They say the beauty of England’s Cotswolds region is second to none—and nobody delivers the authentic Cotswolds like Country Walkers. Our local leadersbring you to hidden nooks that bring the English countryside to life. We’ll take you through the magnificent Stanway House—a marvel of Jacobean architecture and ancestral home of the Earls of Wemyss. Experience the pleasure of English gardens during a tour of Kiftsgate Court—where you’ll enjoy a delightful lunch surrounded by a splendid kaleidoscope of vibrant blooms. View the famous Broadway Tower and the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water, sometimes called the “Venice of the Cotswolds.” Along the way,we’ll put you up in quaint hotels dripping with English character—where you’ll find splendid local cuisine, delightful walks, and the quintessential charm of English hospitality.
Stroll the footpaths of Kiftsgate Court Gardens, one of England’s most beloved gardens, tended by three generations of women.
Marvel at breathtaking vistas along the famed Cotswold Way and Monarch’s Way, traversing bucolic pastureland dotted with sheep and small wooded glens.
Explore the fine 16th-century stone buildings of the village of Broadway, the “Jewel of the Cotswolds.”
Walk into 17th-century market towns, where wool, yarn, and farm produce were traded and sold for centuries.
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath, with its stunningly well-preserved Roman bathhouses and grand Georgian architecture.
Positive Impact
Country Walkers is proud to support The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. The Cotswolds is the largest recognized Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England. These countryside areas are a family of protected natural parks and landscapes designated for conservation. The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty works toward upkeeping the Cotswold Way National Trail, creating wildflower-rich Grasslands, and leading tree planting and biodiversity enhancement projects.
On all Guided Adventures you can count on...
Expert local leaders to introduce you to the best of your destination
Off-the-beaten-path places you’d never find on your own
Delicious multi-course meals—a majority are included
A maximum of 18 fun-loving fellow travelers to share the journey
Gracious accommodations that are a clean, comfortable home away from home
Experts to handle all the details
Air Packages include plane tickets, airport shuttles, and pre- and post-tour accommodations
Terrain Description for England: Bath & the Cotswolds
This tour is one of our Guided Walking Adventures, rated easy to moderate with an average of 3.5 to 7 miles of walking daily. There are daily ascents and descents of up to 1,200 feet. The walks feature a combination of paved roads and easy terrain, mixed with moderate hills, moorland, and uneven footpaths. Due to England’s climate, the footpaths can often be wet and muddy. On this route, we will also encounter several stiles, which are typically steps that allow humans, but not livestock, to cross over a fence or wall.
Miles and Elevation for England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Summary of the activity level of the tour England: Bath & the Cotswolds
, broken down by day and available options.
Tour Day
Choose Your Route Options
Miles per Option
Hours per Option**
Elevation per Option***
Activity Level
1
LongShort
3.52.5
01:4501:15
easyeasy-moderate
2
Walk
6
03:00
easy-moderate
3
LongShort
33
02:0001:30
moderateeasy
4
Walk
5.5
03:00
easy-moderate
5
Walk
7
03:45
easy
6
Walk
7
03:45
easy-moderate
Alternate options may be available **Route mileage, hours, and elevation gain/loss are all approximate ***Elevation gain/loss indicated if greater than 500 feet
A Country Walkers representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
Kiftsgate Court Gardens to Chipping Campden; 4 miles, easy
After enjoying an included breakfast meet your leaders at 10:00 a.m. in the main lobby of The Arden Hotel where you will gather for a welcome orientation. Embark in your private motorcoach and travel about 20 minutes to Kiftsgate Court Gardens. Please be dressed for walking.
Upon arrival at Kiftsgate, enjoy lunch in the Gardens’ Tearoom. Later, there’ll be time to explore its hedge-lined pathways that lead to pretty topiaries and rare trees. Tended by three generations of the Chambers family, the colorful and intricately designed outdoor “rooms” are always full of surprises.
This afternoon, you’ll set off on your walk along the Monarch’s Way footpath toward Chipping Campden. We will only follow a fraction of this historical 615-mile footpath. As you start your walk, you’ll pass by Hidcote Bartim, a small hamlet of traditional thatched-roof stone cottages that were once home to Johnston’s gardeners. Admire them as you pass through and continue into the open Cotswolds countryside. Later, arrive in the small market town of Chipping Campden (chipping is a derivation of “market” in Old English). Enter into town on High Street, which is lined with limestone buildings the color of honey. The stone used to create these masterful structures—an oolitic limestone called Cotswold stone—was quarried locally. At the town center, admire the Market Hall with its splendid arches, built in 1627 by Sir Baptist Hicks to provide shelter for local farmers selling cheese, butter, and poultry.
Check in to the Noel Arms Hotel, one of the Cotswolds’ oldest inns. Charles II is thought to have stayed here during the English Civil War in the mid-1600s.
Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.
After breakfast, step onto the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile UK National Trail that links Chipping Campden and the city of Bath. Your tranquil route, first envisioned by England’s Ramblers, the largest walking group in Great Britain, passes quaint houses as it makes its way into the countryside and up the Cotswold Edge escarpment to Dovers Hill. Here, enjoy extensive views of the Malvern Hills to the west. Around 1612, Robert Dover instituted annual games here, giving them the grand title of the “Olimpick Games,” and they continue to this day.
Your walk continues through bucolic pastureland dotted with sheep, through small wooded glens, into a lateral valley, and up a gentle slope to Broadway Tower. Built in 1799, it is a typical example of an 18th-century Gothic folly, a structure built by the nobility simply for pleasure. This one was erected for Lady Coventry of Worcester, who wondered whether a torch-lit here upon a tower could be seen from her home 22 miles away. (It turns out that it could, much to her delight.) At 1,024 feet above sea level, Broadway Tower offers an extensive view across the Worcestershire countryside. Take time to ponder the folly of Lady Coventry during a cream tea break in a converted barn nearby.
After, continue downhill to the village of Broadway, often referred to as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds” for its fine 16th-century buildings made from the local stone. High Street is particularly inviting with its many shops, cafés, and other amenities. There’ll be time to explore this delightful town on your own.
An ideal base for exploring the area, Broadway’s location on the Cotswold escarpment is located conveniently near many of the area’s walks.
The village’s wide, main street lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants, is a relaxing place for a stroll. In fact, the village’s name comes from the “broad way” known today as High Street.
Upon returning to Chipping Campden, enjoy an evening off to unwind at your hotel, explore one of the classic English pubs in town, or indulge in a relaxing massage at Noel Arms’ sister property, Cotswold House Hotel & Spa.
Dinner is on your own tonight. Chipping Campden has several options for a fine meal.
Stanton to Stanway House; 2 miles, easy. Stanway House to Snowshill; 3 miles, moderate. Optional afternoon loop walk; 2 miles, easy to moderate
A 20-minute morning shuttle delivers you to the small rural village of Stanton. An idyllic village where little has changed in 300 years is the starting point for today’s ramble. Walk past 16th- and 17th-century houses built in typical Cotswolds style with steeply pitched gables, mullioned windows, and glowing honey-colored limestone. Stanton takes its name from the stan (or stone) from which it is built.
Upon arrival, visit the grand Stanway House, an outstandingly beautiful example of a Jacobean manor house. Owned by Tewkesbury Abbey for 800 years, it changed hands to the Tracy family for the next 500 years and is still the home of their descendants, the Earls of Wemyss and March. Enjoy a private guided tour of the house, with time to explore the gardens. Savor a “ploughman’s lunch” of local produce on the outdoor terrace before getting underway.
Your walk continues through the village of Stanway, then ascends slightly through a mixed forest. Leaving the woodland, follow the footpath through gently sloping pastures before arriving at Snowshill, a tiny village resting atop the Cotswold escarpment. As its name implies, and as locals are fond of saying, if there is snow, you will find it here first. After time to explore, shuttle back to your hotel.
Upon returning to Chipping Campden, consider an optional walk through the fields surrounding Chipping Campden to the nearby village of Broad Campden and consider picking up on the local flavor with a visit to a classic English pub. Return to your hotel past the remains of Campden Manor, a former Manor House destroyed during the English Civil War.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and shuttle to Stow-on-the-Wold, a small market town in Gloucestershire. Founded by Normans where two busy trade routes converged, this pretty town is situated on an 800-foot hill. This area was a major center of the Cotswold wool industry. Enormous annual fairs attracted farmers from all reaches, some with as many as 20,000 sheep to sell. Today’s walk starts in the Market Square, flanked by an ancient cross on one end and the town stocks on the other. You will walk in the footsteps of the 21-year-old King Charles II who, in 1651, was defeated in the Battle of Worcester and hotly pursued by Parliamentary troops down the aptly named Monarch’s Way. Rejoin this footpath that you left behind a couple of days ago.
