The Cotswold Round
- Strolling through the Regency splendour of the Pittville Pump Room
- Exploring the quiet lanes of picturesque Cotswold villages
- Hand picked accommodation offering the warmest of welcomes
- Discovering the numerous abbeys, historic houses and ruins which litter the area
- Enjoying the friendly atmosphere and great food of a Cotswold country pub
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Cheltenham SpaCheltenham Spa is 86 miles west of London and trains leave London Paddington every 30 minutes. The journey takes about two hours fifteen minutes by train. Cheltenham Spa is England’s most complete Regency town.
On arrival take the time to wander the elegant pavilion, squares and terraces, which are lined by distinctive Regency Townhouses complete with intricate ironwork balconies and painted stucco facades. Cheltenham enjoyed great fame for almost 100 years as a Spa town following the visit of King George III and Queen Charlotte in 1788. Spa waters are still available, but no longer the sole reason to visit Cheltenham.

Cotswold Grange is an independent hotel situated in a quiet leafy avenue of similar grand buildings. Rooms are equipped with a TV, radio, tea/coffee-making facilities. Beds have deep mattresses and crisp white linen sheets. Ornately decorated, the high ceilinged dining room has huge windows.
Queens Hotel Cheltenham offers a truly majestic setting with its décor and architecture encapsulating all the elegance, heritage and grandeur of the neo-classical era - complemented by all the contemporary features you need for a most splendid stay. The Hotel is a grand and imposing Regency property sitting right in the heart of the picturesque spa town of Cheltenham, overlooking the beautiful Imperial Gardens and Promenade. You are assured the warmest of welcomes at the hotel and the rooms offer all one would require for a most comfortable nights rest. Free Wi-Fi is available.
The Number 8 is a victorian house completely refurbished. All rooms are light with two double glazed sash windows with wooden shutters. There are built-in cupboards and a generous selection of drinks & snacks are supplied with fresh milk.
The walk starts at the Pittville Pump Rooms, probably the finest example of Regency architecture in Cheltenham, set in the beautiful Pittville Park.
Leaving Cheltenham you skirt the famous racecourse and soon climb the Cotswold Escarpment at Cleeve Hill. The next six miles to Winchcombe over Cleeve Common offer some of the most enjoyable walking on the Cotswold Way. An area of open unimproved limestone grassland, the walking is sublime.

The Lion Inn is formerly a coaching inn dating back to the 1500s, following a major renovation the Inn has been given a new lease of life; the rooms now have their own individual style and character, rooms are clutter free which means they do not have TV’s. You can enjoy delicious home-cooked, locally-sourced food and a great selection of beer, wine and spirits in a beautiful, relaxing environment in the restaurant and bar.

Blair House is an attractive late Georgian residence in the ancient Saxon town of Winchcombe. It has three guest bedrooms, all charmingly decorated. Each room has a TV, as well as tea and coffee making facilities. In addition there is a sitting room for guests on the ground floor, with magazines and TV. Located within walking distance of local pubs, restaurants and shops. And also a Tourist Information Centre during the summer months.

The White Hart Inn is a 16th Century coaching inn in the centre of Winchcombe. They have eight en-suite guest rooms; all rooms have tea & coffee facilities, complementary bottled water, flat screen TV and free WI-FI. At the Wine and Sausage they believe that local produce, cooked creatively is the heart of a good restaurant. They also have a range of wines from around the world, the wine shop is next to the bar, showing off this year’s top 100 from over 2,500 wines tasted.
Following the Cotswold Way you head north to the idyllic villages of Stanton and Broadway. On the way you can visit Hailes Abbey and Stanway House, some of the Cotswolds’ real gems.
Broadway has lured visitors for centuries and a stroll down the broad tree lined High street is the perfect way to while away the evening.
As there are limited accommodations in Broadway you may finish your day early and stop overnight in Stanton, approx 4.5 miles before Broadway.

Shenberrow is a country house in 8 acres of North Cotswolds’s little village of Stanton. All rooms for comfortably furnished with en-suite bathrooms and all the usual comforts in the way of TV & tea & coffee making facilities.

The Old Post House offers accommodation in an old converted stable block furnished with original antiques and comfortable beds. The rooms have a television, radio and the facility for making tea and coffee. Breakfast is served in the house itself, in what used to be Stanton’s original post office.
Bed & Breakfast is offered in Jill's antique and flower-filled Cotswold house. Jill's breakfasts are legendary and will set you up for a day of activity. The choice of rooms each with en-suite shower and wash basin, sharing two hallway wc's. Additionally there is a double room with private bath and wc.
Your day starts with a steady climb to Broadway Tower, a unique Capability Brown folly tower. Located at the second highest point on the Cotswold Escarpment it offers one of the finest views in England.
After enjoying the tower enjoy a gentle stroll down to the honey coloured cottages, tea rooms and gift shops of Chipping Campden.
Walking through the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, wander through Broad Campden, Blockley and then to Moreton-in-Marsh one of the most important market towns in the Cotswolds, which still holds a weekly market on the wide main street.

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.

The White Hart Royal, with individually designed bedrooms, is a historic 17th 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 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.
As you leave Moreton-in-Marsh you can look forward to the most delightful day of walking. Hopping between some of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds you soon reach Stow-on-the-Wold, an important market town, whose streets are lined by art galleries, gift shops and inns.
Don’t linger for too long as a few more miles through the rolling Cotswold countryside bring you to Bourton-on-the-Water, probably the prettiest village in Britain. Bourton is an absolute delight and is sure to live up to your every expectation.

Situated in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, the Chester House is a 22 bedroom privately run hotel. Their rooms are elegant and traditionally furnished. The riverside restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and morning coffee. Food is made from high-quality local ingredients, and each Sunday roast dinner is served. The bar offers a wide variety of drinks, draught lager, craft ales and spirits.
Broadlands Guest House is situated in a quiet street, a few minutes walk from the beautiful village centre. Accommodation is tastefully furnished in a friendly home from home atmosphere.
Jayne and David welcome you to their B&B, each room comes complete with a flat screen TV, a small Ipad/notebook for internet and email access, a radio with an ipod docking station and a hairdryer. All rooms are equipped with en-suite shower rooms featuring a rainhead and handheld shower and complimentary toiletries in the bathroom.
Following the river Windrush out of the Bourton-on-the-Water you are quickly immersed in the Cotswold countryside. Naunton is the first of several delightful Cotswold villages you visit. The day is punctuated by wide open views, quiet woodlands and secluded valleys. The route leaves the Windrush Way at Guiting Power and meanders through the countryside to cross the Cotswold Way and finish at Prestbury, on the outskirts of Cheltenham.

Cotswold Grange is an independent hotel situated in a quiet leafy avenue of similar grand buildings. Rooms are equipped with a TV, radio, tea/coffee-making facilities. Beds have deep mattresses and crisp white linen sheets. Ornately decorated, the high ceilinged dining room has huge windows.
Queens Hotel Cheltenham offers a truly majestic setting with its décor and architecture encapsulating all the elegance, heritage and grandeur of the neo-classical era - complemented by all the contemporary features you need for a most splendid stay. The Hotel is a grand and imposing Regency property sitting right in the heart of the picturesque spa town of Cheltenham, overlooking the beautiful Imperial Gardens and Promenade. You are assured the warmest of welcomes at the hotel and the rooms offer all one would require for a most comfortable nights rest. Free Wi-Fi is available.
The Number 8 is a victorian house completely refurbished. All rooms are light with two double glazed sash windows with wooden shutters. There are built-in cupboards and a generous selection of drinks & snacks are supplied with fresh milk.
After breakfast your walking holiday will come to an end. See the Travel Info section for some useful details for your onward travel. Â
Other Information
Is it for me?If your idea of heaven is beautiful green countryside, picturesque villages, delicious local food and charming B&B’s then you will adore walking in the Cotswolds. With the added treat of Cheltenham, this is my favourite week of walking in the Cotswolds.
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!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years
This trip is graded moderate. 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 14 miles walking. The longer days can be shortened by taking local buses or taxis.
We used 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.
Many B&B’s and hotels in the Cotswolds do not accept one night bookings for Saturday nights so occasionally we may book two nights over a weekend in one location and arrange return taxi transfers for you at no extra cost. We do this so that we can maintain the highest quality of accommodation.
Solo Walkers
This walking holiday is available to solo walkers but as we incur additional baggage transfer costs their 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.
The Cotswolds Round is not waymarked so you will need to be comfortable reading a map and know how to use a compass. You will be supplied with turn by turn route notes and a detailed map so you will have no problems following the route each day.
- Hand picked B&B, guesthouse and country inn accommodation in en-suite rooms
- All breakfasts
- Door to door baggage transfer
- A detailed info pack, route notes and map for the lead booker
- Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem
- Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Equipment
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
- Additional nights along the route
You can start The Cotswold Round on any date between start of April and mid October, subject to availability.Â
Please note as there are limited accommodations in Broadway which accept 1 night bookings, we may have to book your overnight stay in the village of Stanton, approx 4 miles before Broadway, or if that isn't possible we will book you for 2 nights in Winchcombe and include return transfers at no extra charge between there and Broadway.Â
Rail: Train services connect London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa in 2hrs 15mins .
Bus: National Express coaches serve Cheltenham and take approx 3hrs 15mins.
Road: Road: Parking is at a premium in Cheltenham, if you are planning on leaving your car please contact your accommodation in Cheltenham and they will be able to suggest the most convenient
long term parking. Expect to pay about £5.50 per day for parking.
Please visit the Traveline Website or National Rail Enquiries for further information on public transport and timetables.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. Please ensure that you do not bring more than one bag of 20kg as if this occurs, the luggage transfer company will ask you to pay an additional fee for an extra bag which they will provide (£8) plus a charge of £6.00 per day for moving the extra bag. This additional payment, should it be necessary, needs to be made locally to the driver and in cash. We ask that all bags are ready for 9am and if not an additional supplement may also be payable locally to ensure that we can get your luggage to its destination on time.
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.
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.
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.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. You can download a full equipment list from the downloads page of our website.
We offer this trip between the beginning of March and the end of October. In our opinion, there is no bad time for walking in the Cotswolds but would especially recommend the spring and autumn.Â
We recommend you travel by train to Cheltenham on Spa. You can take a train from London Paddington in 2nrs 15 mins. Alternatively, the national express coach takes 3hrs 15 mins. parking is at a premium in Cheltenham so we would recommend taking public transport.
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets.
You can use local bus services or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the Cotswolds are extremely popular. If booking at short notice, we will always try and accommodate your plans.
Depends on which guidebooks/maps/route notes you use for your particular trip, it can be possible to combine them. Check with your destination specialist, and they will be more than happy to let you know if your itinerary is possible.
We would recommend Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and Hidcote, famous for its rare trees and shrubs. Click here for a full list of Gardens and Arboreta in the Cotswolds.
There are many houses and historical monuments throughout the Cotswolds, and what you can see depends on the itinerary you are doing. There are historic houses, rustic ruins and many museums for you to explore. Click here for a full list of Historic Houses and Museums.
The fitter you are the more you will enjoy your trip. The longer days can be shortened by using taxis or public transport to a maximum of 8 miles if you would prefer shorter days.
If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle we suggest regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardiovascular exercise for at least six months before your walk. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.
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