Ilmington to Ebrington
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Cotswold Strolls - Ilmington to Ebrington

A walk of approximately 8 miles from Ilmington to Ebrington in the Cotswolds

The Gloucestershire Way - Part 1 - Wales to the Cotswolds
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The Gloucestershire Way - Part 1 - Wales to the Cotswolds

This is a 100-mile walking route that travels from Chepstow in Wales, to Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.

The Wysis Way - Part 2 - 'Blessed is the eye between the Severn and the Wye'
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The Wysis Way - Part 2 - 'Blessed is the eye between the Severn and the Wye'

This is the second part of my blog about the Wysis Way, the Long-Distance Walk between National Trails the Thames Path, England and the Offa Dykes Path, Wales.

The Wysis Way - Part 1 - Through the Cotswolds
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The Wysis Way - Part 1 - Through the Cotswolds

Last year I decided to start walking between National Trails, as well as along them. This time it's the Wysis Way, a 55-mile (88km) walkway between the National Trails the Thames Path, and Offa's Dyke Path in Wales.

Cotswold Strolls - Chedworth village to Chedworth Roman Villa
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Cotswold Strolls - Chedworth village to Chedworth Roman Villa

Today's walk was from the village of Chedworth up to the Roman villa, a walk of 8 miles along the quiet roads.

Cotswold Strolls - Stanton to Stanway
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Cotswold Strolls - Stanton to Stanway

We wanted a nice easy winter walk to blow away the cobwebs and this one was just right. Stanton and Stanway are perfect examples of timeless Cotswolds beauty and the walk is straight and generally level.

Walking the Thames Path - Part 2
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Walking the Thames Path - Part 2

Part 2 in Philip's Walking the Thames Path series of blogs.