Zipping around the Cotswolds in a comfortable car, stopping off here and there to dip into some of its notable sights on a whistle-stop tour - it’s a fine idea. But to fully immerse oneself in the deep joys of this picturesque swathe of endearingly English countryside, doing less could reward you with more. To really open your eyes to the wonder of the Cotswolds’ timeless beauty - and it really is stunning - the oldest method of transport known to man is the best method: a good walk. Here is our guide to recommended walking routes that really showcase the natural beauty and architectural wonder of the Cotswolds.
Chipping Campden To Broadway Tower ( 5-6 Miles)
At the northern end of the 102-mile Cotswold Way National Trail, this lesser-travelled ‘end’ route from Chipping Campden to Broadway Tower is deeply rewarding and unquestionably scenic. In fact, it’s been technically proven. As you cross the Gloucestershire-Worcestershire border, pausing for breath under the turrets of a famous local folly - Broadway Tower - on a clear day you can count 16 counties as you cast your eyes across the majesty of southern England. No wonder the famed English textile designer and writer William Morris loved it here, especially with red deer grazing away lower down the hill. Overall, this trail is one that encompasses varied terrain without being too strenuous for casual walkers. Chipping Campden is a charming village from which to start, with The Noel Arms a popular spot for a pre-walk breakfast. Along the well-signposted way, amid pleasantly rolling countryside, Dover’s Hill is an interesting natural amphitheatre and a famous viewpoint overlooking the Vale of Evesham. Broadway Village - especially The Swan pub - is a lovely spot to refuel once this captivating walk is done. It will likely take three hours, and warrants a rich reward.
Bradford-On-Avon To Bath ( 9-10 Miles)
Further south is a longer walk that takes in two glorious English counties. This focuses on a long stretch of beautifully restored waterways, starting at the pretty Wiltshire town of Bradford-on-Avon and finishing in the stunning Regency city of Bath (in Somerset). It’s an easy-to-follow route, too, meaning that you can meander gracefully along the Kennet and Avon Canal without a care in the world (or your head stuck in a map). This area this walk encompasses represents a huge success story; in spite of the unshakeable nature of its bucolic surroundings, the canal had fallen into a bad way over previous decades. But, from a state of serious disrepair and neglect, it is now utterly thriving: clean, bustling, peaceful, safe, with a total abundance of wildlife and nature at every twist and turn, and some inviting cafes and pubs to stop off along the way. Dundas Aqueduct is an impressive Grade I-listed structure, well worth admiring, as is Claverton Pumping Station. In short, there is plenty to see and do. To return, trains run regularly between Bath Spa and Bradford.
Westonbirt Trails (Various Distances)
A whole world of trees is waiting to be explored at Westonbirt Arboretum - an impressively comprehensive collection of stunning specimens from all corners of the globe. With over 600 acres of woodland across the Westonbirt site, there is an impressive variety of trails to explore, tailored to suit all ages, interests and fitness levels. The Silk Wood Trail is hugely popular and, at three miles long, is enough to get the blood pumping, but likely to be moderate enough for the whole family to find manageable and enjoyable. This route takes in semi-natural woodland with a diverse mix of trees - incorporating both native species and exotic specimens - and takes the breath away in autumn, when the leaves turn into a riot of orange and gold, and also in spring, when the sap is rising fast and blooms are rampant. Overall, it’s a thrilling escape into nature - but with all the amenities you can imagine right on hand, on-site parking, toilets, picnic areas, and wheelchair-friendly paths.
Bredon Hill Circular ( 5-6 Miles)
“Here of a Sunday morning; My love and I would lie; And see the coloured counties; And hear the larks so high; About us in the sky.” So wrote besotted English poet AE Housman in 1896 about Bredon Hill, a majestic mound of Cotswold land beloved of poets and artists, which continues to inspire devotion and awe to this day. Still strewn with the romantic ruins of ancient fortifications, castles and follies, this 980ft summit gets less footfall than other high treks within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) region - perhaps being at the northern tip of the region - but it is no less beautiful. The Bredon Hill Circular is the best way to make the most of panoramic views and can be done in around three hours. Start and end in Ashton-under-Hill, a charming village with sandy ‘Cotswold stone’ cottages, before passing through Banbury Stone Tower (also known as Parsons Folly), from where the views can stretch for nearly 100 miles. Ancient landmarks like Kemerton Camp, an Iron Age hillfort, are relatively easy to find and there are wildflower meadows and wooded trails along the way. Take note: there is uneven terrain in places on the ascent to Bredon Hill summit.
Bourton-On-The-Water To Stow-On-The-Wold ( 4 Miles)
This is a classic Cotswolds experience, a lazy ramble through idyllic countryside and historic villages, with the added bonus that it’s mostly flat and any inclines being gentle at best. Bourton-on-the-Water is known, with a dash of British humour, as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, thanks to the enchanting stone bridges that criss-cross the River Windrush, and the quaint, tightly-knit streets that surround the village. Having left it behind - perhaps stocking up on pastries and coffees at the famous ‘Bakery on the Water’ cafe - well-marked footpaths take you through open fields, farmland, and quiet lanes, with grazing sheep and sumptuous Cotswold scenery keeping you motivated. Lower Slaughter is an optional detour - it will add an extra mile - but whether you choose to or not, arriving in Stow-on-the-Wold is hugely rewarding: it’s a historic town, the highest point in the Cotswolds no less, with a sprawling market square to investigate (and The Porch House, one of England’s oldest pubs).
Embark on any of these walks, maybe all of them, and you’ll be all the richer for it. While it might sound deep, the beauty and tranquility of the Cotswolds tends to have a real impact on people - a piece of your soul might just be connected to this joyous English heartland forever.
