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Cotswolds Villages Trail

Trail Facts

Total distance: 66 miles (105.5km)
Duration: 8 days/7 nights, 6 days walking
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 10 miles (16km)/13 miles (21km)

Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh

Day 2: Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water. 12 miles (19km)
From Moreton-in-Marsh the route heads across the Evenlode valley to Sezincote House, an unusual Indian-inspired mansion with an outstanding oriental garden, and then passes through the delightful villages of Longborough and Broadwell to Stow-on-the Wold. Stow is a charming town. Mellow stone houses, shops, inns and hotels overlook the cross and stocks in the large market square; from the square narrow alleys or 'tures' lead off invitingly, begging exploration. The cross was erected as a reminder to medieval traders to deal honestly in a Christian manner; the village stocks to punish those that didn't. The route then descends through the picturesque villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter to Bourton-on-the-Water. Bourton-on-the-Water is probably the most beautiful of all the villages in the Cotswolds; the crystal waters of the River Windrush running through the village beneath several little bridges creates a charming scene.

Day 3: Bourton-on-the-Water to Northleach. 10 miles (16km)
From Bourton-on-the-Water the route climbs up to Clapton-on-the-Hill, a peaceful little village with a fine manor house and a tiny but historic church some 6 paces wide and 8 from door to altar, and then crosses the high wolds to Farmington, before descending through Eastingham to the old 'wool' town of Northleach. Built as a market town in the 13th century, at a strategic point midway between Cirencester and Stow-on-the-Wold on the old Roman road, the Fosse Way, Northleach is a fascinating place. Buildings of interest include the Church of St Peter and St Paul, the 'cathedral of the Cotswolds', the house of correction, the workhouse and the almshouses.

Day 4: Northleach to Guiting Power. 11 miles (17.5km)
After Northleach, the Cotswold Village Trail follows the River Leach to the village of Hampnett. After exploring the intriguing church which was decorated in Victorian times as it would have been in the Middle Ages, the route climbs onto the wolds and meanders through Turkdean, Notgrove and Aylworth to the picturesque village of Naunton in the idyllic Windrush valley. From here the route heads up the valley to Guiting Power, a lovely old village of sturdy cottages surrounding a small village green with an inn at each end.

Day 5: Guiting Power to Stanton. 13 miles (21km)
From Guiting Power the route climbs through Guiting Wood and then crosses the old Salt Way before descending past Sudeley Castle, the last resting place of Katherine Parr the sixth and surviving wife of Henry VIII, to Winchecombe. The trail enters the town along Vineyard Street, once called Duck Street because of the ducking stool down by the river. Winchecombe is an attractive small town with two or three inns, Tudor houses, cottages with roses clambering over their porches and a fine church containing an altar cloth worked by Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII first wife. 45 grotesque gargoyles, each representing a local character from the 1460's adorns its outer walls. The trail leaves the town along the old pilgrim's route to Hailes Abbey, and then climbs to Beckbury Camp, a large Iron Age fort, before descending to the village of Stanway. Stanway is another village that rewards exploration - buildings of interest include the Jacobean manor Stanway House with its magnificent renaissance-style gatehouse and baroque watergarden, an enormous 14th century tithe barn and a thatched cricket pavilion set upon straddle stones. From here the route cuts across the fields to the pretty village of Stanton, whose church contains a beautiful 15th century stained glass window removed from Hailes Abbey at the time of the Dissolution.

Day 6: Stanton to Chipping Campden. 10 miles (16km)
The day begins by climbing up to Shenbarrow, an Iron Age hillfort and then follows the Cotswold Edge with some terrific views over the Severn Vale past Snowshill Manor, before descending to Broadway. The village started life as part of a nearby monastery and expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries as a staging post for coaches. The picturesque 'broad way' of the high street is lined with an avenue of red chestnut trees and shops, inns and houses of golden stone with the typical Cotswold mix of tiled and thatched roofs. The route then climbs Beacon Hill to the Broadway Tower, an 18th century folly that provides breathtaking views over 12 counties before descending to Chipping Campden. Chipping Campden is the loveliest of all the Cotswold Market towns, it is also the best preserved and most historically important. Buildings of interest include the open-sided Jacobean Market Hall, built to shelter stallholders from all weathers; the Town Hall, the 14th century Woolstaplers Hall, where the fleeces were sold, which now houses the town's museum; opposite this is Grevel House built in 1380. St James' Church is one of the best examples of a Cotswold 'wool' church and contains the largest memorial brass in the county, to William Grevel, 'the flower of the wool merchants of all England'. Next to the church are the gateway and onion-topped lodges of the old manor of Campden, the manor itself was destroyed during the Civil War. Nearby on a raised pavement stands the row of Almshouses built during the reign of James I in stunning symmetry. The walled dip opposite is an old cartwheel wash.

Day 7: Chipping Campden to Moreton-in-Marsh. 10 miles (16km)
From Chipping Campden the route passes through Broad Campden, with its rare 17th century Friends Meeting House, to the charming village of Blockley, an important centre for the silk industry that thrived in the 18th and 19th centuries and then descends to Moreton-in-Marsh past Batsford Park Arboretum.

Day 8: Depart from Moreton-in-Marsh after breakfast.

Extra nights/rest days

An extra night gives you a chance to explore some of the villages and old market towns along the trail, catch up with writing postcards or just relaxing and giving those weary legs a rest.
Moreton-in-Marsh is a popular choice - the historic city of Oxford is only 30 minutes away by train. If you prefer somewhere quieter, try Guiting Power in the upper reaches of the beautiful Windrush valley. There is plenty to see and do in the old market town of Northleach. It was wool that made Northleach famous and its wealthy merchants built grand 'wool houses' and the magnificent church of St Peter and St Paul, the 'cathedral of the Cotswolds'. The church is a fine example of 15th century Cotswold Perpendicular, with some of the best wool merchants brasses in the country. There is a fascinating museum of rural life in the 'house of correction', an 18th century country prison. Elsewhere in the town are the Dutton Almshouses “for women” built in 1616, a workhouse and a museum of self-playing musical instruments.

What's included?

• 7 nights accommodation in selected inns, guesthouses and B&B's in en-suite rooms with private facilities.
• Full English breakfast.
• Door to door luggage transfer along the trail.
• A set of maps with the route marked on and detailed route notes describing the trail.
• A daily itinerary together with information about facilities and places of interest along the trail.
• Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it.
• Emergency assistance.

 Travel Information

Detailed instructions on how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you on booking. A summary is given below.

Most convenient major city and International airport: London (Gatwick or Heathrow airports) or Birmingham Airport. Train from London Paddington (1 hour 40 minutes) or Birmingham (2 hours 15 minutes).

Outward journey from London to Moreton-in-Marsh: Train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh (I hour 40 minutes). Your first night's accommodation in Moreton-in-Marsh is a short walk or taxi ride from the station.

Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: Short walk or taxi to Moreton-in-Marsh railway station. Train to London Paddington (1 hour 40 minutes).