Item Code: CV-5d
£789.00
This self-guided walking holiday captures the classic English village lifestyle. Take in the beauty of the charming honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages and the dignified manor houses. Explore ancient wool churches and the quintessential English countryside followed by relaxing in a traditional English pub.
Details
Getting to The Cotswolds
- By Rail: Great Western Railway operate regular connections to London with approximately hourly Cheltenham Spa to Swindon services which extend to through to Didcot Parkway, Reading & London Paddington.
- By Car: Cheltenham can be easily accessed via major UK roads and motorways. Cheltenham’s direct approach is via Junction 11 of the M5, follow signs for the town centre.
- By Air – There are a number of airports close to the Cotswolds including Bristol and Birmingham and Heathrow.
For more information on getting to the Cotswolds please visit The Cotswolds website.
Day 1 - Arrive in Cheltenham
Arrive in Cheltenham. Stay overnight. Cheltenham is England’s most complete Regency Town and is home to a thriving restaurant scene, boutique shopping and period architecture.
Day 2 - Linear route from Cheltenham to Bourton-on-the-Water
(Full route: 11 miles / 17 km | Short Route: 6.5 miles / 10 km)
Clients will be collected for a short transfer to Chedworth Roman Villa or Northleach (client preference) before walking to Bourton-on-the-Water. The beautiful pastures and woods along the banks of the little River Coln are the setting for the best exposed Roman villa in the country. The handsome little market town of Northleach provides an excellent introduction to this countryside. Its large 15th century wool church, built by the wealthy merchants, is typical of the Cotswold style while the Heritage Centre gives a fascinating insight into traditional farming life. The walk follows the Monarch’s Way through unspoilt hamlets and over rolling country to Bourton in the valley of the River Windrush. This is the most famous village in the area with a wide range of attractions including museums, a perfumery and a delightful maze.
Stay overnight in Bourton-on-the-Water. Luggage will be transferred.
Day 3 - Linear route from Bourton-on-the-Water to Stow-on-the-Wold
(Full route: 8 miles / 12 km | Short Route: 6.5 miles / 10 km)
Two beautiful riverside villages will feature on today’s walk. Lower and Upper Slaughter, on the banks of the little River Eye, are among the most popular in the Cotswolds. The charming cottages, manor houses and water mill which are being restored to full working order, are favourite subjects for local artists who regularly exhibit their work in the village hall. Lower and Upper Swell on the River Dickler are equally pleasant with cosy country inns and unique features like the Georgian therapeutic well. The town of Stow-on-the-Wold has a number of handsome stone buildings that stand around the ancient market square that once hosted some of the greatest sheep fairs in the country.
Stay overnight in Stow-on-the-Wold. Luggage will be transferred.
Day 4 - Linear route from Stow-on-the-Wold to Moreton-in-Marsh
(Full route: 8 miles / 12 km | Short Route: 6.5 miles / 10 km)
Continue up the Evenlode Valley past the typically English manor at Donnington and the surprising Oriental house at Sezincote. Here the 18th century manor is built in the Indian style with water gardens. Moreton in Marsh stands either side of a broad main street lined with fine houses, shops and inns.
Stay overnight in Moreton-in-Marsh. Luggage will be transferred.
Day 5 - Depart
Recuperate from your journey before your departure.
Tour Highlights
here are lots of attractions and places to explore during your Cotswolds walking holiday, including:
- Batsford Park Arboretum
- Bourton Model Village
- Bourton House Garden
- Chedworth Roman Villa
- Cotswold Heritage Collection
- Cotswold Pottery
- Mechanical Music Museum
- Motor & Toy Museum
- Old Mill Museum
- Sezincot Manor
- Tea rooms and traditional pubs
Daily Distances
Max: 12 miles / 19 km per day
Questions & Answers
Do I have to walk/cycle every day of my trip?
Absolutely not! You can enjoy additional stop overs at various points along the tour if you would like more time to explore the local area.
We can also add additional days to the start and end of your trip to allow you to explore and relax.
If you would like to add rest days or additional nights to your trip please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your specific requirements. We’re happy to tailor your trip to suit you!
How does the luggage transfer service work?
We offer a luggage transfer service across most of our tours so you don’t have to worry about your luggage during your vacation. We pick up your luggage on the morning you are moving accommodation and take it direct to your next stop.
How far can I walk or cycle each day?
How far you choose to travel each day depends on your individual fitness levels and how long you want to spend walking or cycling.
We have a wide range of tours to suit all fitness levels.
All our itineraries specify the daily mileage and the difficulty level of the tour.
If you would like to make adjustments to a tour to suit your specific needs, please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss a bespoke tour. We are good at this!
What about places to eat?
All our tours come with bed and breakfast as standard.
In some more remote locations, accommodation providing breakfast may not be possible but we will find you somewhere to get breakfast nearby. This will be covered in the price of your trip.
Our tours do not include lunch and dinner as standard, though some accommodations do offer packed lunches and dinner options at an additional charge. Please let us know if you would like this option when booking.
How fit do I have to be?
Our tours all vary in degrees of hardness.
We specify the difficulty level of all of our tours on our website. The itineraries also give an indication of the gradients travelled on any given day.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail with our travel experts please contact us prior to booking.
What ages do you cater for?
Both our walking and cycling tours can cater for travellers of all ages. Distance is listed on each of the tours. If you are unsure about the distance covered, please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642.
All of our routes have been tried and tested by our expert team with lots of stop-offs and attractions so younger members of the team can rest and enjoy all that’s on offer. Please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642 at the time of booking to discuss your exact requirements.
Cycling equipment
We have a large range of bikes and accessories suited to adults and budding cyclists. We also offer a tag along (tandem) (please note it is not fully enclosed and waterproof but a single wheeled bike that attaches to the adult bike). We can also provide fully enclosed and waterproof trailers for younger children.
What day can I start my tour?
Most of our tours can be taken at any time but there are some which start on specific days which are usually Saturday to Saturday.
To find out more information, please call our expert travel team on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 or email info@compass-holidays.com.
What type of accommodation is included?
Our holidays are priced with 3* hotel, B&B as standard. These accommodations are hand picked for our tours.
Where a bespoke or luxury option is required please contact us on +44 (0) 1242 250642.
Can I bring my dog with me?
Several of our tours do have the option to bring your four-legged friend with you, depending on availability.
Please contact our expert travel team on +44(0) 1242 250 642 to find out which tours your dog will love too!
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