Ahhh..the Cotswold Way, one of England’s most beautiful National long-distance trails, running approximately 102 miles through south central England from Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire to the town of Bath in Somerset. A relatively “new” National Trail, designated so in 2007, the Cotswold Way offers panoramic views and relatively easy walking through a variety of woodlands, wildflower studded meadows, historic and utterly charming golden Cotswold stone-walled villages and to ancient historical sites. If you love walking, history, a pastoral landscape dotted with soft rolling hills, sampling unique food and drink, trading stories with storytellers versed in ancient lore, and enjoying a pint or two with the locals, you’ll love our adventure on the Cotswold Way. Lace us those boots and join us!

DETAILED ITINERARY (May change at the discretion of the trip leader.)  

Beginning and End of Services: From Bristol Airport to Bristol Airport

Day 1 – June 6: BRISTOL/STRATFORD/MICKLETON Arrival in Bristol and transfer by private transport to Stratford-Upon-Avon; hotel accommodation. The AONB area of the Cotswolds is the area most loved by the British and protects one of the most evocative landscapes of hills and medieval villages. Towards the north, the hills of the Cotswolds descend sharply towards the valley of the River Avon and Stratford-upon-Avon, an ancient medieval village in the county of Warwickshire, synonymous with William Shakespeare.

Theater and literature lovers come from all over the world to visit the city that was the birthplace of William Shakespeare and to attend the shows of the famous Royal Shakespeare Company. The village of Stratford-upon-Avon, founded in the Anglo-Saxon era, played a very important role throughout the Middle Ages thanks to its market. Even today the city is considered a leading commercial hub.

Day 2 – June 7: CHIPPING CAMPDEN, BROADWAY TOWER, BROADWAY Leaving Stratford behind, we’ll soon reach Chipping Campden, a beautiful village that was once the center of the wool industry.  We’ll also enjoy exploring several buildings and a covered market hall, both dating from the 16th century. From here we’ll follow the Cotswolds Way to the Broadway Tower, built to satisfy a whim of the local Countess by Capability Brown.  Here we’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view. Located 320m atop Fish Hill, the tower is the second highest point in the Cotswolds; with good weather conditions, you can see 13 counties. The tower was also the home of William Morris, a 19th-century artist, writer, painter,social reformer and a founder of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. From here, our steps take us to Broadway, referred to as the “jewel of the Cotswolds Crown”, with its wide tree-lined avenue of High Street. Ascent: 220 m – Distance: 11,7 kms – Time: 4 h

Day 3 – June 8: STANTON, STANWAY E SNOWSHILL A walk that many judge as “the most beautiful of the Cotswolds”: rolling hills, incomparable views, history, and characteristic medieval “postcard” villages. We start from the beautiful village of Stanton, and following the Cotswolds Way we arrive to the hamlet of Stanway where we can see from the outside the sumptuous mansion and fountain regarded as the highest gravity fountain in the world. Then we’re off to the small village of Snowshill and our walk back to Stanton following the Winchcombe way. Ascent: 440 m – Distance: 13,7 kms – Time: 5:00 h

DAY 4 –June 9: BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER, THE SLAUGHTERS From Stratford we head South to the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, the starting point for our hike. We’ll walk along a stretch of the Cotswolds Way that includes three of the most picturesque villages in the area. We’ll be immersed in the typical landscape of the Cotswolds, a colorful mix of valleys, woods, rivers and bright green pastures that contrast with the colored honey stone. Then we join the Cotswolds Way and follow it to The Slaughters. Our path takes us along the River Eye between two delightful villages with charming riverside cottages, stone footbridges, ancient watermills and picturesque village greens. It’s a beautiful area with a 19th-century water mill in Lower Slaughter, one of the highlights of the walk. Then it’s west along the river to Naunton, a village that includes a church dating from the 15th century and a dovecote dating from 1660. It’s a good place to stop for a rest and refreshments at roughly the halfway point of our walk. Our day ends in Cirencester, an ancient Roman town where we stay for the next two nights. Ascent: 230 m – Distance: 16 kms – Time: 5:30 h

DAY 5 – June 10: MICKLETON, MEON HILL, HIDCOTE MANOR AND GARDEN Another day “in beauty” with one of the most beautiful excursions in the area, walking on a stretch of the Cotwolds Way. Directly from Mickleton we walk towards the ancient Iron Age site of Meon Hill. From here we continue towards Hidcote, where we’ll stop to visit Hidcote Manor Gardens, a splendid garden, one of the most important gardens in England. The path back to Mickleton offers panoramic views of the Cotswolds. Ascent: 220 m – Distance: 13 kms – Time: 5 h

DAY 6 – June 11: …ALL ABOARD! HERITAGE TRAIN: WINCHCOMBE, SUDELEY CASTLE, HAILES ABBEY

Bus transfer to Toddington train station to ride the historic steam train of the GWSR for a short trip to Winchcombe, the ancient capital of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia. Today Winchcombe is a true paradise for hikers where the Cotswolds way, Warden’s way, Windrush way, Gloucestershire way and Winchcombe way meet. From here, our walk takes us to Sudeley Castle for a visit. The castle was founded in the 10th century, and is the burial place of the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII, Katherine Parr. With its sumptuous gardens, it is considered one of the main wonders of the Cotswolds. On the way back, towards the Toddington departure station, we can admire the evocative ruins of the 13th century Cistercian Hailes Abbey. Ascent: 245 m – Distance: 11 kms – Time: 4 h

Day 7 – June 12: STRATFORD-UPON-AVON: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SHAKESPEARE Towards the north, the hills of the Cotswolds descend sharply towards the valley of the River Avon and the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, synonymous with William Shakespeare. First, we walk a circuit along the river before entering the center of the town to “touch” all the “sacred” points of Shakeaspeare along an itinerary that bears his name. Here we’ll have time to explore and do some shopping. Ascent: 55 m – Distance: 4/7 kms – Time: 2/3 h

DAY 8 – June 13: BIBURY and COLN ST. ALDWYNS The Coln St. Aldwyns and Bibury Circular Walk features everything one could ask for – a relaxing stroll with beautiful riverside views, rolling green hills, charming stone cottages, and a splendid view across the terrain of the Cotswolds AONB. Starting from the heart of Coln St. Aldwyns, we follow along the meandering banks of the River Coln before hiking through the historic village of Bibury. Our trail then heads southwest across open farmland before turning southeast to traverse some rolling hills on our way back to the village. Ascent: 140m – Distance: 11 kms – Time: 4 h

Day 9 June 14: BRISTOL AIRPORT, ENGLAND – DEPARTURE Bus transfer to Bristol Airport and departure