Descend from the escarpment through timeless pastureland. This is the Cotswolds of dreams, with wide green fields edged with limestone walls and dotted with sheep. Your walk brings you to the idyllic small village of Lower Slaughter, straddling the River Eye. The town’s name is derived from the Old English word slothre, meaning “muddy place.” Admire the charming stone bridges spanning the river and the 16th- and 17th-century limestone cottages built in the traditional Cotswolds style. Leave this lovely hamlet and continue through a small wooded area before traversing more pastures down to the Windrush River, which leads you into Bourton-on-the-Water. This pretty village is known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for the bridges that span its river.
There’ll be time here for lunch and to explore the village and its many craft shops before shuttling approximately 50 minutes to your home for the next three nights, the Hare & Hounds at Westonbirt, near Tetbury.
After breakfast, stroll directly from the hotel to nearby Westonbirt Arboretum. Stroll its extensive network of walking trails admiring 2,500 different species of trees from around the globe and five national tree collections. Then, continue walking along a meandering trail through tree-dotted pastureland towards Tetbury, developed on the site of an ancient hill fort. Tetbury is home to several impressive churches and is said to be the location of Abbess Tetta’s Monastery, which was first mentioned in a charter by King Ethelred of Mercia in 681. In medieval days, Tetbury was an important market town for the Cotswolds wool and yarn trade. The town center is still dominated by the splendid pillared Market House, built in 1655. Many of the wool merchant houses look exactly as they did 300 years ago.
During your free time in Tetbury, visit one of its inviting cafés, lovely churches, or one of its many antique shops, for which the town is known. Browse the renowned Highgrove Shop for the finest, thoughtfully curated English gifts and goods. All profits from the sale of Highgrove products are donated to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, supporting environmental initiatives and responsible business practices. You’re sure to find a pleasing spot for lunch on your own.
After time to relax back at the hotel, dinner is on your own. You may wish to eat in the hotel’s restaurant or return to Tetbury by taxi. Home to historical architecture and charming independent boutiques, Tetbury’s streets are a delight to explore. Surrounded by rolling countryside, there is a multitude of ways to enjoy the town’s surroundings.
After breakfast, board your shuttle to Bath (approximately 50 minutes), a popular traveler’s destination for 2,000 years. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to some of England’s grandest Georgian architecture, as well as one of the world’s best-preserved Roman bathhouses.
Today’s walk starts just outside Bath and follows the final leg of the Cotswold Way, the path you followed to Broadway a few days ago. Begin by traversing Lansdown Hill, the site of the bloody Battle of Lansdown during the English Civil War. From here, you will cross a plateau, passing the famous Bath Horse Racecourse. Shortly afterward, you will have your first views of Bath in the valley below. Walk through expanses of fertile farmland before emerging into the suburban environs of Weston. As your walk draws to a close, you will have glimpses of finely landscaped parks and grand Regency architecture, including the famous Royal Crescent. Designed by John Wood the Younger in 1767, the Royal Crescent is a collection of 30 terraced houses that form a sweeping crescent. Conclude your walk at Bath Abbey, where a round, carved stone set into the pavement outside the ornate west doors marks the end of the Cotswold Way.
If you would rather spend more time in Bath there is an option to do a shorter city walk that will allow you to see the main attractions of the city and further explore Bath on your own. Lunch is on your own in Bath before returning to the hotel. This evening, recount your memorable journey over a festive farewell dinner.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel, say goodbye to your leaders, and travel to The Bear Hotel in Woodstock, approximately 1.5 hours away. Woodstock is a picturesque, historic market town, but it’s different from all the towns you’ve visited thus far. Woodstock is home to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and a veritable paradise for walkers.
Upon check-in, you will be given an entrance ticket to Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Palace is the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England designated a palace. Completed in 1722, it is one of England’s largest houses. Its 2,000 acres were designed by the most renowned landscape architect of his day, Capability Brown. Strolling along Blenheim’s great lake is a pleasure, browsing the beautiful formal gardens, and taking off-the-beaten-track rambles. You may even stumble upon the Temple of Diana, where Churchill proposed to his future wife, Clementine. All well worth exploring.
