Iconic Cotswolds
England Hiking + Walking Tours
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length6 days
- Prices from£1129 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This guided or self-guided walking tour in southwest England will lead you through the stunning Cotswold countryside. Through fields and over rolling hills, your trails lead to honey-colored Cotswold villages and bustling market towns.
The Cotswold Hills are the perfect walking country. The winding lanes and national footpaths will transport you back to England as it was before industrialization when sheep and dry-stone walling were the biggest industries.
Global heritage sites including Windsor, home to the Queen and its majestic Great Park, the university city of Oxford, Churchill’s Blenheim Palace, the Neolithic wonder of Stonehenge, and the spa town of Bath are highlighted.
With stunning views around every corner, excellent accommodation, wonderful pubs, and delectable cuisine, we’ll give you an experience you won’t forget!
Highlights
- Windsor Castle
- Blenheim Palace - the birthplace of Winston Churchill
- University city of Oxford
- Stonehenge and Avebury, World Heritage Sites
- Walk along the ancient Great West Way Trail
- Bath and the Roman Baths
- Stunning walking trails
Be sure to check out all our hiking tours!
Itinerary
Day 1: Windsor - Moreton-in-Marsh Royal, 4 - 6 mi. (6 - 10 km)
Day 2: Golden Stoned Chipping Campden, Broadway Tower, The Eccentric Hidcote Gardens, 5 - 8 mi. (8 - 13 km)
Day 3: Blenheim Palace, 4 - 7 mi. (6 or 11 km)
Day 4: White Horse Hill, Avebury, and Stonehenge, 4 - 8 mi. (6 - 13 km)
Day 5: Bath Skyline Walk, 5 - 7 mi. (8 - 11 km)
Day 6: End of tourDay 1: Windsor - Moreton-in-Marsh Royal, 4 - 6 mi. (6 - 10 km)
The group transfer is arranged at 8:30 am from London at Paddington Station, Platform 1, under the clock. You will then be taken by bus to Windsor, which is about a one hour drive. You then set off into the royal deer park, past the cricket pitches and the famous Guards Polo Club and grounds, founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1955. A former player, he remains the Club’s President today, regularly watching games from the Royal Box. His oldest son, HRH The Prince of Wales, and grandsons, Princes William, and Harry, have inherited his passion and have played many a game at the Club. Often on a Sunday, there is a polo match taking place as you travel past, lingering longer when there is a Chukka in play! This beautiful walk leads around the Great Park grounds, with all of its eccentric statues, totem poles, and ruins – including Leptis Magna aka the Temple of Augustus or, an ancient Roman ruin from Libya that has ended up here, 2000 miles away from where it originated! You walk through the famous ‘Long Walk’, a historic 3-mile avenue, pass the Copper Horse Statue of King George III right up to Windsor Castle. Enjoy lunch in town before you take a tour of the magnificent castle itself, the largest occupied castle in the world. In the late afternoon, you travel by bus to your hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh in the North Cotswolds. You will enjoy a social group dinner on this first evening.Accommodation
- Country: 3* Redesdale Hotel
- Premium: 4* The Manor House Hotel
Day 2: Golden Stoned Chipping Campden, Broadway Tower, The Eccentric Hidcote Gardens, 5 - 8 mi. (8 - 13 km)
Today is dedicated to the Cotswolds. In the morning, you walk from the golden-stoned Chipping Campden with its impressive market hall, constructed in 1627, and its fascinating civil war history, lived-out in the ruins on the outskirts of the town. Heading through the fields to the stunning gardens at Hidcote for lunch and then to explore its internationally renowned gardens; special because of its series of outdoor rooms and as the first National Trust property to be purchased for its gardens rather than the building itself. You visit Broadway Tower overlooking the northernmost extreme of the Cotswold, from where you can see 16 counties and to the Black Mountains of Wales. You then walk into Broadway town itself, one of the prettiest villages the Cotswolds has to offer. You take the short transfer back to your hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh for a relaxed evening in town.Accommodation
- Country: 3* Redesdale Hotel
- Premium: 4* The Manor House Hotel
Day 3: Moreton-in-Marsh - Oxford, 4 - 7 mi. (6 or 11 km)
You head out from the hotel through the beautiful Cotswolds to start your walk in Blenheim Palace, where Winston Churchill was born and a World Heritage Site. With 3000 acres of Capability Brown parkland to explore, today's walk is a stunning wander around lakes, serpentine streams, woodland, and into the Palace itself for an audio tour of this historical palace in the afternoon. You travel into Oxford in the evening for a walk through the historical university town, from the Radcliff Camera to the Bridge of Sighs, and a dinner out in the city.Accommodation
- Country: 3* Highway Inn
- Premium: 4* The Bay Tree Hotel or The Lamb
Day 4: Oxford - Bath, 7 mi. (11 km)
You travel from Burford to the stunning White Horse Hill to see the beautiful ancient carving atop the Ridgeway, thought to be around 3000 years old. You walk to Wayland’s Smithy, a Neolithic chambered long barrow, once believed to have been the home of Wayland, the Saxon god of metalworking. Next is a visit to a Bronze Age Fort with views stretching across the Thames valley, followed by Stonehenge; Europe’s best-known prehistoric monument. There is the option to walk to and from these stones, completing this Neolithic Day, or if you prefer, you can finish at lunchtime and head straight to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon in Bath.Accommodation
- Country: The Bird, standard room
- Premium: The Bird, premium room
Day 5: Bath Skyline Walk, 5 - 7 mi. (8 - 11 km)
In the morning, you walk along the canals of Bath, down towpaths, and beside the rivers that lead to the wonderful Bath Skyline Walk, with panoramic views of the city. In the afternoon, you visit the incredible Roman Baths and take a tour up to the Royal Crescent overlooking the city. You overnight in Bath again, known for its restaurants, bars, culture, and arts!Accommodation
- Country: The Bird, standard room
- Premium: The Bird, premium room
Day 6: Departure
After a relaxed breakfast, your tour officially ends. Regular direct trains depart from Bath Spa Station into London and other mainline stations.Day 1: Windsor - Moreton-in-Marsh Royal, 6 mi. (10 km)
Day 2: Golden Stoned Chipping Campden, Broadway Tower, The Eccentric Hidcote Gardens, 8 mi. (13 km)
Day 3: Blenheim Palace, 7 mi. (11 km)
Day 4: White Horse Hill, Avebury, and Stonehenge, 8 mi. (13 km)
Day 5: Bath Skyline Walk, 5 - 7 mi. (8 - 11 km)
Day 6: End of tourDay 1: Windsor - Moreton-in-Marsh Royal, 6 mi. (10 km)
You are met at London Paddington Station, on Platform 1, underneath the clock. You are then taken to Windsor for a walk around Windsor Great Park, including the deer park and the Guards Polo Pitches, and along the famous Long Walk right up to the Castle and the town of Windsor. After lunch in town, you can then tour the castle in the afternoon before transferring to Moreton-in-Marsh and your hotel for the first two nights of this tour.Accommodation
- Country: 3* Redesdale Hotel
- Premium: 4* The Manor House Hotel
Day 2: Golden Stoned Chipping Campden, Broadway Tower, The Eccentric Hidcote Gardens, 8 mi. (13 km)
After a short transfer to the golden-stoned medieval market town of Chipping Campden, your route leads you out of town and through the Cotswold Hills to the beautiful American inspired gardens at Hidcote. Take your time exploring these gardens and the great little café for a coffee break before walking on to Broadway Tower for lunch. From here you can see 13 different counties and all the way to Wales. The afternoon walk is a looped walk from the Tower into Broadway village itself and back up to the views on top of the Cotswold escarpment. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred the short distance back to your hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh.Accommodation
- Country: 3* Redesdale Hotel
- Premium: 4* The Manor House Hotel
Day 3: Blenheim Palace, 7 mi. (11 km)
You are transferred to the country home of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site. You can walk through the back gate of its 2000-acre estate and stroll through the stunning grounds. On arrival at the Palace, there is ample time to explore the historical house and beautiful gardens. You then travel to Burford, the Gateway to the Cotswolds, and your hotel for the evening.Accommodation
- Country: 3* Highway Inn
- Premium: 4* The Bay Tree Hotel or The Lamb
Day 4: White Horse Hill, Avebury, and Stonehenge, 8 mi. (13 km)
You travel from Burford to the stunning White Horse Hill to see the beautiful ancient carving atop the Ridgeway. Your walk takes you to an ancient long barrow - the burial mound Wayland Smithy - and around to a Bronze Age Fort with views stretching across the Thames Valley. You then travel on to the giant stone henge at Avebury and the famous Stonehenge itself in the afternoon to complete your Neolithic Day. There is also the option to finish at lunchtime and head straight to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon in Bath.Accommodation
- Country: The Bird, standard room
- Premium: The Bird, premium room
Day 5: Bath Skyline Walk, 5 - 7 mi. (8 - 11 km)
You travel to the start of the famous skyline walk, with views across the Regency city, walking through woodland and canal before heading into the city for lunch and an afternoon of exploring the Roman Baths or enjoying some retail therapy in the bustling city center. You stay in Bath again on this last night.Accommodation
- Country: The Bird, standard room
- Premium: The Bird, premium room
Day 6: End of tour
After a relaxed breakfast, your tour officially ends. Regular direct trains depart from Bath Spa Station into London and other mainline stations.Accommodation
You will have your choice of accommodations, either 3-star country accommodations or 4-star premium accommodations. In each day’s detailed description, you will find the name of the preferred hotel listed so that you can make an informed choice. If the preferred hotel is not possible due to availability or other factors, you will be offered an establishment of equal standard.
