Guided Trail on the Cotswold Way

72 miles with 11 - 13 miles and up to 1,550 feet of ascent in a day.

Day 1: Arrival day

Day 2: Chipping Campden to Stanway - Our coach takes us to Chipping Campden where the walk commences with an ascent to Dovers Hill, 700 feet above the town. We continue to Broadway Tower, a folly built in 1799 by the Earl of Coventry. 500 feet down we enter Broadway, a busy tourist spot. We continue through fields to the escarpment with views of Buckland, to Stanton and finally Stanway to meet our coach. Stanway is notable for its thatched village cricket pavilion, its Jacobean mansion with a magnificent gateway, and a wonderfully preserved tithe barn now used as a village hall. Distance: 12 miles

Day 3: Stanway to Cleeve Common - Returning to Stanway, we walk by field paths to Stumps Cross, 400 feet above the start, then down to Hailes Abbey. This was one of the last abbeys founded by the Cistercians, in 1215. The abbey became very famous because it housed a phial reputed to hold some of Christ’s blood. After lunch, we continue to Winchcombe, once capital of Mercia, then climb with a view of Sudeley Castle to Belas Knap. We then head through Breakheart Plantation adjacent to Cleeve Common, and we are now near the highest point of the Cotswolds. Some parts of the Common are over 1,000 feet above sea level. Our transport returns us to Bourton-on-the-Water. Distance: 12½ miles

Day 4: Cleeve Hill to Ullen Wood - Starting again from Cleeve Hill, enjoying views possibly as far as the M4 bridge at Bristol, we walk around the edge of Cleeve Common with views over Cheltenham, and then by field paths to Dowdeswell Reservoir. Then climbing through fields and woodlands, we may have time for a detour to Seven Springs, previously thought to be the source of the Thames. An ascent follows to Charlton Kings Common, with excellent views from the escarpment. We move on to Leckhampton Hill with a visit to the Devil's Chimney – some say left by a quarryman as a joke. The coach meets us at Cotswold Hills Golf Course. Distance: 13 miles

Day 5: Ullen Wood to Painswick - From Ullen Wood, we walk on through lanes to the ridge, with splendid views to the right, to Crickley Hill Camp. Archaeologists have been at work here for nearly 20 years, unearthing remnants from different occupations dating back to about 4000BC. We pass the Devil's Table and walk along field paths below Barrow Wake. Beyond Birdlip, a long walk follows through Witcombe Wood to Coopers Hill and Painswick, where there is plenty to see, including some ‘spectacle’ stocks, a wonderful church and delightful woodcarver’s shop. Distance: 11½ miles

Day 6: Painswick to Coaley Peak Country Park - Today we travel to Painswick and on to Edgemoor Inn. We walk across open common land and into woods, passing after a while Cromwell's Siege Stone, then on to Haresfield Beacon. On a good day we have wonderful views across the Severn and to South Wales. After crossing an open common the walk continues through Standish Wood, through Westrip and by field paths to Ryeford. We then bypass Middle Yard to Stanley Wood, ending the walk at Coaley Peak Country Park. Distance: 12 miles

Day 7: Coaley Peak to Wotten-under-Edge - Today’s starting point is Coaley Peak, from where we walk the edge of the scarp with good views to the west. Some nice descents and ascents in woods take us to Cam Long Down. The town of Dursley is our first since Winchcombe, after which comes an ascent to Stinchcombe Hill Golf Course. Descending to North Nibley, we view the Tyndale Monument, a 111-foot commemoration of William Tyndale, who was executed in 1536 for opposing Henry VIII’s divorce and translating the bible into English. After this we walk steadily through woods to reach Wotton under Edge for the completion of our part of the Cotswold Way. Distance: 11 miles

Day 8: Departure day