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The Cotswolds

Highlights


•    Hike or cycle through the classic English countryside of the Cotswolds
•    Explore the quiet lanes of picturesque villages like Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold
•    Enjoy a pint and the friendly local atmosphere and hearty food of a local pub
•    End your Cotswold walk in Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage listed city
•    Take in the views from Broadway Tower over the surrounding countryside
•    Cycle to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace, 

The Cotswolds are located in South West England, just under 100 miles and 90 minutes from London and easily reached by train, bus or car. Stretching 787 square miles from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Georgian city of Bath in the south, the entire region is comprised of 6 counties. The Cotswolds has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and contains a wealth of UNESCO listed sites and historic landmarks. Quintessentially English, it offers up landscapes of green rolling hills combined with a scattering of charming, honey-colored villages. A true treasure of England, the Cotswolds abounds in pristine gardens, pretty cottages, castles, stately homes and ancient ruins.

Why Choose Macs For Your Cotswold Adventure?
Since 2007 we've sent countless travelers to the idyllic countryside of Jane Austen and the fictional Crawley family of Downton Abbey. We now have 15 self-guided "inn to inn" hiking and cycling tours showcasing the best of the Cotswolds, from the north to the south via the Cotswold Way, on specially crafted circular routes like the northerly Cotswold Trail, and Cotswolds In Comfort, the more southerly and indulgent Oxford to Bath In Style or while Cycling the Heart of The Cotswolds.

 

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Discover The Cotswolds

  • What to Do in the Cotswolds

    The Cotswolds are located in South West England, less than 100 miles and 90 minutes by train from London. The area has long drawn ‘walkers’ (aka hikers) and cyclists to its idyllic English landscapes and picturesque villages. Many choose to hike the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile National Trail that starts in Chipping Camden and ends in historic Bath, a UNESCO listed city. Others set out on specially designed loop trails like the Cotswold Trail, or its upgraded cousin the Cotswolds In Comfort.  Those wanting a shorter, easier best-of type experience indulge themselves with hand-picked 5 star accommodations on our Cotswolds to Bath In Style.  And for those who want to add a moderately active short break to their travels, the 5 day Escape to the Cotswolds is ideal.  We also have a few exceptional cycling adventures along the rolling hills and country lanes in the heart of the Cotswolds.

    What to Do in the Cotswolds
  • Download your Macs Cotswold Hiking Guide

    Curious to know more about hiking in the Cotswolds? We have one of the most comprehensive selections of Cotswold hiking tours in the US market, with a variety of different itineraries to suit your personal hiking style.

    Download our Macs Guide to Hiking in the Cotswolds. Or you can speak with one of our experts through an enquiry form  or give us a call at +1-844-857-0642.

    Download your Macs Cotswold Hiking Guide
  • Most Frequently Asked Questions about the Cotswolds

    Being experts on hiking and cycling in the charming English Cotswolds it’s unlikely that there’s a question that we’ve not been asked before! We like a challenge though…so please reach out to us if you have any!  But first, check out our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’. Top questions include: 

    Q. When is the best time of year to hike in the Cotswolds? 

    Q. How fit do I need to be? 

    Q. What gardens can I visit and where is the best cream tea?

    Most Frequently Asked Questions about the Cotswolds
  • Historic and Quirky Cotswold Facts

    Limestone - The Limestone is what gives the Cotswolds villages and churches their honey-colored glow. The dry-stone walls built in the Cotswolds are everywhere and you will walk alongside many on your travels. If you laid them end to end they would stretch further than the Great Wall of China.

    Wool - The Cotswolds were manly built on the wool trade and you can still see many examples of mills on your walks. Many of the impressive local buildings were built with money from the wool trade. The local sheep are called the 'Cotswold Lions' and have been brought back from the brink of extinction.

    Unique Local Customs - There are a lot of very interesting local customs, which you can participate in should you be visiting the area at that time of year. There is an annual cheese rolling at Coopers Hill, Birdlip, where contestants roll wheels of Double Gloucester cheese down a hill! There is also a football game in Bourton on Water where the goalposts are either side of a river! These are only the tip of the iceberg too.

    Outstanding Beauty - The Cotswolds is the largest Area of Outstanding Beauty in England, and the second-largest protected area after the Lake District. The Cotswolds are rural England at its most stunning, the towns and villages with their warm honey limestone facades adding charm and beauty to the natural wonder that surrounds them.

    Historic and Quirky Cotswold Facts
  • Why book your Cotswold vacation with Macs?

    Since 2007 we’ve organized thousands of hiking tours in the Cotswolds. Each year our staff spend time here seeking out the best footpaths, accommodations, pubs and tea rooms. We realized that there is more than just the Cotswold Way walk, so we developed Trail and the Round to showcase the finest villages, historic landmarks and quaint countryside the area has to offer. And our Cotswolds in Comfort and In Style tours offer some of the nicest accommodations in the region.

    As in all of our self-guided hiking tours we transfer your luggage and you can travel on your terms by choosing your own departure date and who you travel with. We provide route info packs and maps in our easy-to-use app which even works offline.

    Our specialists are here to help connect you with your perfect adventure. Just get in touch if you have any questions.

    Why book your Cotswold vacation with Macs?

  • Hiking in the Cotswolds

    The Cotswolds are world-famous for bustling market towns, beautiful villages, and stunning countryside. This short feature follows Mark and Sonia who spent their 30th wedding anniversary walking on a Macs Adventure hiking tour in the Cotswolds.

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