Chipping Campden to Bath Foot Trail
Independent (self-guided) walking holiday
Inn to Inn / Village to Village
My team and I are proud to offer you Complete Cotswolds - a more authentic alternative to the well known Cotswolds Way. Complete Cotswolds is far removed from mass tourism and is custom made and fully flexible. It offers crowd free walking off the beaten track and tremendous variety.
Using mine and my husband's lifetime of local knowledge we have created Complete Cotswolds.
With local paths, traditional villages & market towns. Experience comes first with a Foot Trail, but this trail is also close to my heart. I have strong family connections with the area and cousins who farm the land. My husband David grew up in the Cotswolds.
Join us for a glimpse into an authentic life in The Cotswolds with Complete Cotswolds.
Warm Regards
Alison Howell Founder & Director
Complete Cotswolds is an inn to inn style walk, giving you a real sense of journey across the Cotswolds landscape. In its entirety it is 14 nights and 135 miles long, taking you all the way from Chipping Campden to Bath. (You can also choose from 10 & 12 night itineraries).
You’ll spend 2 nights at each personally chosen accommodation on route, giving you a more relaxing travel experience with a day to explore the area and the following day to walk to your next new location.
Contents
Our pick of the highlights
Where & getting here?
The Cotswolds exude charm, world famous for its character cottages and villages. On this trail you will explore both off the beaten path to find villages without the crowds, and a few well known stops too that are must sees. Beyond the villages are rolling pastoral landscapes, stone walls & grazing sheep and not forgetting the amazing depth of history. It is that classic view of the English countryside. Read on for a pick of the highlights.
Sample daily itinerary p9 to p16
Where you stay
Details & prices
Booking you trail
* Chipping Campden with its magnificent architecture and 100 year old connection to the Arts and Crafts movement.
* Enjoy the tapestry of the Cotswolds landscapes; tranquil, breathtaking and centuries old.
* Admire Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest market town in the Cotswolds with its independent shops and cafés.
* Walk with the Romans and explore one of England's best loved villas. This 2,000 year old legacy is a wonderful example of the ingenuity, creativity and presence bestowed to us by the Romans.
* Meander picture perfect villages off the beaten track where the pace is slow and you will be greeted with a warm local smile.
* Bath. It would be a travesty to visit the West Country and miss the city. At every corner you are treated to spectacular architecture and country views.
The Cotswolds is an area of outstanding natural beauty in the South West of England. Not a county itself, it sits mostly in Gloucestershire and extends to Oxfordshire on the east and Bath in the south.
The trail begins in the north of the Cotswolds or central Cotswolds depending on the length of your trail.
The nearest train stations for arrivals are either Moreton-in-Marsh (Gloucestershire) or Cheltenham Spa (Gloucestershire). The journey time by car, about a 2 hour drive from London.
The suggested international airport is London Heathrow which offers an easy transfer to London Paddington. There is also a regional airport at Birmingham.
Airport cars often make the most convenient transfer and we can arrange this for you.
We have created this suggested itinerary as an outline for the optimum 12 night journey from North to South Cotswolds experience. You will find the mileages & prices for this itinerary in the ‘Trail details & prices’.
If the suggested itinerary; lengths of stay, arrival day, daily mileages are not right for your plans, we can customise an itinerary to you. You can choose your preferred dates - start on any day of the week - stay for how long you wish - include rest dayschange the daily walk distances.
Arrive to The Cotswolds and your Foot Trails adventure! Take a little time to settle in and for those that wish take today's short introductory trail to get to know the local area.
This idyllic walk will lead you across quintessential English countryside and through gorgeous Cotswolds villages. You'll discover tales that go back to Saxon times and Mercian kings, the birth of industry with water mills, merchants and money, entrepreneurs and Arts & Crafts gurus. There's time to enjoy Hidcote gardens too.
(Luggage transfer included) Look out for the 1000 year old yew tree; pass the wells that once supplied Stow before finding yourself in the hustle and bustle of its market place. Linger and explore or skip straight through, you will soon find yourself back in beautiful countryside. Meadows and nature reserves that heave with bird song and skylarks lead to your inn, enjoy the change of scene.
Crossing the Evenlode Valley its all very earthy, then to a charming old village, pop inside the church for a surprising treat! As your walk moves on, look out for the ridge and furrows, remains of an medieval farming system. Arriving to a village, pass the thatched old post office, pause at the church and the fine 'Gentlemen's Residence' to discover a link to author Jane Austen. There’s time to enjoy Chastleton House too.
(Luggage transfer included) Moving into the River Windrush valley the countryside opens up into a huge wide expanse, there are far reaching views and quiet removed valleys before arriving into a picture perfect Cotswolds village. Besides its two mills this village was known for its Cotswolds stone. Follow the River Windrush to your next country inn.
The eastern edge of the Cotswolds, where the Cotswolds stone mingles with village greens, English churches and clear running streams, it's all quite picture perfect.
Enjoy, tales of Kings and the infamous Mitford sisters, and the villages before wandering back to your inn on foo
(Luggage transfer included) Following the River Windrush upstream, passing through its namesake. There are lovely old mill houses and grand estates. Hear the tale of the master stonemason who laid the foundation for St Paul's Cathedral in London. There are grand estates to discover in the afternoon before arriving into Northleach market square & it’s ‘Cathedral to the Cotswolds’. Arrive to your next inn on foot.
An historic hike that will connect you with the Romans and enable you to tread in their footsteps. Explore one of the county's best loved Roman villas, built over 2000 years ago as a place of lavish entertainment. Your trail also includes little Cotswolds stone villages, tumbling streams, cottage gardens, this is what the Cotswolds is all about!
(Luggage transfer included) Start in the tranquil bliss of a tiny Cotswolds village, not far from the Celtic town that predates the Roman history. Then journey from here to 'Corinium' as Cirencester was known, founded by the Romans. In the town itself there are many places to visit from the church, to the Roman Corinium museum and some lovely cafes too.
Politics abound on your trail today, from the 13th century castle to tales of the castle destruction in the civil war. Onward and there are tales of lords, princes and freedoms. Passing through the grounds of big estates, with country houses, majestic park lands, including Prince Charles's Highgrove.
(Luggage transfer included) This is a beautiful walk through a bucolic green and lush valley. Charming old farms, 12th century churches, discover the field where 13,000 men fought in the English civil war, tales of gunpowder and intrigue. You will arrive on foot to Bath, walking via (and with views of!) some of the best known architectural landmarks. You will arrive to your hotel on foot.
To help you make the most of your time in Bath we have created this trail especially to include both the famous and well known sights as well as the lesser known. You will discover and be able to stop at museums and historic sites as you wish on the way. Some free some paid. Of course if you would prefer a countryside walk we can change the day to one for you.
At the end of your Foot Trail it's time for your onward travel, full of memories and tales of your adventures.
Where you stay is a key part of your Foot Trail & experience. One of the reasons guests choose Foot Trails is for our choice and quality of accommodation.
The country inns and country pubs where you stay are small, personal and friendly with excellent hospitality. Each one is in an English village with comfortable bedrooms and delicious local food and drinks to enjoy with dinner after your walk.
Alison, Foot Trails founder, chooses each inn personally. Centuries old, each building provides a relaxing and authentic setting in which you can kick off your boots and eat dinner at the end of an inspiring day on the trail.
On the Complete Cotswolds inn to inn trail you will enjoy a different country inn every two days, giving you the opportunity to explore the locality deeply before moving on. Over 12 nights you would stay at up to 6 different country inns.
On this particular trail you can enjoy a 16th century former cider house, a country pub set on the village greens, a riverside country inn with a beautiful garden to an old coaching inn from the 18th century that holds numerous dining awards.
