The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile National Trail running from Chipping Campden to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath, following the escarpment of the Cotswold Hills. This is one of England’s most iconic walking routes — full of rural charm, long views, and historic landmarks.
Walkers follow ridgelines and woodland trails through a countryside of stone villages, wildflower meadows, hill forts, and heritage towns. It’s ideal for self-guided walking holidays that combine beauty, comfort, and a deep sense of place
Begin in Chipping Campden, a market town steeped in wool trade history and Cotswold charm. From here, the trail climbs to the escarpment for expansive views over the Vale of Evesham.
The path passes through picture-perfect villages like Broadway, Stanton, and Winchcombe — each offering stone cottages, country pubs, and timeless scenery. Midway, climb Cleeve Hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds, and look out across the Severn Vale.
From Painswick, the “Queen of the Cotswolds,” the trail flows through wooded valleys and rolling farmland. In the final stretch, it crests the Lansdown Ridge and descends into Bath through open commons and Georgian terraces, ending at the historic heart of one of England’s most beautiful cities.
The Cotswold Way is ideal for slow, self-guided walking holidays, with charming places to stay throughout. You’ll find country inns, boutique B&Bs, and welcoming cottages in villages and market towns along the trail.
Pause for longer stays in Winchcombe, Painswick, or Dursley, or detour to visit gardens, castles, and historic estates like Sudeley Castle, Belas Knap, or Hailes Abbey.
This is a route that encourages stillness and small discoveries — a hillside bench, a golden sunset, a quiet churchyard or meadow. Every step connects you to the rhythm of the land.
