The Cotswold Way explores the quintessential English countryside of the Cotswolds which makes it one of our most popular walking tour in England. There is certainly plenty to discover along the trail. One question that people always ask is how long do they need to walk the Cotswold Way?

How long you take to complete the trail depends on how much exploring you would like to do along the way and also how much time you have available.  Here at Macs Adventure we offer eight itineraries for the Cotswold Way so rest assured that whether you like to take your time or whether you are looking for a challenge there will be something to suit you. You can choose to walk the full 102 miles of the Cotswold Way in anything from six to ten days. We are also happy to tailor-make any of our itineraries to individual requirements, so just ask! 

To get the most from your time in the Cotswolds we would recommend taking eight or nine walking days to complete the trail. Alternatively, if you are short of time then you may choose to split the walk up and do either the North or South section, meaning you can return later to do the other half!

8 Days & 7 Nights (6 Walking Days on the Cotswold Way)

This itinerary is perfect for experienced hikers looking to cover plenty of distance each day.  It doesn't allow much time to take in the sites but it's great if you are limited on time or pushing yourself. With a daily average of  17 miles, it's definitely more challenging.

9 Days & 8 Nights (7 Walking Days on the Cotswold Way)

Walking the Cotswold Way over 7 walking days is also graded by our experts as moderate-strenuous, meaning it will offer a bit of a challenge. A shorter first day (around 10 miles) eases you in gently though, and it is a popular choice for active regular walkers who still want a bit of time to stop and see the sights.

10 Days & 9 Nights (8 Walking Days on the Cotswold Way)

With 8 full hiking days, you can make the most out of your time in the Cotswolds, adding in stopovers in Seven Springs and the beautiful and historic village of Painswick. A good "average" paced trip.

 11 Days & 10 Nights (9 Walking Days on the Cotswold Way)

This itinerary splits up the 15-mile journey to Tomarton into two smaller sections with overnight stays in Old Sodbury and Cold Ashton, leaving you with more time to explore the sites. Perfect if you have a bit of extra time to spare.

12 Days & 11 Nights (10 Walking Days on the Cotswold Way)

Gentle hiking with an average of 10 miles per day, leaving you with ample time for long and leisurely lunches. Walking in England doesn't get better than this! Recently, we've seen this itinerary become the most popular, with lots of people looking to spend quality time and enjoy a gentle escape, with lots of time to spend with travel companions.

6 Nights - The North

Experience the best of the pretty quintessential villages on the Cotswold Way over 5 walking days.

6 Nights - The South 

5 Walking days gives you plenty of time to explore the highlights on the southern section of the Cotswold Way. There are less places to stop between overnight locations so we highly recommend leisurely picnic lunches (plenty of places to enjoy those!).

Short on time?

An escape to the Cotswolds might be a better option than trying to squeeze the Cotswold Way into less time. This itinerary spends 4 nights (3 walking days) exploring the highlights of the Cotswold Way including the glorious Sudeley castle.

If you would like any more information on the Cotswold Way or any other walking tour in England, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with the team on hello@macsadventure.com.