Walking in the Cotswolds countryside is relaxing and a great way to see the characteristic villages and market towns - it's great! You can enjoy your surrounding at first hand, see the flowers, hear the birds and have time to talk with people you meet.
When planning, consider using 'Goldeneye Complete Collection of Cotswolds Walks', 'Pathfinder Guides' or 'AA 50 Walks Guide', these provide excellent tips and advice - but you really only need one! Visit Amazon to order your copy.
You will also find some walking guidebooks in the local shops. There is no shortage of good books describing walks in the Cotswolds. Make sure you also have an Ordnance Map for the area as backup when walking.
Below are some very basic ideas that we think (and know!) to be the best walking routes. Don't take our word for it, try your own routes naturally, but these are the most popular walks.
One of the best ways to walk with confidence in the countryside is to use a Circular Walk, following a leaflet describing the route. This will provide a map with clear instructions and usually notes places of interest to look out for on your way. Please be aware of the Countryside Code, which is at the bottom of this page.
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To explore some of the historic towns in the Cotswolds, why not spend an hour following a Town Trail, taking in the architectural heritage and history before stopping for a drink at a traditional pub or afternoon tea? For further information visit any Local Tourist Information office, they will be able to help you with relevant maps.
Great Southern Cotswolds Hikes:
1. Slad and Dillay Valleys (Laurie Lee Country) (Goldeneye book).
We did part of this walk right from a Painswick cottage. We went up over the ridge and down into Slad (use an Ordnance Survey map to find the trails). We walked around Slad, down to the river, then we cut across the valley back to Bulls Cross, then down into Painswick for afternoon tea at Chancellor's Tea Rooms and home. A wonderful walk.
2. Cranham - Sheepscombe (Goldeneye).
A fabulous walk mostly through Saltridge Woods, along an open meadow, down into Sheepscombe, then back through the Workmans Woods. When we did this walk, the Workmans Woods were covered in bluebells and white garlic flowers. There were so many wildflowers that it looks like a colored mist lying on the ground. We skipped the downhill walk to Sheepscombe because you only had to walk uphill again and we didn’t want to stop there for lunch! Cranham and Sheepscombe are in the same valley as Painswick. Note: The pub in Sheepscombe only serves food at lunch time.
3. Sapperton – Golden Valley (Goldeneye).
A circular walk from Sapperton. Fabulous walk starting in very pretty village then along an old canal (no longer in use, but it connected the Thames and Severn Rivers) and back through woods and fields. There is a pub in Sapperton and it is a 15 minute drive to Cirencester.
4. Bibury – Coln St Aldwyns (Goldeneye),
2 1/2 hour circular walk from Bibury. Fabulous walk from a beautiful village, through farmers fields and back along the River Coln. The river was flooding over the footpath when we did this hike, so we got a little lost! We had a very good late lunch at the William Morris tea shop on the main street in Bibury.
Great Northern Cotswolds Walks:
1.Stanton - Stanway from the (Goldeneye),
A perfect 2 - 3 hour walk. Both Stanton and Stanway are small villages, with no shops or tea rooms (Stanton has a pub), but they are very beautiful. The hike starts in Stanton and follows the Cotswolds Way to the top of the hills, then you walk through a lovely woods down to Stanway, then across beautiful open fields back to Stanton.
2. Winchcombe, Hailes Abbey and Sudeley Castle (Pathfinder book)
Excellent long walk, 4.5 hours. This walk starts on the Cotswolds Way. You can stop for lunch or tea at Hailes Fruit Farm near the Abbey. There is a shorter version (4 hours) in the Goldeneye book, but the beginning is more difficult - a muddy trail up a hill (we lost our way and went up that hill 3 times).
3. Broadway - Broadway Tower Goldeneye),
Wonderful 3 hour walk. We visited the St. Eadburgh's Church on the first part of the walk. They were preparing for a wedding that afternoon and told us to listen for the wedding bells around 3pm. We heard them ringing for half an hour as we were finishing the hike.
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1. Keep to footpaths, bridlepaths, etc.
2. Leave nothing but footprints. (people actually do live in the countryside - you wouldn't be so pleased if someone dumped litter on your lawn, would you?)
3. Take nothing but photographs. (Many wild plants are protected by law!)
4. Close gates, don't light fires and avoid making a nuisance of yourself...
Follow these and you won't go wrong!!
If you would like a more in-depth view of the legal side of countryside access, footpaths or you just want to report a blocked path, we recommend that you contact The Ramblers' Association. Telephone - +44 (0)20 7339 8500, Fax - +44 (0)20 7339 8501 Website - http://www.ramblers.org.uk