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Cotswolds Walking & Hiking Tour

Cotswolds Walking & Hiking Tour

England's Castles, Gardens & the Cotswold Way

From $4,799 - $5,199 pp dbl. occ. | 6 days / 5 nights

(+$910 for sgl. occ.)

In the Cotswolds, Britain's premiere walking and hiking destination, every step forward is also a step back in time. Follow cobbled paths through quaint villages of honey-colored 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.

Highlights

Enjoy classic English treks through gentle hills, wide-open meadows, serene green woodland and sheep-dotted pastures
Explore welcoming picturesque hamlets brimming with honey-colored houses and flower-filled yards
Amble leisurely, pausing to exchange hellos with the locals and admire 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

England

Start Stratford-upon-Avon / End Bath

Itinerary

Day 1 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.

Day 2 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.

Day 3 Set out from the ruins of the 13th-century Cistercian abbey at Hailes, once an important English pilgrimage destination | Walk the celebrated Cotswold Way through quaint Winchcombe Village 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.

Day 4 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.

Days 5-6 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.

Next: Dates & Prices

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.

If you must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the policy outlined below. Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. Private room or tent, bike rental and internal air charges are considered part of the total trip cost and are subject to cancellation fees. Percentage charges are calculated on total trip cost.

Cancellation Fees (Per Person)
Days Prior to Trip Start	Scheduled Trips	Private Trips	Custom Trips
126+ days	$200**	$600	30%
95-125	$200**	30%	50%
61-95 days	30%	50%	75%
31-60 days	60%	75%	100%
0-30 days	100%	100%	100%

** Rather than paying the cancellation fees, you may choose to keep your trip deposit ($600) in a holding account to use on a future Backroads trip with no expiration date.

Bike Cancellation Policies: If you are renting a Specialized Roubaix, Ruby, eBike or Co-Motion Tandem, a full cancellation fee will apply in the event you cancel your trip reservation inside 30 days.

Transfers: You may transfer from one trip to another up to 95 days before trip departure without penalty—except Private or Custom Trips.

Release of Liability: Guests are required to provide a signed Release of Liability, Assumption of All Risks, and Arbitration Agreement and a completed Personal Information forms prior to trip departure; you will receive these materials shortly after reserving your trip. You may also complete your forms online. We are unable to allow guests to participate in any aspect of a Backroads trip without a signed release form.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

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C Classic Dates

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. Call or email us to reserve your date.

Private Trip Pricing

10 or more Guests: from $4,799 pp dbl occ

9 Guests: from $5,299 pp dbl occ

8 Guests: from $5,499 pp dbl occ
2-7 Guests: Give us a call or reach out here!

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

2+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 2 or more guests
8+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2020 August

8+ 8/16–8/21

2020 September

9/6–9/11

View Scheduled Dates

Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

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Dates

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2020
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep

View Scheduled Dates
Go Private
Go Custom

Prices

From $4,799 - $5,199 pp dbl. occ.
6 days / 5 nights

(+$910 for sgl. occ.)

Reviews

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Premiere Hotels

Dormy House

Broadway (2 nights)

Ellenborough Park

Cheltenham (2 nights)

The Painswick

Painswick (1 night)

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 1-3

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in England

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

English countryside - Backroads England Walking and Hiking Tour

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Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

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Next: Lodging

Premiere Hotels

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Dormy House

Broadway (2 nights)

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)

Ellenborough Park

Cheltenham (2 nights)

Dating back to 1485 and set on 90 indulgent acres of protected National Trust grounds, this elegant country manor boasts the perfect fusion of tradition and modernity. (pool, spa)

The Painswick

Painswick (1 night)

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)

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-3

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.

Daily Route Options (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 4		Level 5
	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain
1	4*	100	7	600
2	4*	300	6*	500	9*	1200
3	3*	200	5*	400	10	900
4	4*	200	7*	500	9*	700
5	4*	300	6*	600	10*	1000
6			4	500

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.

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in England

More Leaders to Support You

On our England trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.

The Best Leaders in England

Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in England, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.

Signature Backroads Picnics

Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.

Only the Best Hotels

On this trip featuring Premiere Hotels, you can count on the best lodgings England has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.

Experts with Secrets to Share

In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.

The Right Local Pairings

Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.

Everyone at Their Own Pace

We design and support our England trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.

A Second Van When You Need It

Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in England—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.

In Europe Since 1988

Backroads has been welcoming active travelers to Europe since before the Berlin Wall came down. Today it's virtually our second home. We know the perfect roads and trails, the most scenic valleys and hilltop towns, the hidden churches and gem-like museums, the up-and-coming vintners and celebrated chefs—and, of course, all the best places to stay.

Quality You Can Measure

Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.

Your Trip Will Run. Period.

Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.

We've Set the Standard

For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by

Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip