The Cotswold way is a 102-mile (164 km) trail. Hikers usually take about a week to ten days to complete it. They do need to be reasonably fit as there are several surprisingly steep sections. It goes from the market town of Chipping Camden in the north to the Roman town of Bath in the south finishing at Bath abbey.
You can of course walk it in either direction but most guidebooks go north to south. To reach Chipping Camden catch a train to either Moreton in Marsh or Stratford on Avon station and then it is a short journey by local bus. At the other end, Bath Abbey is close to both the rail and coach station.
Following the Cotswold way
The trail which is maintained by the National Trust is well waymarked and easy to follow with the help of a guidebook and map. Look out for the distinctive acorn symbol. It follows the Cotswold escarpment past neolithic burial mounds, stately homes and ruined castles. You will go through rolling pastures, beech woods and past honey-coloured villages built of Cotswold stone.
Sections of dry stone walls delineate the fields and meadows. These walls are built without mortar but are very strong and last for centuries.
One of the best viewpoints is at Haresfield Beacon, the halfway point, from where you can look across the River Severn to Wales. The Cotswold scenery is the England of many people’s imagination and at the end of the day, you can relax in one of the many cosy village pubs on route. It is best to book accommodation in advance in one of the many Bed and Breakfast places or quiet cottages.
Each end of the route has a marker- a hand carved stone next to Chipping Camden market hall at one end and a circular marker outside Bath Abbey at the other.
Things to look out for
Dovers Hill
Less than a mile out of Chipping Camden you pass Dovers Hill, one of the great viewpoints on the route. In 1682 Robert Dover started the Cotswold Olympick games with events such as tug of war and wheelbarrow races.
Broadway tower
The imposing Broadway Tower is a folly on Broadway Hill, near the large village of Broadway, in the English county of Worcestershire, at the second-highest point of the Cotswolds. The surrounding parkland was designed by Capability Brown and hides a secret nuclear bunker.
Tyndale monument
William Tyndale made the first English translation of the New Testament of the bible. The Monument overlooks the village of Nibley close to his birthplace. You can climb the 1T20 steps to the top. The reward for climbing is a wonderful view of Berkeley vale, the River Severn and the Black mountains.
The Devil’s Chimney.
The devil’s chimney is a limestone rock formation that stands above a disused quarry near Leckhampton, Cheltenham. There is a theory that it was built by 18th century quarry workers as a joke.
Coopers Hill
Every year dozens of brave or crazy individuals chase a double Gloucester cheese down this very steep hill. The winner gets to keep the cheese’
Painswick
The small and very picturesque town of Painswick is about the midpoint of the walk. Like many of the Cotswold towns and villages it grew prosperous from wool trading. The churchyard is famous for its yew trees. There is a legend that if anyone plants a hundredth yew tree the devil will be summoned. However a new tree was planted for the millennium and the church is still standing. Nearby is Painswick Rococo Garden if you fancy a detour.
Dyrham Park
On the final stretch of the Cotswold Way, you walk past Dyrham Park, a 17th century house that was owned by the Blathwayt family for 230 years before being acquired by the National Trust.
Bath
A gentle walk past Bath Racecource and Landsdowne hill, the site of a civil war battle brings you into Bath from the northwest. I would advise leaving a day to see the beautiful gothic abbey and the Roman Baths. The official finishing point is the West door of Bath abbey.
Preparing for the walk
There are not many places to buy food and drink on route so be prepared to take a flask or water bottle and sandwiches. As it is England you need to be prepared for all types of weather particularly snow in winter or rain in summer. You will need proper walking boots with good ankle support and warm waterproof clothing. Experts suggest training by walking the same distance you plan to cover each day with a backpack. I would suggest planning to take a couple of days off to visit some of the interesting places on the route
You should take a paper map and a compass as your mobile phone signal may be patchy.
If you are reasonably fit the walk will take 7 to 8 days with about 13 miles walking a day.
The Cotswolds is a very popular tourist destination so if you plan to hike in summer, you should prebook your accommodation and be prepared for it to be quite expensive.
If you don’t want to cover the whole route here are some suggestions for shorter Cotswold walks.
The Cotswold Way virtual walk
If you love the Cotswolds but live too far away or are not fit enough to complete the challenge in real life you could even copy my example and do a virtual walk with The Conqueror Challenges. It is not quite the same, but you will get a sense of achievement and a medal for finishing. You should even finish the challenge a bit fitter.
