The Cotswold Way

The Cotswold Way is a popular long distance National Trail located in the Cotswolds in South West England.  It's starting point is less than 100 miles and about 90 minutes by train, bus or car from London. 

How long is the Cotswold Way?  Starting in Chipping Camden, The Cotswold Way runs south for 102 miles, ending in the city of Bath.

How long does it take to walk The Cotswold Way? Read more about How Many Days to Hike the Cotswold Way on our blog to determine which is the right length tour for you.

Curious to know more about hiking in the Cotswolds? We have one of the most comprehensive selection 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.

Being experts on hiking 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?

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.

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 the Cotswold Trail, and the Cotswolds In Comfort & In Style to showcase the finest villages, historic landmarks and quaint countryside the area has to offer.

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.