Itinerary
Key Highlights
~ Discovering the typically English countryside.
~ Walking parts of the Cotswold Way.
~ Enjoying the flexibility of walking with a daypack from village to village.
~ Experiencing the hospitality in the warm family run B&B’s and guesthouses.
Day 1 Arrive Straford-Upon-Avon
Arrival to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The day is free to explore the town. You may visit Shakespeare’s birthplace in the centre of town, the Holy Trinity Church where he is buried, and the thatched cottage where Anne Hathaway once lived.
Stay in a traditional English bed & breakfast with ensuite rooms, friendly service and a cosy atmosphere.
Meal: Nil
Stay: Moonraker House
Day 2 Straford-Upon-Avon – Mickleton
Today’s walk will bring you to Mickleton. Make a stop at the National Trust Gardens at Hidcote Manor, near Mickleton. Enjoy the wide views over the vales of Severn and Avon toward the Malvern Hills and Wales.
The accommodation is home to the famous Pudding Club and its award winning restaurant.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay: Three Ways Hotel
Hiking Duration: 5.5 hours approx. Hiking Distance: 17 KM approx.
Day 3 Mickleton – Broadway
Walk to Broadway via Chipping Campden Fish Hill and the unique Broadway Tower, which offer remarkable views of the Cotswolds. Broadway is a beautiful and picturesque town, and the main street is lined with magnificent stone-built houses as well as some great antique shops.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay: Windrush Guesthouse
Hiking Duration: 4 hours approx. Hiking Distance: 14.5 KM approx.
Day 4 Broadway – Blockley
Walk to Blockley and pass Buckland where you can take a little time to explore, the church is interesting and has medieval painted roof timbers. A visit to the Tudor Snowshill Manor, with its collection of art and artefacts from all over the world, may be of interest.
Blockley bears some resemblance to the villages of the Stroud Valley but the stone is much more golden in colour. During the 18th century when the wool industry was in decline, Blockley turned to silk production. The village is a unique collection of buildings reflecting its past glory of mills and silk production and is quite different in, character to other north Cotswold villages.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay: Crown Inn Hotel
Hiking Duration: 6 hours approx. Hiking Distance: 19 KM approx.
Day 5 Blockley – Bourton on the Water
Breakfast in not included this morning. You may pay for your breakfast directly to the hotel if you wish to have it in the hotel.
Today is a beautiful walk, and you will be able to explore some of the prettiest villages of the Cotswolds. To the medieval wool town of Bourton on the Water, the walk will take you via Batsford, Stow on the Wold and Lower Slaughter. The river Windrush flows down the main street of Bourton on the Water. Bourton is well known for its footbridges over the river Evenlode and for its scale model of the village.
Meal: Nil
Stay: Lansdowne Guesthouse
Hiking Duration: 7 hours approx. Hiking Distance: 21.5 KM approx.
Day 6 Bourton on the Water – Guiting Power
An easy schedule today, which allows ample time to explore Bourton on the Water with its many attractions before setting out on your walk. Guiting Power, nestled in the hills above a small valley, is a perfect example of a Cotswold village.
Due to limited accommodation in Guiting, you may be staying in the small village of Naunton which is located 30-minute walk away from Guiting. If your accommodation is in Naunton, taxi transfers will be included.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay: Guiting Guesthouse, