Cotswold Way

Make your way to the historic village of Chipping Campden. This village meaning ‘Cheap’ which was a derivative of the word market, certainly sets the bar high with being one of the prettiest villages that you will stay in along the way. It feels fitting to start the trail surrounded by rich, honey coloured houses and buildings, and sums up the Cotswolds beauty to a tee. It also features the finest church in the whole of the region, built from the proceeds of the wool industry. The high street is full of lovely boutique shops, and a host of drinking and dining options, ranging from tasty delis offering great local produce, pubs offering traditional British fare, to fine dining restaurants, all within a 100m stretch of high street. Accommodation: The Volunteer Inn is a traditional old coaching inn dating back to the 17th century used to recruit volunteer mercenaries. It is located at the end of the high street opposite St Catherine’s Church on the corner of Hoo Lane where the Cotswold Way turns right off the high street.

The start of the Cotswold Way is easy to find as it is right by the old Market Hall. We Start the first day with a straightforward walk into Broadway. Today is a good introduction to the trail as a whole as you walk through agricultural land and open hills. Make your way up to Dover's Hill where you catch your first views. You will walk along nice wide gravel paths and through wheat fields. Walking through some woods climb to Broadway Tower and roll your way back down towards Broadway where you will be staying tonight. Broadway - You will receive a warm welcome at the 4 star Windrush Guesthouse. *Note that accommodation in Broadway has started to request a minimum of 2 night stays, especially during weekends and supplements are likely to apply. We would recommend booking 2 nights here. Alternatively, we can book you to stay in Stanton tonight. This would mean an extra 2.8 miles/4.5km is added to your walk today, and taken off your walk tomorrow - Stanton is on the route.

The trail enters well-manicured, mainly flat pasture land, part of an estate belonging to Stanway House. There will be a chance to see the outside of the beautiful honey coloured Jacobean house from the walk. Entering the tiny hamlet of Woody Stanway, there is a brief walk up and down the Cotswolds escarpment, passing an Iron Age hill fort called Beckbury Camp. This is called Cromwell’s Clump and supposedly where Thomas Cromwell sat and watched Haile’s Abbey being dissolved. Once off the escarpment there is a track leading off to a fruit farm which has a great little tea room and restaurant, as well as a farm shop. Next are the the ruins of pretty Hailes Abbey before the last few kilometres to Winchcombe. This small town was at one point the capital of Mercia and attracted pilgrims to an abbey now long gone. It has a large church built with the riches of the wool trade and beautiful 16th century townhouses built with local honey coloured limestone. It is described as the walker’s capital of the Cotswolds as other long distance routes intersect here. Sudeley Castle close by, is worth a visit; It is the only private castle that has a queen buried within the grounds. Queen Katherine Parr who was the last surviving wife of King Henry VIII. Accommodation: You will spend the night at White Hart in Winchcombe, a charming, traditional pub located in the heart if Winchcombe. It has a cosy, rustic feel with a traditional bar offering local ales and hearty food.

A longer day involving the ascent to the highest point in the Cotswolds, Cleeve Hill 1,083 ft (330 m) with potentially great views as you will be mostly walking along the escarpment. After a steep initial climb, on the way is the impressive Belas Knap, an Iron age burial ground. From the escarpment, you descend through beautiful woodland, before climbing back finally to the top of Cleeve Hill. with spectacular views over Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve as well as further away to the Brecon Beacons in Wales. It is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its abundance of rare flora and fauna such as orchids, deer and birds of prey. You now keep the height walking past disused quarries which were used to gather the local stones for the houses below, and nature reserves with rare butterflies. The final section will see you dropping height though old woodland until you get to Dowdeswell Reservoir. The nearest accommodation from the trail is about 1km of walking down the London Road towards Cheltenham in the Village of Charlton Kings. Some accommodations are a couple of km further on and this distance is not included in the walk distance today as it varies. Cheltenham is a regency Spa town and is worth a visit even if you are tired, as it is full of interesting buildings, parks and restaurants. Accommodation: Double Tree or Charlton Kings offers quality accommodation just outside Cheltenham and within walking distance off the Cotswold Way. It is a short 10 min taxi ride into Cheltenham itself. If this accommodation is not available then alternatives may be booked in centre

Today starts with the climb up again to the top of the Cotswolds Scarp through Lineover Woods, which features ancient beech and lime trees. Once back on the escarpment (note that the distance today is from the Dowdeswell reservoir) you will find the going easy, although the trails can be muddy and slippery if it has been raining. You will see how prominent the escarpment is with a steep drop off your side. Eventually reach Leckhampton Hill - the site of one of several Iron-Age hillforts situated on top of the Scarp dotted along the length of the Cotswold Way. The hill was also an important quarry which supplied the limestone building material for Regency Cheltenham and the prominent Devil’s Chimney can be seen from where these quarries once were worked. Next some woodland walking brings you to Crickley Hill, which has a lovely café overlooking the Severn Vale. There is finally a bit of road walking to reach the accommodation in Birdlip. Accommodation: Royal George Hotel. This old stone building is pretty much the only choice in the area, and the only pub in this tiny village. It has plenty of large rooms and serves some really well priced meals before 5pm. On Fridays, there is often a live band playing.

Returning to the trail from Birdlip, after the initial road walk join a nice wide woodland trail. After about 3.5km you will come to a sign towards the Great Witcombe Roman Villa. It is only a few hundred metres diversion, and well worth seeing. The trail then comes out into a tiny hamlet which is Cooper’s Hill and if you want to challenge yourself, you can walk up the hill itself, but it is incredibly steep, and you will wonder in awe how people run down it chasing cheeses! The actual trail skirts around the right of the hill at a slightly easier gradient. Walk through more lovely woodland and eventually reach the Painswick road where another short walk through the woods will bring you towards the Royal William Pub, at around lunchtime. The Cotswold Way then climbs to the top of the Painswick Beacon - another Iron Age hillfort - before descending into the town of Painswick shortly after. The town is often touted as the ‘Queen of the Cotswolds’ - the local stone is of a different hue almost ivory in colour in contrast to the honey coloured limestone that the Cotswolds is famous for. Don't miss the only surviving English Rococo Garden in the country and has been beautifully preserved and original to how it was planted in 1748 and the 15th century St Mary’s church. Accommodation: St Anne's House is a former wool merchant's house in the heart of Painswick with antiques, a log fire and a relaxed family atmosphere.

Leaving the pretty suburbs of Painswick, the trail goes over pasture land and gradually works its way uphill to get back up onto the escarpment again and to a trig point at Haresfield Beacon with some spectacular views towards the Severn River, with the Forest of Dean and Brecon Beacons in the distance. You then walk around to the next obvious spur and into Standish Wood, which features ancient Beech Trees and a long barrow at the end of the wood. Exiting the forest, you head downhill towards the outskirts of Stroud. From here, it’s a short walk to your accommodation in either Selsley, Stonehouse or Stroud. Accommodation: The Bell Inn is a charming country pub set in the heart of the Cotswolds. Or you may stay at alternative accommodation in Stonehouse (adding 1.2 miles/ 2km to tomorrow's walk) or Stroud (adding 1 mile/ 1.5km to today's walk and 2.2 miles/ 3.5km to tomorrow's walk).