Inclusions
What’s Included
Guided Tour
- Accommodation for 5 nights in the selected category
- Breakfasts
- 3 dinners
- Entry into all iconic points of interest, including Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Blenheim Palace, Roman Baths, Oxford Colleges
- Transport throughout
- Luggage transfers
- Walking poles
- Local professional guide
- Accommodation for 5 nights in the selected category
- Breakfasts
- Transport throughout
- Luggage transfers
- Route maps, comprehensive GPS routes (Ride with GPS), & route guide with daily written instructions
- Walking poles
Self-Guided Tour
What’s Not Included
Guided
- Lunches & café stops
- Any dinners not mentioned
- Any beverages with dinners
- Gratuity for your local guide
- Travel Insurance
- Lunches & dinners
- Entry to iconic points & places of interest: Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, Hidcote Broadway tour, Roman Baths, & Stonehenge
- Gratuity for local guides
- Travel Insurance
Self-Guided tour
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2021
Guided & Self-guided
Sunday departures
April 1 - October 31, 2021
Minimum number of participants for guided tours: 4
Minimum number of participants for self-guided tours: 2Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Guided tour
Country Accommodations
Twin/double: $ 2857 £ 1579 $ 2,851 € 1872 NZ$ 3062 kr 18850 $ 2,278 Single supplement: $ 588 £ 325 $ 587 € 385 NZ$ 630 kr 3880 $ 469
Premium Accommodations
Twin/double: $ 3399 £ 1879 $ 3,393 € 2228 NZ$ 3643 kr 22432 $ 2,711 Single supplement: $ 588 £ 325 $ 587 € 385 NZ$ 630 kr 3880 $ 469
Self-guided tour
Country Accommodations
Twin/double: $ 2042 £ 1129 $ 2,038 € 1339 NZ$ 2189 kr 13478 $ 1,629 Single supplement: $ 588 £ 325 $ 587 € 385 NZ$ 630 kr 3880 $ 469
Premium Accommodations
Twin/double: $ 2440 £ 1349 $ 2,436 € 1600 NZ$ 2616 kr 16105 $ 1,947 Single supplement: $ 588 £ 325 $ 587 € 385 NZ$ 630 kr 3880 $ 469
Extra Options
Extra nights on request.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This tour is rated easy to moderate and is appropriate for guests going for a good walk that can handle an incline or two. The terrain covered is varied including rolling hills and a few steeper walks which will be a bit more demanding. If you choose the guided tour, your holiday will be tailored by your guide to suit your individual preferences. Rewarding views are guaranteed. Either version, guided or self-guided, features daily distances ranging from 4-10 miles, and options for shorter or longer walks are available on all days.
Airport Info
Fly to London Heathrow International Airport (LHR).
Local Travel
You will meet your transfer at the London Paddington Station at Platform 1 at 8:30 am. Because of the early transfer time, it is advised that you arrive before your tour start and arrange for accommodations in London.
Climate
The climate in this region is a temperate maritime climate with warm summers. The best time to visit is June, July, and August.
Recommended
Extra night in London before the start of your tour the next day at 8:30am.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Tour Operator
This tour is run by Active England.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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