Exploring the Cotswolds - 8 days
Exploring the Cotswolds - 8 days
8 Days Starting in Stratford-upon-Avon and ending in Winchcombe
Visiting: England
From:
$1182 (USD)NB: Prices correct on 18-May-2024 but subject to change.
Tour Overview
This holiday is intended to appeal to those who want a gentle introduction to walking in the English countryside; the Cotswold’s are hilly rather than mountainous - the highest point being little more than 1000 feet above sea level. Officially designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswold landscape is an entrancing mixture of parkland, cultivated fields with dry-stone walls of Jurassic limestone, and patches of unspoilt woodland. Stone-built, also, are almost all the cottages, farmhouses, villages, and small towns that our route passes. About half of our itinerary, around 50 miles (from Stratford-upon-Avon to Winchcombe), coincides with the Cotswold Way, a 102 mile Long Distance Path that is claimed to be the best waymarked in England.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Stratford-Upon-Avon
Make your own way to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The day is free to explore the town. You can visit Shakespeare's birthplace in the centre of town, the Holy Trinity Church where he is buried, and the thatched cottage where Anne Hathaway once lived.
Accommodation: Moonraker House is a traditional English 4* licensed bed & breakfast with en-suite rooms, delicious home cooking, friendly service and a cosy atmosphere.
Day 2 : Walk To Mickleton Via Hidcote Gardens - 17 Km/10.5 Miles, 5.5 H
Meals Included: B
Today's walk will bring you to Mickleton. We suggest that you stop off at the National Trust Gardens at Hidcote Manor, near Mickleton. Enjoy the wide views over the vales of Severn and Avon toward the Malvern Hills and Wales.
Accommodation: The Three Ways Hotel is home to the famous Pudding Club and its award winning restaurant.
Day 3 : Walk To Broadway Via Chipping Campden Fish Hill - 14.5 Km/9 Miles, 4 H
Meals Included: B
Today you will walk to Broadway via Chipping Campden Fish Hill and the unique Broadway Tower, which offer remarkable views of the Cotswolds. Broadway is a beautiful and picturesque town, and the main street is lined with magnificent stone-built houses as well as some great antique shops.
Accommodation: You will receive a warm welcome at The Broadway Hotel.
Day 4 : Walk To Blockley - 19.3 Km/12 Miles, 6 H
Meals Included: B
On today's walk to Blockley you will pass Buckland where you can take a little time to explore, the church is interesting and has medieval painted roof timbers. Pass Laverton, Stanton and Snowshill. A visit to the Tudor Snowshill Manor, with its collection of art and artefacts from all over the world, may be of interest. Blockley bears some resemblance to the villages of the Stroud Valley but the stone is much more golden in colour. During the 18th century when the wool industry was in decline, Blockley turned to silk production. The village is a unique collection of buildings reflecting its past glory of mills and silk production and is quite different in character to other north Cotswolds villages.
Accommodation: The Crown Inn Hotel is an enchanting historic building.
Day 5 : Walk To Bourton-On-The-Water Via Batsford & Lower Slaughter - 21.5 Km/13 Miles, 7 H
Meals Included: B
Today is a beautiful walk, and you will be able to explore some of the prettiest villages of the Cotswolds. To the medieval wool town of Bourton-on-the-Water, the walk will take you via Batsford, Stow-on-the-Wold and Lower Slaughter. The river Windrush flows down the main street of Bourton-on-the-Water. This Cotswolds town
is well known for its footbridges over the river Evenlode.
Accommodation: The Lansdowne is a family run 4* guesthouse where you can expect a warm welcome on arrival (if we are not able to get you booked at The Lansdowne, we will endeavour to get you into an accommodation nearby but please note that there is no similar guesthouse that is of the same standard in this location).
Day 6 : Walk To Guiting Power - 11.6 Km/7 Miles, 4 H. Taxi To Winchcombe
Meals Included: B
An easy schedule today, which allows ample time to explore Bourton-on-the-Water with its many attractions before setting out on your walk. Guiting Power, nestled in the hills above a small valley, is a perfect example of a Cotswold village. Due to limited accommodation in Guiting Power, you will spend 2 nights in Winchcombe. You will meet with a taxi in Guiting Power and be transferred to your accommodation in Winchcombe (included in the cost of your trip).
Accommodation: You will spend 2 nights at Wesley House in Winchcombe, a 15th century merchant's house.
Day 7 : Taxi To Guiting Power, Then Walk To Winchcombe 18.5 Km/11.5 Miles, 6 H
Meals Included: B
Your taxi (included in the cost of your trip) will drop you back at Guiting Power and from here you will walk to Winchcombe via one of these options:
- Sudeley Castle, . 18.5 km/11.5 miles, 5 h
- Warden’s Way & Sudeley Castle, 10.46 km/6.5 miles / 10.46 km, 2.5 h
Your walk today leads you to the atmospheric ruins of Hailes Abbey, destroyed under Henry VIII, and the still inhabited Sudeley Castle, where Henry VIII's last wife Katherine Parr lived.
Day 8 : Arrangements End After Breakfast
Meals Included: B
Your trip concludes after breakfast.
What's Included
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Accommodation
B&B's -
7 breakfasts
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7 nights B&B accommodation on a twin share basis usually with ensuite facilities
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One piece of luggage per person transferred from Inn to Inn, not exceeding 20kg
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Information pack including route notes & maps (1 pack per room booked)
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Emergency hotline
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return taxi Guiting Power to Winchcombe
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Return taxi Guiting Power - Winchcombe
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GPX Files
What's Not Included
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Lunches, dinners and drinks
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Travel to Stratford and from Winchcombe
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Transfers
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Items of a personal nature
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Travel insurance
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A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
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Guide - this is a self guided holiday
Accommodation
B&B's
Described is the normal accommodation that we use on this tour. At the time of booking please be aware that other places might be used instead, if these choices are full or closed for whatever reason. NOTE: A supplement applies to overnight stays in Mickleton on a Friday or Saturday evening. Rooms generally do not have baths. The main reason being that they take up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers.
What You Carry
As the walks are fully supported you only need to carry a daypack with your daily requirements including raincoat, lunch supplies, waterbottle, warm top, camera etc.
Grading
We grade this walk as ‘Easy - Moderate’ in relation to our other U.K tours, the route is hilly, but not mountainous, the weather is rarely too bad for walking, and there are generally quite a number of villages enroute. Days of up to 20 km are not too long for most reasonably fit people.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
Dates & Availability
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Oct 20, 2024 - Oct 27, 2024Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Walkers' Britain requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of walkers' britain charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 35 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.