Walking the Cotswold Way: Hike the Most Iconic Area in England

The Cotswolds are situated above the Severn Valley and the Evesham Valley and reach from the Upper-Thames Valley to the Cotswold Hills, in the south-west of England. The best way to explore this wonderful area is to do a multiple-day trekking, which is generally referred to as The Cotswold Way.

The Cotswold Way is a linear walk with a total length of 164 kilometres (102 miles). The route is quite easily accessible and has good road signage. It can be hiked in six to ten days, but if you want to make more miles in a day, completing the route in as short as four days is possible. The total ascend is 4,000 meters / 13,123 feet.

If you want to walk small sections of the Cotswold Way, it is also possible to divide the route into several, circular walks. These are referred to as the Cotswold Way Circular Walks. The upside is that you will not need to spend many days walking the Cotswold Way, but the downside is that you will not get to see a lot of the area. Since the several sections of the Cotswold Way are so different from each other, you will have to choose what to see and what to leave for another trip. For those looking to make the most of their walking holidays in England, it is therefore recommended that you walk the route in a linear way.

Some of the main attractions that you will find along the path are Cooper’s Hill, where cheese rolling originated from, the Abbey of Hailes and Sudely Castle by Winchcombe. However, the most beautiful things there are to encounter in the Cotswolds are the iconic yellow-stoned Cotswold houses, and vast nature as far as the eye can see. The route is praised for its diversity, as you will not only see villages, but also rolling hills, forest and typical English countryside scenery. Walk along the Cotswold countryside paths, through immense forests and enjoy your time eating in an English pub in one of the many picturesque villages along the way; the Cotswold Way has it all.

The route starts in Painswick and works its way down south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath (nearby Bristol). In the beginning you will spend your way walking through the tiny villages, but it won’t be long before you smell the wild flowers in the English meadows or wander around the beech tree forest, while enjoying some shadow. The end point of the Cotswold Way is the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath. Here, you will find the beautiful Roman Thermal Spas that mark the beginning of the history of the city.

It is recommended to walk the Cotswold Way in the original route, from north to south, as the transportation to Painswick is more difficult than from Bath, and many hikers choose to tackle this problem firstly to assure a smooth way back home.

Take one of the comfortable daily trains from London’s Paddington Station to the Cotswolds (stations Cam & Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stonehouse, Stroud or Ashchurch), and arrive as soon as one to two hours later.

If you are looking for more of a budget-friendly option to get to the Cotswolds then take the bus from Victoria Coach Station in London. Stops in the Cotswolds are Cheltenham, Gloucester or Stroud. It will take between 2,5 and 3,5 hours to arrive, but will cost significantly less than the train. Busses are comfortable and air conditioned. Be aware that the Cotswold Way is a linear walk, and that you need to get back by yourself at the end of the route.

The Cotswold Way is an easy to medium hike that can be done by any level of hiker. Most of the route is easy, with occasionally some steep ascents and descents, but since the total ascend is only 317 meters above sea level, this is nothing to be worried about.

Contrary to other treks in Europe, like the Alta via 2 in the Dolomites and the Salzburger Almenweg in Austria, where you can only trek during the summer months, you can walk the Cotswold Way all year round. However, the best way to visit the Cotswolds is between half of March and the end of October. Be aware that this beautiful area, loved by all, is heavily visited in the summer months of June, July and August, so it might be a little more crowded along the paths, and accommodation might be full.

It is wise to book your Cotswold Way accommodation in advance, at least during this period. Keep in mind that the English weather is unpredictable and that you should take a rain- and windproof jacket, as it can rain a lot in this area.

Most of the accomodation in the Cotswolds are cozy English B&B’s. You will be warmly welcomed by your host, and provided with a typical English breakfast which will give you enough energy to last the entire morning. After staying in a typical Cotswold B&B, you will surely start your hike well rested and well fed.