Cotswold Way - Medium
Bookatrekking.com Trips - 8 days
-
Regular days with
- 15 - 20 km per day
- 250 - 500m ascent per day
- T2 Trails / no difficulty markings
Overview
> Walk the full Cotswold Way in the famous CotswoldsThe 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 8-day walk (6 stages), 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, 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.
Why book with us?
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 Middleyard
You will hike from Painswick to Middleyard. This will take approximately 15 kilometers (4-5 hours). You will walk through meadows and soon reach the beech forests of Standish Wood and Stanley Wood that are along the Cotswold Way.
Distance: 15 km
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Day 3, Stage 2: Middleyard to Dursley
Next on the planning is the road from Middleyard to Dursley. This slightly shorter route (12 km) will take you along the 5000 year old graveyard of Nympsfield and will give you a beautiful panoramic view of the Severn Valley. A short and steep descent awaits before you reach the top of Cam Long Down, but it will all be worth it when you see the breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. Descend to the Dursley village and your day will be complete.
Distance: 12 km
Walking time: 3-5 hours
Day 4, Stage 3: Dursley to Wotton-Under-Edge
The next day, you will walk 12 kilometers to Wotton-Under-Edge. This section of the Cotswold Way walk will start with a steep ascent, but will all be worth it when you see the beautiful view of Severn Estuary. When moving on to North Nibley, you will pass the statue of English 16th century celebrity Willian Tyndale, who translated the Bible to English.
Distance: 12 km
Walking time: 3-4 hours
Day 5, Stage 4: Wotton-Under-Edge to Old-Sodbury
Get a good night of sleep and prepare well for day four, as it will be the longest day that you will be hiking this trip. In 21 kilometers, you will go from Wotton-Under-Edge to Old-Sodbury. You will see several villages, but will soon leave them behind for the easy and quiet trails through the Cotswold countryside. At the end of this section, you will have the chance to see two fortresses that are over 2000 years old.
Distance: 21 km
Walking time: 5-7 hours
Day 6, Stage 5: Old-Sodbury to Cold Ashton
From Old Sodbury, it is time to move on to Cold Ashton. Two attractions along this way are the old aristocrat houses that can be seen in Dodington and Dirham Park. During the 14 kilometers that you will walk this day, you might even see deer, foxes, or other wild animals, if you are lucky.
Distance: 14 km
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Day 7, Stage 6: Cold Ashton to Bath
The sixth day will be the last day of walking, and is a spectacular ending to the Cotswold Way. Firstly, you will walk across a battlefield where one of the battles of the Great-British Civil War was fought in 1643. As you move on, you will end up in the city of Bath, where you can see Bath Abbey laying next to the Roman Baths.
Distance: 17 km
Walking time: 4-6 hours
Day 8, Departure
After breakfast, our services and your Cotswold Way adventure will be over. Have a safe trip back home!
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 trek. Before the hike, you will spend the night in Painswick and at the end of the hike, 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
AccommodationDuring 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, Middleyard / Stonehouse: The White Hart
The White Hart is an iconic rural pub established in 1740, with a restaurant and bed & breakfast.
Day 3, 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 4, Wotton-Under-Edge: The Swan Hotel
Situated under the leafy edge of the Cotswold Way, The Swan Hotel is a converted 17th-century coaching inn that seamlessly blends modern comforts with traditional touches to create a unique hotel experience.
Day 5, Old Sodbury: The Dog Inn
Glenn and Vicky welcome you to The Dog Inn – a family-friendly village pub with great food, ales, and rooms. The Dog Inn is over 500 years old and retains all its character and charm and a great beer garden too!
Day 6, 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 7, 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
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.
- 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
FAQWhere 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
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.
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- 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.
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
Bookatrekking.com is dedicated to providing the best possible experience for you. We understand that life can be unpredictable and that plans may change. In recognition of this, we have created a flexible cancellation policy for our trekkings. You may cancel your trekking reservation free of charge if you notify us at least 14 days prior to the scheduled departure date. 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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