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Cotswold Way - Intensive

Bookatrekking.com Trips - 6 days

    Regular days with
  • More than 20 km per day
  • 500 - 1000m ascent per day
  • T2 Trails / no difficulty markings
Overview
Route
What's Included
Accommodation
Packing List
FAQ
Safety
COVID-19
How to Book

Overview

> Walk the Cotswold Way in the famous Cotswolds
> Enjoy breathtaking views of valleys and meadows
> We will take care of arranging the accommodation before, during, and after the hike for you!

The Cotswolds might be one of the most famous natural scenic areas of Great Britain. For most people, when thinking about England, the old stone Cotswold houses and glowy, rolling hills come to mind. Walking the Cotswold way is on top of the bucket lists of many hikers, and they are right to have put it there. 

On this 4-day walk, you will start in Painswick and work your 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. The endpoint 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.

Why book with us?

You can do the Cotswold Way fully independent and self-guided. However, stringing an itinerary including all the accommodation together can be a complicated undertaking. Bookatrekking.com has warm contacts with the hotels on the Cotswold Way and we can take the load of having to book the accommodation yourself off your shoulders. Let us help you to make your Cotswold Way memories stress-free and enjoy free hiking advice from our trekking experts while you're at it. 

Route

What's the Plan?
 
Day 1, Arrival in Painswick

Today you will have to make your way to Painswick. Here, you will spend the night preparing for your Cotswold Way adventure.

Day 2, Stage 1: Painswick to Dursley

Your hike will start off with the most challenging day. If you are able to walk this, you’re surely able to walk the rest of the Cotswold Way with ease. You’ll start off by walking through the typical English meadows for a few kilometres, before you reach the beech forests. During this day, you will pass by the famous Nympsfield Cemetery and be amazed by a breathtaking view of the Severn Valley. 
 
Distance: 30 km
Walking time:  9 - 11 hours
 
Day 3, Stage 2: Dursley to Hawkesbury 

You will start this slightly less challenging day from Dursley, where you will head uphill to see the panoramic views of the Severn Estuary. Make your way to North Nibley and pass by the statue of the 16th century man who translated the bible to English; William Tyndale.  
 
Distance: 23 km
Walking time: 6-7 hours
 
Day 4, Stage 3: Hawkesbury to Cold Ashton

Today you will see the aristocratic houses in Dodington Park and Dyrham Park. Imagine yourself living in one of these beautiful mansions while walking through the beautiful gardens that can be found in these parks. Keep an eye open for the wildlife, such as deer and foxes that live in the parks. 
 
Distance: 23 km
Walking time: 7-8 hours
 
Day 5, Stage 4: Cold Ashton to Bath

On the last day of this hike, you will pass through a battlefield of the English Civil War. In 1643, a hard battle was fought here and therefore this area is of historic interest. Ascend to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath, and visit the Roman Bathhouses that marked the beginning of the history of this city.  
 
Distance: 17 km
Walking time: 4-6 hours

Day 6, Departure

After breakfast, our services and your Cotswold Way adventure will be over. Have a safe trip back home!
 
Are you looking to do this route in a slower pace, see the Cotswold Way Complete and walk his hike in 6 days.

What's Included

Included:

 Booking the hotels
We will take care of arranging accommodation for you. We will also provide you with a detailed itinerary for every stage and instructions on how to get to the trailhead. 

√ Accommodation
We will arrange your accommodation on the Cotswold Way in hotels. The accommodation will be in shared rooms if needed, although most hotels on the route offer only private rooms.

× Accommodation in Painswick and Bath
We will arrange the accommodation before and after your Cotswold Way trek. Before the trek, you will spend the night in Painswick, and at the end of the trek, you will spend one last night at a hotel in Bath. 

√ Breakfast
Breakfast is, if possible, included in this trek and it will be provided every morning at the hotel before you continue with your Cotswold Way adventure.

√ Baggage Transfer
This trek includes the transfer of your luggage throughout the entire trek. Your bags will be picked up every morning from the hotel lobby and will be driven to your next stop. Baggage transfers allow you to travel lighter during the day and enjoy the walk in a more relaxed manner.

Excluded:

× Airfare and Visa
You have to make your way to Painswick. The total amount is exclusive of flights to Great-Britain. 

× Transfers
Once in Great-Britain, you will have to make your way to the trailhead in Painswick. We will provide the instructions and assist you with how to get there and back to the starting point after the trek, but the bus/train tickets are not included. 

× Travel Insurance
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.

× Lunch and Dinner
Breakfast is, if possible, included in the price of the trek. You can get lunch and dinner at the shops, hotels, and restaurants along the way.

× Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.