Kiftsgate Court Gardens to Chipping Campden; 4 miles, easy
Meet your leaders at 10:00 a.m. in the main lobby of The Arden Hotel where you will gather for a welcome orientation. Embark in your private motorcoach and travel about 20 minutes to Kiftsgate Court Gardens. Please be dressed for walking.
Upon arrival at Kiftsgate, enjoy lunch in the Gardens’ Tearoom. Later, there’ll be time to explore its hedge-lined pathways that lead to pretty topiaries and rare trees. Tended by three generations of the Chambers family, the colorful and intricately designed outdoor “rooms” are always full of surprises.
This afternoon, you’ll set off on your walk along the Monarch’s Way footpath toward Chipping Campden. We will only follow a fraction of this historical 615-mile footpath. As you start your walk, you’ll pass by Hidcote Bartim, a small hamlet of traditional thatched-roof stone cottages that were once home to Johnston’s gardeners. Admire them as you pass through and continue into the open Cotswolds countryside. Later, arrive in the small market town of Chipping Campden (chipping is a derivation of “market” in Old English). Enter into town on High Street, which is lined with limestone buildings the color of honey. The stone used to create these masterful structures—an oolitic limestone called Cotswold stone—was quarried locally. At the town center, admire the Market Hall with its splendid arches, built in 1627 by Sir Baptist Hicks to provide shelter for local farmers selling cheese, butter, and poultry.
Check in to the Noel Arms Hotel, one of the Cotswolds’ oldest inns. Charles II is thought to have stayed here during the English Civil War in the mid-1600s.
Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.
After breakfast, step onto the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile UK National Trail that links Chipping Campden and the city of Bath. Your tranquil route, first envisioned by England’s Ramblers, the largest walking group in Great Britain, passes quaint houses as it makes its way into the countryside and up the Cotswold Edge escarpment to Dovers Hill. Here, enjoy extensive views of the Malvern Hills to the west. Around 1612, Robert Dover instituted annual games here, giving them the grand title of the “Olimpick Games,” and they continue to this day.
Your walk continues through bucolic pastureland dotted with sheep, through small wooded glens, into a lateral valley, and up a gentle slope to Broadway Tower. Built in 1799, it is a typical example of an 18th-century Gothic folly, a structure built by the nobility simply for pleasure. This one was erected for Lady Coventry of Worcester, who wondered whether a torch-lit here upon a tower could be seen from her home 22 miles away. (It turns out that it could, much to her delight.) At 1,024 feet above sea level, Broadway Tower offers an extensive view across the Worcestershire countryside. Take time to ponder the folly of Lady Coventry during a cream tea break in a converted barn nearby.
After, continue downhill to the village of Broadway, often referred to as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds” for its fine 16th-century buildings made from the local stone. High Street is particularly inviting with its many shops, cafés, and other amenities. There’ll be time to explore this delightful town on your own.
An ideal base for exploring the area, Broadway’s location on the Cotswold escarpment is located conveniently near many of the area’s walks.
The village’s wide, main street lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants, is a relaxing place for a stroll. In fact, the village’s name comes from the “broad way” known today as High Street.
Upon returning to Chipping Campden, enjoy an evening off to unwind at your hotel, explore one of the classic English pubs in town, or indulge in a relaxing massage at Noel Arms’ sister property, Cotswold House Hotel & Spa.
Dinner is on your own tonight. Chipping Campden has several options for a fine meal.
Stanton to Stanway House; 2 miles, easy. Stanway House to Snowshill; 3 miles, moderate. Optional afternoon loop walk; 2 miles, easy to moderate
A 20-minute morning shuttle delivers you to the small rural village of Stanton. An idyllic village where little has changed in 300 years is the starting point for today’s ramble. Walk past 16th- and 17th-century houses built in typical Cotswolds style with steeply pitched gables, mullioned windows, and glowing honey-colored limestone. Stanton takes its name from the stan (or stone) from which it is built.