You will receive full details and website addresses of our suggested accommodation with your itinerary when we confirm availability of your trip.
Details for the sample itinerary
Best start day: Monday, staying for 12 nights
Daily miles: 4 – 11 (or 9) – 12 (or 8.5) – 12 (or 9) – 12 (or 8.5) – 7 – 12 (or 10) – 11 (or 7.5) – 8 (or 5) – 10 – 9 – 4.5 – depart
Grade: Easy to moderate, walking with some ascents & descents
Arrival train station: Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
May to September: Standard - £2725 p/p // Superior - £2985 p/p
April & October: Standard - £2595 p/p // Superior - £2845 p/p
Winter: Standard - £2195 p/p // Superior - £2395 p/p
Prices based on 2 persons sharing a bedroom. Twin (2 x single beds) bedroom options available. Solo's welcome (solo supplements apply). 14 night trails from £3200 p/p.
Group discounts (4+) and returning guests thank you discounts offered.
Customise your itinerary
If the itinerary featured, lengths of stay, arrival day, daily mileages are not right for your plans, we can customise an itinerary to you. You can choose your preferred dates - start on any day of the week - stay for how long you wish - include rest dayschange the daily walk distances. Prices for custom itineraries are quoted per trip and will vary from the prices quoted above.
* Our services in arranging your itinerary
* Our guest support in preparing for your trip, and on call support during your trip
* Accommodation for 12 nights, double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
* Country breakfast to set you up each day
* 12 days of independent walking with a tailored itinerary to suit you and the season
* Transport drop off services if required for your itinerary
* Luggage transfers between your country inns
* A comprehensive Walk and Explore box, posted to your home address)
Including:
* Local maps with your trails clearly marked (on our fully waterproof paper)
* Innovative trail cards, one for each day, with clear easy to follow directions in word (on waterproof paper)
* Trail cards also include local histories and stories to enjoy and read as you explore
* Suggested departure times so that you don't miss lunch, recommended lunchtime stops at hand picked country pubs or cafes (lunch not included)
• Foot Trail’s famous fortifying sweets, nature guide, guest booklet, local information and more
If you would like help choosing the best trail for you then call us on +44 (0) 1747 820626 or email us at Enquire@FootTrails.co.uk. We plan, write and create all our own walking trails and are here to offer you our expert advice.
If the trails featured, arrival days or lengths of stay are not right for you, you can choose your preferred dates and start on any day of the week. We will create a custom itinerary for you based on your preferences. Prices for custom trips are quoted per trip and vary from the prices quoted in the brochure.
You can make your booking by calling us on +44 (0) 1747 820626 or if you prefer you can email us at Enquire@FootTrails.co.uk.
We will ask you a few details to enable us to make a reservation for you. We will then be able to confirm the availability of your trail. Due to the crafted nature of our trails there may be a day or two's wait while we contact our inns and hosts.
We will email you with confirmation of your itinerary, accommodations and details for your deposit. Payment of your deposit will confirm your booking. Balances are due 8 weeks before arrival. We accept all major credit cards and bank transfers.
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A Foot Trail avoids the formulaic nature, crowds and predictability of mass tourism and focuses instead purely on the quality of your experience. Take a Foot Trail and you will explore deep beneath the surface.
You will walk and hike in real and authentic places. Enjoy real, not manufactured tourism moments. Shared conversations with a local person, the stillness of time spent in beautiful landscapes and the joy of encountering stories and moments from England's past.
Three words describe a Foot Trail perfectly -
The press say:
"One of the 7 Adventure Vacations you need to take in your lifetime."
JetSetter.com, 2019
Foot Trails are one of England's best loved regional walking travel companies. We work within our local community, crafting walking experiences from scratch, aiming for a positive outcome for us all.
Call +44 (0) 1747 820 626 with your chosen date, we will then confirm your place for you upon which a 25% deposit per person will be payable. Bank transfers and all major credit & debit cards accepted.
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