Accommodation

Accommodation

During the trek, we will arrange your accommodation in cozy hotels along the way. The Cotswold Way is a very popular trek in England and it welcomes thousands of trekkers every year. Arranging the stages and booking the accommodation should not be taken lightly, since the hotels get fully booked months in advance. Here are the hotels we usually work with on the Cotswold Way:

Day 1, Painswick
We will book your first night, before starting the Cotswold Way in Painswick, where you will be able to relax and prepare for your adventure.

Day 2, Dursley: Ye Olde Dursley Hotel
This hotel is situated in the main area of Dursley, and offers a relaxing escape for guests. You will also be able to order a nice pint of beer here, in their Beer Garden. 


Day 3, Hawkesbury: The Fox Inn
In this old-English style Inn, you can relax in the common lounge, or play darts with your fellow traveller(s). The accommodation offers free private parking and an English breakfast in the morning. You can even enjoy an English high tea in the onsite restaurant! 



Day 4, Wick: Toghill House Farm
When available, your last stop will be this family-run farmhouse. The farm is still in operation and you will be staying amongst friendly cats and dogs. Wick village is a 4-minute drive away, where you will find many pubs, shops, and restaurants. The Avon Riverside Railway Station is 6 kilometers away from this accommodation.  



Day 5, Bath
We will book your last night, after completing your Cotswold Way adventure, at a hotel in Bath. Here you will be able to relax and rest after your journey.

Packing List

Packing list

When packing for your hiking trip in Great-Britain, the weather can be the biggest challenge. The UK is known for its rainy weather, but when you’re lucky, you might find yourself walking in the sun. Be sure to prepare for all weather conditions and try to base your clothing on the "three-layer" principle. This consists of a base layer, which will absorb the moisture from your skin; a middle layer, which should provide some warmth; and a waterproof outer layer to protect you from the rain and the wind.

- Trousers and a light jacket; waterproof, lightweight, and quick-drying
- Shirts for base layer
- Warm jacket or pullover for middle layer
- Waterproof jacket
- Hat to provide shade
- Sunglasses
- Trekking boots, worn in
- Good quality socks
- Extra footwear for the night
- Map
- Waste bags
- Whistle to summon assistance in case of accidents
- Water bottle containing enough water to take you to your next stop
- Emergency food and snacks (high energy snacks such as chocolate, dried fruit, -    energy bars etc.)
- Hiking poles
- First aid kit and blister bandaids
- British Pounds
- Passport (as the UK is now a non-EU country)
- Travel power adapter

FAQ

FAQ 

Where are the Cotswolds?

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

Best Season
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.

The Cotswold Way: Start and end point
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.

How to get to painswick
Take one of the comfortable daily trains from London’s Paddington Station to the Cotswolds 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.

Difficulty and training
The Cotswold Way is considered an easy to moderate hike, which means that as long as you have a healthy body and do exercise regularly, you should be fine. If you, however, feel unsure about the trek and being able to complete it, it is always advisable to prepare yourself a few weeks in advance walking a few hours a day and, to avoid blisters, wearing the same boots that you will wear during your trek.

If you are looking for more information, you can have a look at our article where you will find plenty of information about walking The Cotswold Way!

Safety

Safety

The Cotswold Way is quite accessible and has good road signage. It 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. The total ascend is 4000 meters. 

COVID-19

COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has had its grip on us, and the accommodations in the UK have had to take several preventive measures over the past two years. In the meantime, most of the measurements are not taken into consideration anymore, yet it is definitely still a factor to take into account. Some restrictions that are worth mentioning:

- Don't go on your hiking trip if you have symptoms.
- Not all the accommodations are allowed to operate at full capacity yet, so make sure you book your stay in advance.
- Keep your distance and hygiene.
- Use disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

Stay informed about the current rules per country. Make sure you know before you leave which measures you need to take during your stay. The best thing to do is to check the websites of the government.

How to Book

How to Book?

On Bookatrekking.com you can find and compare the adventures of your dreams. Is this trekking your match? In that case, you can proceed with your booking. At Bookatrekking.com you make a deposit of 30% of the total amount. In the case of this trek, we will check the availability at the respective accommodations for you. There are two possible outcomes:

 There is availability 
We go ahead and make all necessary arrangements for your trip. Once confirmed, we will send you a confirmation and your personal hiking guide. The remaining 70% must be paid at least two (2) weeks before the start of the trekking.

X There is no availability 
If there is no availability, we will look for other starting dates or another trekking in agreement with you. Are there no other options for you? Then your deposit of 30% will be refunded.

Cancellation Policy
If all the accommodations of this trekking are booked and confirmed, you will lose your deposit of 30% at all times. If you cancel within 14 days of your start date, you will lose your full booking amount.

Is it not quite clear yet or do you have questions? Please contact us via support@bookatrekking.com. We are happy to help you.

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