MARK The Cotswold Way
The Cotswold Way is one of England's most popular long-distance trails — a 164 km route along the western edge of the Cotswolds from Chipping Campden to Bath. It's a gentle, scenic journey through rolling hills, honey-stone villages, historic estates, and panoramic viewpoints.
The full trail guide — stats, the route day by day, what it really feels like, and the planning detail you need to walk it.
At a Glance
- Best Season: April–October
- Terrain: Rolling hills, woodland, farmland, historic villages
The Route
🏔️ Route Character
The Cotswold Way follows the western scarp of the Cotswolds through honey-stone villages, beech woods and open ridges — from Broadway Tower, over the highest point at Cleeve Hill, and down the escarpment to a finish at Bath Abbey.
It's gentle, scenic, and hugely popular with UK walkers and international visitors — one of the most tourism-friendly long-distance trails in England.
🧰 Route Breakdown
- Day 1 — Chipping Campden → Broadway — Gentle hills, classic Cotswold scenery and Broadway Tower.
- Day 2 — Broadway → Winchcombe — Rolling countryside, woodland and Sudeley Castle.
- Day 3 — Winchcombe → Cleeve Hill — Steeper climbs and open ridges — Cleeve Hill is the highest point on the trail.
- Day 4 — Cleeve Hill → Birdlip — The Cotswold escarpment, panoramic viewpoints and quiet woodland.
- Day 5 — Birdlip → Painswick — Beech woods, limestone scenery and historic villages.
- Day 6 — Painswick → Stonehouse — Rolling farmland and open countryside — relaxed pacing.
- Day 7 — Stonehouse → Dursley — Escarpment climbs, big views and atmospheric woodland.
- Day 8 — Dursley → Hawkesbury Upton — Steep pulls, open ridges and historic estates.
- Day 9 — Hawkesbury → Cold Ashton — Gentle hills, farmland and quiet villages.
- Day 10 — Cold Ashton → Bath — A final ridge, city views, and a finish at Bath Abbey.
Practical
⚠️ Difficulty & Hazards
- Navigation: Very easy — well-waymarked and beginner-friendly; still carry a map.
- Terrain: Rolling hills, woodland, farmland and escarpment viewpoints.
- Fitness: Manageable daily mileage for beginners, families and intermediate walkers.
- Weather: The escarpment can be windy and exposed; check Met Office forecasts.
- Accommodation: B&Bs, pubs, boutique hotels and campsites — book ahead in Broadway, Winchcombe and Bath.
🌠️ Who This Route Suits
- Beginners
- Families
- Intermediate walkers
- Anyone wanting a gentle, scenic and sociable long-distance walk
Not ideal for
- Walkers wanting wild, remote terrain — this is gentle and village-dotted
📱 Parking & Logistics
- Getting there: Start at Chipping Campden, reached by bus from Moreton-in-Marsh station.
- Finish: Bath has mainline rail links.
- Resupply: Honey-stone villages throughout — easy to plan stages.
🧰 GPX & Map Notes
On OS Explorer maps 45, OL45 and 155. Very well-waymarked; a GPX helps with stage planning.
⭐ MX Summary: England's gentle classic — rolling hills, honey-stone villages, historic estates and superb viewpoints from Chipping Campden to Bath.