Upon arrival, visit the grand Stanway House, an outstandingly beautiful example of a Jacobean manor house. Owned by Tewkesbury Abbey for 800 years, it changed hands to the Tracy family for the next 500 years and is still the home of their descendants, the Earls of Wemyss and March. Enjoy a private guided tour of the house, with time to explore the gardens. Savor a “ploughman’s lunch” of local produce on the outdoor terrace before getting underway.
Your walk continues through the village of Stanway, then ascends slightly through a mixed forest. Leaving the woodland, follow the footpath through gently sloping pastures before arriving at Snowshill, a tiny village resting atop the Cotswold escarpment. As its name implies, and as locals are fond of saying, if there is snow, you will find it here first. After time to explore, shuttle back to your hotel.
Upon returning to Chipping Campden, consider an optional walk through the fields surrounding Chipping Campden to the nearby village of Broad Campden and consider picking up on the local flavor with a visit to a classic English pub. Return to your hotel past the remains of Campden Manor, a former Manor House destroyed during the English Civil War.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and shuttle to Stow-on-the-Wold, a small market town in Gloucestershire. Founded by Normans where two busy trade routes converged, this pretty town is situated on an 800-foot hill. This area was a major center of the Cotswold wool industry. Enormous annual fairs attracted farmers from all reaches, some with as many as 20,000 sheep to sell. Today’s walk starts in the Market Square, flanked by an ancient cross on one end and the town stocks on the other. You will walk in the footsteps of the 21-year-old King Charles II who, in 1651, was defeated in the Battle of Worcester and hotly pursued by Parliamentary troops down the aptly named Monarch’s Way. Rejoin this footpath that you left behind a couple of days ago.
Descend from the escarpment through timeless pastureland. This is the Cotswolds of dreams, with wide green fields edged with limestone walls and dotted with sheep. Your walk brings you to the idyllic small village of Lower Slaughter, straddling the River Eye. The town’s name is derived from the Old English word slothre, meaning “muddy place.” Admire the charming stone bridges spanning the river and the 16th- and 17th-century limestone cottages built in the traditional Cotswolds style. Leave this lovely hamlet and continue through a small wooded area before traversing more pastures down to the Windrush River, which leads you into Bourton-on-the-Water. This pretty village is known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for the bridges that span its river.
There’ll be time here for lunch and to explore the village and its many craft shops before shuttling approximately 50 minutes to your home for the next three nights, the Hare & Hounds at Westonbirt, near Tetbury.
After breakfast, stroll directly from the hotel to nearby Westonbirt Arboretum. Stroll its extensive network of walking trails admiring 2,500 different species of trees from around the globe and five national tree collections. Then, continue walking along a meandering trail through tree-dotted pastureland towards Tetbury, developed on the site of an ancient hill fort. Tetbury is home to several impressive churches and is said to be the location of Abbess Tetta’s Monastery, which was first mentioned in a charter by King Ethelred of Mercia in 681. In medieval days, Tetbury was an important market town for the Cotswolds wool and yarn trade. The town center is still dominated by the splendid pillared Market House, built in 1655. Many of the wool merchant houses look exactly as they did 300 years ago.
During your free time in Tetbury, visit one of its inviting cafés, lovely churches, or one of its many antique shops, for which the town is known. Browse the renowned Highgrove Shop for the finest, thoughtfully curated English gifts and goods. All profits from the sale of Highgrove products are donated to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, supporting environmental initiatives and responsible business practices. You’re sure to find a pleasing spot for lunch on your own.
After time to relax back at the hotel, dinner is on your own. You may wish to eat in the hotel’s restaurant or return to Tetbury by taxi. Home to historical architecture and charming independent boutiques, Tetbury’s streets are a delight to explore. Surrounded by rolling countryside, there is a multitude of ways to enjoy the town’s surroundings.
After breakfast, board your shuttle to Bath (approximately 50 minutes), a popular traveler’s destination for 2,000 years. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to some of England’s grandest Georgian architecture, as well as one of the world’s best-preserved Roman bathhouses.
Today’s walk starts just outside Bath and follows the final leg of the Cotswold Way, the path you followed to Broadway a few days ago. Begin by traversing Lansdown Hill, the site of the bloody Battle of Lansdown during the English Civil War. From here, you will cross a plateau, passing the famous Bath Horse Racecourse. Shortly afterward, you will have your first views of Bath in the valley below. Walk through expanses of fertile farmland before emerging into the suburban environs of Weston. As your walk draws to a close, you will have glimpses of finely landscaped parks and grand Regency architecture, including the famous Royal Crescent. Designed by John Wood the Younger in 1767, the Royal Crescent is a collection of 30 terraced houses that form a sweeping crescent. Conclude your walk at Bath Abbey, where a round, carved stone set into the pavement outside the ornate west doors marks the end of the Cotswold Way.
