Region Overviews: Europe Travel Guide: Overview
Encapsulating 50 nations and a dizzying amount of cultural and natural diversity, Europe is a traveler’s playground.
In the Cotswolds, Britain's premiere walking and hiking destination, every step forward is also a step back in time. Follow cobbled paths through chocolate-box villages with honey-pot cottages. Walk along woodland trails and rolling hills. Explore an ancient castle and savor a fresh pint in a traditional English pub. Often quirky, always charming—experience the past from the comfort of the present.
THIS ITINERARY: 6 days, 5 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Premiere Hotels
Start Stratford-upon-Avon / End Bath
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Enjoy tea at Hidcote Manor Garden and stroll 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 | Begin the day in 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.
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)
Set out from 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 | 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.
Dating back to 1485 and set on 90 acres of protected National Trust grounds, this elegant country manor boasts the perfect fusion of tradition and modernity. (pool, spa)
Ascend Cooper's Hill, site of the world-famous annual cheese-rolling race | Walk to the town of Painswick, dubbed Queen of the Cotswolds | Set off on a final walk with views of the Severn Vale, the Forest of Dean and the Welsh Mountains.
Nestled in one of the finest and best-preserved villages of the Cotswolds, this former prospect house is a newly renovated Palladium masterpiece offering views of the Slad Valley. (spa)
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
SMALL GROUP? TRY RENDEZVOUS
An extra leader and van for even more flexibility | +$2,400 for Europe and +$2,900 for North America | Call us to book your Rendezvous
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do. LEARN MORE.
Note: The terrain on this trip is rolling with a few steeper sections and climbs and includes a mix of sheep trails and rough rocky paths, well-maintained dirt paths and paved country lanes. Our routes can be wet and muddy.
Encapsulating 50 nations and a dizzying amount of cultural and natural diversity, Europe is a traveler’s playground.
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