Walking through History in the Cotswolds, England

The Trip

Join us in our visit to some of England’s most quintessential sites. This tour is an excellent introduction for those who have never visited this most fascinating country and a treat for those experienced travelers who haven’t yet had the chance to walk the charming paths of the Cotswolds region.

England may be a small country, but it has a rich historical legacy, which results in a fascinating mix of culture, language, and landscape. On this tour we concentrate on the southern area of this island empire. Southern England’s countryside is gently undulating, with hilly areas in the Cotswolds and farmland between the towns and cities.

We begin our trip in Moreton-in-Marsh, a traditional Cotswolds market town dating back 1,000 years. It is on a direct rail line from London. From Moreton-in-Marsh we begin our four-day walk from village to village. We will set a moderate pace of four to seven miles per day wandering up and down the 900-foot limestone Cotswold Escarpment with its tapestry of hills, small acreage farms, and woodlots. We carry only a day pack as we walk over the paths, covering an elevation change of between 200 and 1,000 feet on each day’s walk. Our luggage will be transported from one accommodation to the next.

"Cotswold" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "Cote," or sheep fold. "Wold" refers to an unfenced tract of land. It is an area rich with evidence of the Iron Age, Celtic, and Roman occupation. Our route crosses ruins of ancient barrows and fortifications dating as far back as 2500 B.C. It passes monuments erected to memorialize military and religious exploits of past native "sons," and winds by estates of wealthy noble families. We will undoubtedly see signs of late spring in the countryside: crops starting to emerge in the fields and lambs frolicking. Every day we walk among rolling hills, fields, villages, gardens, churches, and thatched-roof houses. The route takes us through towns with antique stores, tea rooms, museums, and pubs. We stay at small hotels and B&Bs, sampling the local cuisine and selecting snacks and lunch fare as we pass quaint shops.

The beautiful honey-colored stone found in the Cotswolds appears in the houses, barns, and field walls we see along our way. At times we walk on just a path through parkland and pasture as we follow farm roads, with an occasional highway or railroad crossing. Splendid views are to be had from ridges and hilltops. The exceptional natural features of this area have resulted in its designation by the government of the United Kingdom as an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

From the town of Chipping Camden we drive to Shakespeare’s town of birth, Stratford-upon-Avon, for a day’s tour. For those who are interested, there is an optional opportunity to attend a Shakespeare play that evening. Our next stop is Bath, a city famous for its history of Roman and Georgian architecture and its natural thermal springs. It has more protected historic buildings than any other city of its size in England. We spend two nights in Bath with plenty of time to tour the town and visit the recently renovated Roman Baths Museum. There is an opportunity for an optional visit to Thermae Bath Spa, the luxurious warm springs spa in Bath.

From Bath we stop at two of the most famous Neolithic sites in the world, Stonehenge and Avebury. As old as the pyramids, these stone circles amazed medieval Europeans and continue to amaze modern travelers. We will walk around these structures that are full of mystery and majesty. We end our trip in London for our last night’s farewell dinner and depart for home the following morning. 

Day 1: We meet at an historic inn in Moreton-in-Marsh in the early evening for an orientation session followed by our welcome dinner.

Day 2: After breakfast, we begin the first walk of our trip to Stow on the Wold via Longborough, a journey of 7.5 miles. After lunch there is time to browse through the local shops and enjoy the scenery. In the evening a local historian will present a slide show on the history of the Cotswolds.

Day 3: After breakfast we transfer to Quenington to start a 5.5-mile walk through lovely countryside to Coln St. Aldwyns and follow the River Coln to Bibury. We see the famous Arlington Row, a group of medieval weavers' cottages, before lunch. After lunch we are transported to the Cotswold Woollen Weavers, where we learn more about the woolen industry that made the Cotswolds so prosperous. If time allows, we visit the Swinbrook village church to see where some of the famous Mitford sisters are buried. Tonight we hear a talk by a representative from the Cotswold Sheep Society.

Day 4: We transfer to the picturesque village of Guiting Power. Here we start our 6.5-mile walk along footpaths toward Winchcombe. We visit Sudeley Castle where Katharine Parr, Henry VII’s wife, is buried. We then walk a quarter mile into Winchcombe, a Saxon town with plenty of history. We overnight in the village of Broadway where an array of fine houses and inns flank the “broad way."

Day 5: This morning we transfer to Hailes Abbey and follow the Pilgrims Route to Stanway House with its magnificent gatehouse, water fountain, and watermill. Here we will have a picnic lunch before walking on to the splendid villages of Stanton and Broadway. Our mileage today is 7 miles.

Day 6: We transfer to Broadway Tower, the 18th century "folly," to admire the views before arriving in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare. This pretty, historic market town has many interesting buildings and gardens. We explore the town’s history with a private guided tour. There is an optional opportunity to attend a Shakespeare play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this evening. 