If you would rather spend more time in Bath there is an option to do a shorter city walk that will allow you to see the main attractions of the city and further explore Bath on your own. Lunch is on your own in Bath before returning to the hotel. This evening, recount your memorable journey over a festive farewell dinner.
Your tour ends at your Westonbirt, England hotel today. Kemble is the nearest train station to the Hare & Hounds Hotel, around seven miles away, with non-stop service to Paddington Station, London. The hotel will help arrange a taxi to the station.
The 45-room Arden Hotel offers boutique sophistication in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare’s birthplace and other family sites are accessible by foot. The Royal Shakespeare Company is directly opposite, so you can catch a play with ease (though you should reserve ahead). Relax over a drink on the all-weather terrace, enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge, and savor a meal in the hotel’s award-winning Waterside Brasserie. Well-appointed rooms are naturally cooled without air conditioning. Exemplary service, contemporary design, and ample amenities will make your stay in the Bard’s city truly memorable.
One of the oldest inns in the Cotswolds, the 28-room Noel Arms Hotel is steeped in history. It is said that Charles II stayed here during the English Civil War. This gracious hotel has all the touches of warm English hospitality: a log fire in the bar, homemade cakes in the on-site coffee shop, and a refined restaurant whose diverse menu uses the freshest locally sourced produce. Simple and elegant, each un-air conditioned room features antique furnishing and ample amenities. You’ll want to sample Chef Indunil’s famous curries, which have earned him the “Best Pub Curry Chef Award” on three occasions.
Nestled amid gardens and woodland, the Hare & Hounds in Westonbirt is a charming, traditional English country house hotel with a popular restaurant and bar. The award-winning Beaufort Restaurant offers traditional British cuisine infused with continental flavors, served under a beamed ceiling and surrounded by large windows that overlook the garden. Jack Hare’s is the place for more casual pub-style fare with a satisfying ale, cider, or wine. Each un-air conditioned room is inspired by the details of English country life. Many overlook the gardens or countryside.
In picturesque Woodstock, the Bear Hotel enjoys a lovely village setting and an ideal location just a mile from Blenheim Palace. Occupying a majestic 13th-century coaching inn, the charming country house is one of the finest inns in Oxfordshire, having hosted royals and film stars, including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Each of the 54 traditional, un-air conditioned rooms is individually styled and offers period antique furniture, satellite TV, a mini bar, and fluffy bathrobes. With bare stone walls, open fires, and exposed beams, the atmospheric restaurant serves an innovative British menu using fresh, seasonal produce. The cozy bar offers fine wines, malt whiskies, and real ales, and serves light lunches and snacks.
A Country Walkers representative will greet you at the airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
The 45-room Arden Hotel offers boutique sophistication in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare’s birthplace and other family sites are accessible by foot. The Royal Shakespeare Company is directly opposite, so you can catch a play with ease (though you should reserve ahead). Relax over a drink on the all-weather terrace, enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge, and savor a meal in the hotel’s award-winning Waterside Brasserie. Well-appointed rooms are naturally cooled without air conditioning. Exemplary service, contemporary design, and ample amenities will make your stay in the Bard’s city truly memorable.
After a relaxing breakfast, meet at 10:00 a.m. for the 30-minute drive to Oxford. Please note that hotel check-in time is 3:00 p.m. You may leave your bags with reception while you explore Oxford. There is so much to see and do just around the corner.
Oxford is famous the world over for its prestigious University, the oldest in the English-speaking world. The core of the campus is just a few blocks away from your hotel. Wander the network of cobbled lanes lined with noble buildings spanning some 800 years. Ascend St. Martin’s Tower, also called “Carfax Tower,” for sweeping views of the city’s rooftops and soaring spires. Browse the stalls of the historical Covered Market, open since 1774, and follow pedestrian-friendly streets to the iconic Bodleian Library, or “Bodley” to students and locals. One of the oldest libraries in Europe, it is the main research library of the University of Oxford (closed on Sundays).
