Cotswold Short Break Walking Tour

Cotswold Short Break

4 Days & 3 Nights 5 Read 19 reviews

The perfect walking short break in the Cotswolds.
Honey-coloured stone architecture; cottages, churches, manor houses.
Stay in the classic villages of Moreton-in-Marsh and Bourton-on-the-Water.
Peaceful walking trails next to the Windrush River.
Rolling and typically English landscapes and hedgerows alive with birdlife.

A Cotswold Short Break walking through quintessential English villages and countryside. Discover why the Cotswolds are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and follow trails through green rolling landscapes visiting honey-coloured villages, historic houses and immaculate gardens. Welcoming country pubs are on every corner, so indulge in the excellent cuisine here either for lunch or dinner. Overnight in traditional Cotswolds villages, staying in quaint B&B’s and small hotels. This tour can be taken over a long weekend as it is 3 nights and 4 days.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

This is a short break walking tour that can be taken over a long weekend. With 2 easy to moderately rated walks, overnight stays in picturesque Cotswold villages, and easy access to the start/finish point, this is an ideal tour for those wishing to sample the very best of the Cotswolds in a couple of days.

Tour Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Short Break

Activity Level & Terrain

This trip is graded between easy to moderate and moderate depending on which itinerary you choose. The trail follows well maintained footpaths, bridleways, open fields and some minor roads. It does involve some relatively steep ascent and descent from the escarpment and days of up to 12 miles walking. The longer days can be shortened by taking local buses or taxis.

Navigation

Most of the route is marked by a variety of waymarks but you need to be able to able to read a map and follow route descriptions closely. In addition to the printed route notes, you will receive in your travel pack, you will also have access to our Macs Adventure App, allowing you to follow the route on richly detailed mapping on your smartphone.

Accommodations

We use handpicked, high quality B&B’s, guesthouses and country inns of typical Cotswold character. Honey coloured cottages, roaring log fires, comfortable country bedrooms and the warmest of welcomes are what we look for to make your stay extra special. We have included a few examples below to give you a better idea of what to expect.

Accommodation Location

We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the tour itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability we may have to accommodate you into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.

Solo Walkers

This walking tour is available to solo walkers but as we incur additional baggage transfer costs there is a solo walker supplement payable.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms within your party we will always try and accommodate you subject to availability. A single supplement is payable.

Included

3 Nights in hand-picked B&B's and small hotels
3 Breakfasts
Door to door baggage transfer
Transfer on Day 4 to Moreton-in-Marsh Train Station
A detailed information pack, route notes and map
Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.

Excluded

Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk.
Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.
Travel Insurance.
Personal Equipment.

Extras

Extra nights
Hotel upgrades

When To Go

This tour can be best enjoyed from April to October. Spring time is particularly beautiful as all the spring flowers will be in bloom. You can start on any date that suits your travel plans, subject to availability.

Getting to the Start

Getting to/from Moreton-in-Marsh

Rail: Regular services connect London Paddington and Moreton-in-Marsh (1h35). You can find train schedules on the National Rail or Trainline websites.

Road: On street parking is available in Moreton-in-Marsh, there is no secure parking. Driving directions from the M40 Southbound: Leave the M40 at junction 15 (signposted to Warwick, Stratford, Coventry A46) and join the A429 southbound towards Cirencester. Continue on A429 for approx. 22 miles into Moreton-in-Marsh.

As part of your trip an included transfer from your accommodation in Bourton-on-the-Water to Moreton-in-Marsh Train Station on Day 4.

Luggage Transfer

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

If you are travelling from far afield and do have more than one bag it is possible to arrange for the extra luggage to be stored whilst you are on the tour for a fee of £25 per bag. These additional bags would be picked up from your accommodation at the start point of your tour and dropped off wherever you finish depending on the itinerary you are doing. Please contact us if you are interested in this option.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking/cycling gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Equipment

Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

How fit do I need to be?

How far in advance do I need to book?

What gardens can I visit in the area?

What ruins/history/country houses can I see along the way?

What personal equipment do I need?

When is the best time of year?

What is the best way to get to/from the walk?

How do baggage transfers work?

Am I able to take my dog?

What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Moreton-in-Marsh

Moreton-in-Marsh is a one-hour thirty-five-minute train journey from London Paddington.

One of the principal market towns in the Northern Cotswolds, it has been a traveller's town for at least 1700 years. The wide main street is lined by inns, shops and galleries and hosts a weekly Tuesday market.

Overnight Moreton-in-Marsh

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Redesdale Arms | Hotel

Redesdale Arms Hotel is a 17th-century coaching house which has a contemporary decor with stylish bedrooms and you can enjoy log fires in the winter and a patio garden in the summer. The rooms are spread between the original main house, dating back to 1650, and to the rear of the building in the original stable block or courtyard. Two of their rooms feature whirlpool baths and many have spacious walk-in showers. All the rooms are equipped with Digital TV, CD players and new king-size beds. The restaurant has an AA Rosette award and the menu boasts good quality produce including local game and vegetables, and Cornish seafood.

White Hart Royal Hotel | Hotel

The White Hart Royal, with individually designed bedrooms, is a historic 17^th century coaching inn. All bedrooms have complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, mineral water and biscuits. From the revenue the hotel receives they donate the cost of a new baby tree to the local woodland trust. In this way they not only contribute towards a great local ’green’ cause, they also provide guests with the feel good factor of knowing that having an overnight stay here a little tree will grow!

Acacia Guest House | Bed and breakfast

Acacia Guesthouse is a small B&B in Moreton in Marsh. All rooms are equipped with flat screen tv's,, free wi-fi, tea/coffee making facilities, clock radio alarms, use of ironing board facilities, and hairdryer. Dorothy and Michael will cater for your every need with freshly soured local products for that homely breakfast. Just off the high street there is a choice of local restaurants to choose from for your evening meal.