SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAYS
Explore Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway and Chipping Campden on a circular walk through the Cotswolds, starting and finishing in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Some Cotswold villages deserve more than a quick visit. On the Cotswold Round, you have time to arrive on foot, explore their old streets and enjoy the countryside between them.
Stow-on-the-Wold is known for its antique shops and market square, Bourton-on-the-Water for its stone bridges, and Broadway for its elegant High Street. Chipping Campden offers another glimpse of the region's prosperous wool-trading past.
Between these well-known places lie quiet lanes, rolling farmland and smaller villages where little seems hurried. Stop for a cream tea, browse an independent bookshop or settle into a traditional pub after a day's walking. It's a lovely way to experience the Cotswolds at your own pace.
Starting in Moreton-in-Marsh, the Cotswold Round follows field paths and country lanes towards Stow-on-the-Wold. The itineraries take slightly different routes through the Windrush valley, with Bourton-on-the-Water featuring on the shorter option, before continuing towards Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle.
Further north, the route passes historic estates and villages including Stanway and Stanton, sharing sections with the Cotswold Way before returning through the northern Cotswolds.
Expect grassy paths, woodland tracks, kissing gates and occasional stretches of quiet road. The hills are rolling rather than mountainous, although some climbs are steep. The shorter itinerary has longer daily distances and requires a good level of walking fitness.
Unlike a linear long-distance trail, the Cotswold Round brings you back to where you began. Both itineraries start and finish in Moreton-in-Marsh, making the journey home straightforward, particularly if you're arriving by train.
There's no need to organise transport across the Cotswolds to retrieve your car or return to your starting station.
The circular route also brings a satisfying sense of completion. You've travelled through some of England's best-known villages, crossed open countryside and followed old paths connecting one community with the next. And when you arrive back in Moreton-in-Marsh, you can enjoy a final evening in familiar surroundings before heading home.
From £1,095 Per Person
From £695 Per Person
Your main bag moves ahead to the next stop, so you walk the day with only what you choose to carry.
Looking for different mileages or a different number of nights? Please contact us to discuss how our itineraries can be adjusted to meet your specific needs.
4.8/5 based on 51 reviews
"Independent walking with detailed text to follow and clear markings on the map. Easier to find than we thought it would be. Good accommodation in nice surroundings. A small detail, we were four people and would have liked to have made sure to get a map to take home."
"Independent walking with detailed text to follow and clear markings on the map. Easier to find than we thought it would be. Good accommodation in nice surroundings."
"Well organised and interesting , varied walks"
"We rated the holiday as good instead of excellent because of the weather -- not something you all could control! The walk info was great but we have two suggestions: include more tips on locating public toilets and give approximate distances between turns when possible"
"Jorneys etc well planned"
"We highly recommend Celtic Trails to anyone interested in a Walking holiday."
"Celtic Trails are efficient, helpful, makes the walking more pleasurable and relaxing"
"A dream to travel with. We were continually impressed with the level of detail and accuracy of the itinerary, just wonderful! Perfect time of year to hear the birds and see the flowers, finally made it to a part of England I'd always heard about."
"Being surrounded by nature has many healing benefits. Lowers stress & makes you appreciate the beauty of life. Reconnected with our friends from the U.S.A. and made new friends too!"
Stay in traditional coaching inns and characterful small hotels, often in historic market towns and villages. Expect comfortable rooms, a warm welcome and breakfast each morning, with en-suite or private facilities
Chipping Campden is one of the Cotswolds' most historic market towns, with a gently curving High Street lined by honey-coloured limestone buildings.
Its elegant houses reflect the wealth generated by the medieval wool trade, while the old Market Hall stands as a reminder of the town's commercial past.
Stanway House is a Jacobean manor house set within a historic estate near the village of Stanton. Its distinctive triple-gabled gatehouse is one of the architectural highlights along this section of the Cotswold Round.
The house and surrounding estate reflect the area's long history of country houses and landed estates, with traditional stone buildings and parkland forming part of the surrounding scenery.
Looking for different mileages or a different number of nights? Please contact us to discuss how our itineraries can be adjusted to meet your specific needs.
Looking for different mileages or a different number of nights? Please contact us to discuss how our itineraries can be adjusted to meet your specific needs.
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