Tonight, stroll along the picturesque River Thames to visit central Oxford. Stop in for a pint at one of the city’s many pubs and chic restaurants.
Country Walkers provides you with city information including recommendations on what to see and do in Oxford during your stay.
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
With its lovely location beside the Thames River and amid a lovely parkland, the voco Oxford Spires Hotel is a comfortable haven from which to explore the City of Spires. Cotswolds stone and plush yet elegant interiors combine throughout to create a truly welcoming space of understated luxury. Modern amenities mingle seamlessly with traditional touches in this air-conditioned hotel. Deacon’s Restaurant promises fine cuisine prepared with ingredients sourced from the Oxfordshire countryside, while the bar and lounge—and an outdoor terrace—offer a casual atmosphere for relaxing over a drink or a spot of tea. Each comfortable room is accented with a warmth and décor inspired by the English countryside.
My husband and I did this self-guided tour in early September and absolutely loved it. Country Walkers did an impeccable job taking care of every detail--booking hotels, moving our suitcases between hotels, and, best of all, the "route notes" book was so detailed and had everything we needed from step-by-step directions and restaurant suggestions to history and ideas for things to do. It felt like a wonderful adventure following the famous paths through sheep pastures and little forest thickets, past gardens and ancient churches, and climbing over or around all the different gates. It was often overcast and misty in the mornings, but the mid-day sun burned it all away. Our highlights are choosing to stop for an hour to check out the Hailes Abbey Museum and rubbing elbows with some locals at the only pub in a tiny village. So many great memories! We liked the intimate experience of doing a self-guided trip and the independence (without the planning!) that it provided. We spent some extra days in London at the end of our trip...that was just icing on the cake.
Ashlea, South Burlington, VT
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
What a fantastic trip this was. This was my 6th time going to England, but my first for the Cotswold region and what an extraordinary time it was. The food was fantastic, everywhere you looked the views were spectacular. It was fantastic trip which I would do again in a heart beat.
Tasha, Vermont
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Expert Local Leaders
Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.
Bethany Berry-Henshaw
Bethany Berry-Henshaw has worked in Outdoor and Environmental Education since leaving University. She now guides on the Country Walkers Cotswolds Tours in the UK and has previosly lead groups in the UK, Oman and Hong Kong, guiding everything from walking tours, to canoe trips and climbing expeditions. She is especially interested in natural history and is always keen to share and improve her knowledge and passion for plants and wildlife. As well as working as a guide, Bethany also works as a Ranger for the National Trust in the English Lake District where she is involved in a re-wilding project. In the evening Bethany can be found in her garden – where she is learning at lot if not always growing a lot!
Jesse Hunnisett
Born in Winchester and living in Upham, a small village outside Winchester, Jesse Hunnisett comes from a farming background and his interests include hill walking, mountain biking, camping, playing music, and travelling. He loves taking friends and family around parts of the UK and discovering areas of the world he has never been to before. When not introducing visitors to the scenery and rich history of the Cotswolds, Jesse enjoys playing and listening to music, reading a good book, and learning as much as possible about the conservation of English heritage in this very walking- and dog-friendly region of England.
Gillian Nicol
Gillian Nicol was born in the historic Roman city of Chester, studied in Liverpool, Manchester, and Keele (earning multiple degrees), and now resides in rural Chesire. Her background includes teaching secondary school geography, leading outdoor education trips through the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, and working for a wine merchant. In addition, she has lived and traveled throughout Africa, Asia, Australasia, and much of Western Europe but her heart remains with her home country with its stunning views, quaint villages, and rich history. Gillian’s interests include skiing, snowboarding, fell running, biking (including long distance bike events) and exploring the UK in her camper van with her partner, Nick.
Chris Berry
After completing a degree in zoology, Chris Berry began work as a Countryside Ranger in Nottinghamshire (Robin Hood Country) before moving to the East Coast of Yorkshire to manage portions of the spectacular Heritage Coast. In 1997 he obtained his dream job working as Lake District National Park Ranger. He lives with his wife Colleen and their two daughters in the isolated Bobbin Mill Cottage in the southern Lake District where he now runs his own business as “The Lakeland Guide,” offering walks and other activities in the surrounding national park.
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Terrain Description for England: Bath & the Cotswolds
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