Day 7: We transfer to Hidcote Manor Garden to see this fine example of an Arts and Crafts garden and then walk back to Chipping Campden. After lunch we enjoy a guided walking tour of Chipping Campden. Today’s walk is 3.25 miles. This evening we will see a slideshow by a local environmental leader on current environmental issues affecting the UK and Cotswolds area.

Day 8: Today we transfer to Bath and en route we visit Lacock Garden, a lush garden complex that includes a rose garden, woodland garden, and an apple orchard. It was founded by Ela of Salisbury, the third Countess of Salisbury, in 1229. At its center, the enclosed cloister garden is surrounded by walks on three sides. After lunch we visit the village of Lacock, which dates back to the 13^th century, remaining largely unchanged over the centuries with lime-washed, half-timbered, and stone houses.

Day 9: This morning we meet our guide and take a Bath city tour on foot. We visit the recently renovated Roman Baths in the early afternoon with enough free time before dinner for browsing in the shops and museums, or enjoying an optional visit to Thermae Bath Spa, a luxurious warm springs spa.

Day 10: After breakfast we leave Bath. On our way we stop to tour Stonehenge and Avebury, two of the most famous pre-historic archaeological sites in the world. Stonehenge’s iconic stone circle is as old as the pyramids and still impresses visitors today. Avebury dates to 2800 B.C., older than Stonehenge by six centuries. Its complex of great stones is much larger than Stonehenge’s and more accessible to visitors. We travel back to London. Tonight we enjoy our farewell dinner and overnight at our hotel in London.

Day 11: After breakfast, the trip is over. There is a train station by our hotel so you can easily catch a train to the airport.

Getting There

This trip begins in the village of Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds. You can fly into London's Heathrow airport and take a train for 1.5 hours to reach Moreton-in-Marsh. Participants are encouraged to arrive at least one day before our trip’s initial day to get through the almost unavoidable jet lag and be ready for our first hike, which begins in the morning of the first day. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be using historic bed & breakfasts, inns, and small hotels. Rooms will be double occupancy. Based on availability, single-room supplements may be available for an additional cost. Breakfasts will be hearty, with choices ranging from full English egg and meat breakfasts to continental fare. Our midday meal may be a box lunch or a pub lunch. Dinners will be provided at our larger accommodations or at nearby pubs or restaurants. Vegetarians will be accommodated. If you have other dietary needs, please discuss this with the leader.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated moderate in physical difficulty. In the Cotswolds we walk between four and seven miles and cover an elevation change of between 200 and 1,000 feet per day. All walks are on trails or paths through fields or on roads. Some agility is needed to climb stepladder stiles over stone walls without difficulty. For all other days of the trip we walk through typical city terrain.

Some rain is to be expected and can make any walk through the Cotswolds more challenging. Our luggage is shuttled to our accommodations; however, each participant must carry a day pack with lunch, drinking water, raingear, a warm sweater, and any other items needed during the day.

Your enjoyment of this trip will depend on your preparation and general fitness level. Regular hiking will prepare your legs, feet, and ankles for this trip. 

Equipment and Clothing

It can rain a bit in England! Even if it is not raining, some areas can be very wet and boggy, so sturdy walking shoes or boots that are waterproofed are a must. Gaitors can be helpful to keep the mud off your ankles. A two-piece waterproof rain suit is also necessary to keep you warm and dry and you may consider bringing an umbrella. The leader will make other suggestions about clothing in more detailed letters, listing what you may need for daytime and nighttime activities. If you have trekking poles, please bring them as they will be very useful. We expect daytime temperatures to be in the 60s during the day and 40s to 50s at night.

References

Books:

• Bryson, Bill, Notes from a Small Island.
• Else, David et al., England. Lonely Planet. 
• Hobbes, Nicolas, England: 1000 Things You Need to Know.
• Lee, Laurie, Cider with Rosie. Set in the Cotswolds.
• Morton, HV, In Search of England.
• Schama, Simon, A History of Britain.
• Sterry, Paul, Complete Guide to British Wildlife.
• Bingham, Jane, The Cotswolds.

Websites:

• bbc.co.uk
• britishcouncil.org
• enjoyengland.org
• green-business.co.uk
• escapetothecotswolds.org.uk

Maps:

• The Cotswolds (Burford, Chipping Campden, Cirencester & Stow-on-the-Wold) – OL45 – OS Explorer Map – www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers, aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward understanding environmentally parallel concerns at home and abroad.

England has been heavily populated for hundreds of years and most of the land is used for human endeavor. England’s national parks are typically designated around scenic areas that are largely in private hands. This designation helps control development and non-conforming uses.

The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) recently received an international award for delivering and promoting sustainable tourism. The Cotswolds was one of 11 European parks and protected areas awarded the prestigious European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.

The environmental topics on this outing include urban sprawl, intensive farming, motorways, and the demand for vacation facilities that place heavy pressure upon open space and wildlife habitat. We will take this opportunity to meet with local conservationists and naturalists to explore these, and other, issues of local and global interest.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.