England's Cotswolds Walking & Hiking Tour
England's Cotswolds Walking & Hiking Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jun-Oct2026: May-Oct
Castles, Gardens & the Cotswold Way
In the Cotswolds, England's premiere hiking destination, every step forward is also a step back in time. Follow cobbled paths through chocolate-box villages with honeypot cottages. Walk along woodland trails and rolling hills. Explore an ancient castle and savor a proper pint in a traditional English pub. Often quirky, always charming—experience the past from the comfort of the present.
Highlights
- Walk classic English footpaths through gentle hills, wide-open meadows, serene green woodland and sheep-dotted pastures
- Explore welcoming picturesque hamlets memorable for their honey-colored houses, old architecture and flower-filled yards
- Admire beautiful abbeys and take leisurely walks, pausing to exchange hellos with the locals and take in some of England's finest gardens
- Linger over English tea and cakes or pop into a cheery pub for a proper British pint with the locals
Start/End Oxford
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-3
Enjoy tea at Hidcote Manor Garden and walk its splendid grounds • Stop for lunch in ancient Chipping Campden • Hike along a trail to the Cotswold escarpment offering sweeping views of the English countryside • Discover Snowshill, one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds • Follow a footpath linking the hamlets of Stanton, Laverton and Buckland • Linger in lively Broadway, the Jewel of the Cotswolds • Walk to Broadway Tower for a 16-county panorama • Set out from the 13th-century Cistercian abbey ruins at Hailes, once an important English pilgrimage destination • Walk the celebrated Cotswold Way through the quaint town of Winchcombe en route to Sudeley Castle • Enjoy the castle’s award-winning gardens and be entertained by stories told by a farmer at Postlip Hall Farm.
Nights 1-3
A warm welcome awaits at this beautifully restored 17th-century farmhouse, part of a stunning 400-acre estate. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
Days 4-6
With a local Cotswold warden, walk on Warden’s Way, a path linking a series of quintessential Cotswold villages, including Lower and Upper Slaughter • A traditional British pub lunch awaits at the Black Horse in Naunton • Stroll through Guiting Power, a charming historic village • Set out on foot to discover the picturesque towns of Barnsley and Bibury, famous for their beautiful chocolate-box cottages complete with thatched roofs and English gardens • Take a walk through farmland and tree-lined trails to an ancient Roman road.
Nights 4-5
Revel in the wonder of nature at this peaceful manor estate, where the rooms are inspired by botanicals and dispersed across houses and cottages. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreHotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-3
Premiere Hotel
A warm welcome awaits at this beautifully restored 17th-century farmhouse, part of a stunning 400-acre estate. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa)
Nights 4-5
Premiere Hotel
Revel in the wonder of nature at this peaceful manor estate, where the rooms are inspired by botanicals and dispersed across houses and cottages. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 31 customers
Best ever Backroads trip
Best ever!! Perfect weather, trails, lodging, food, guides, and company.
Ditto for me
Walking Delight JUNE 2024 SARA I came away from this trip feeling like I'd been immersed in the walking culture of the Cotswolds. There were styles to scramble over, fields of buttercups waving in the wind, muddy boots to peel off at the end of the day, gin-tastings and pub lunches, as well as castle visits, ruins and fabulous gardens to explore, walks with an archeologist near the King's lands, and a day spent with one of the amazing Volunteer Wardens who maintain the trails. Plus two great spa hotels to unwind in at night. And of course, it's all guided with the utmost competence by Backroads leaders who put you instantly at ease.
FABULOUS
Malcolm, Nick, and "Honey" were phenomenal!!! I have never had such knowledgeable, friendly, nice guides on any other trip in my life And my son got engaged on the trip. 10 out of 10 across the board
A new "Best View" every time I looked up!
I wish I could say more than "Thank-you" to the guides Kri, Sam and Perri but sometimes the simplest words are the best. So, thank-you crew for the blue skies, the puffy clouds, and rekindling in me the desire to travel. You've shown me that you are never alone if you are willing to open up your heart and your mind to the people and things around you. So again, thank-you for a wonderful, almost magical experience!
Walking Delight
I came away from this trip feeling like I'd been immersed in the walking culture of the Cotswolds. There were styles to scramble over, fields of buttercups waving in the wind, muddy boots to peel off at the end of the day, gin-tastings and pub lunches, as well as castle visits, ruins and fabulous gardens to explore, walks with an archeologist near the King's lands, and a day spent with one of the amazing Volunteer Wardens who maintain the trails. Plus two great spa hotels to unwind in at night. And of course, it's all guided with the utmost competence by Backroads leaders who put you instantly at ease.
Very enjoyable trip. Exceeded my expectations
Beautiful scenery, great food, excellent leaders. We saw the highlights of the Cotswolds and everything was planned for us. Easy way to hike this beautiful area.
Would love to go back!
The Cotswolds is a beautiful area of England and our trip leaders, Anya and Ion, made the experience an educational, active, and yet relaxing trip. As always with Backroads, everything was taken care of, I didn't even have to worry about my food allergies when we sat down to eat! Our walks were excellent, there were always options for more or less activity, and the guides and cultural stops along the way really added to the experience.
So Much More
Everything about this trip was excellent. Our guides, Kri and Ion, as well as our support, Josh, made every day fun and engaging. The sights we enjoyed on our walks were breathtaking and the experts opened up all there was to know about these locations.
Our leaders, routes and accommodations were all wonderful.
The trip was so well organized from start to finish. We loved every bit of it. The leaders were fun, funny, and caring. The routes were at times relaxing and at times challenging with options available to meet each guests desires. The scenery in the Cotswolds was beautiful. The local people we met were welcoming and enhaneed the experience. The Dormy House and Barnsley Manor were charming and very comfortable. We are excited to take another trip with Backroads and plan to do so soon.
A wonderful experience in a beautiful country.
This was our first experience with Backroads. The accommodations were truly perfect and we were able to spend 3 nights in one hotel and 2 in another. We were able to see some amazing, special gardens and towns right out of a storybook. We had lunch with a local farmer who shared what it was like to be a farmer in these times. Most importantly, the leaders in our group were the best-both experienced and competent. They literally made the trip so special.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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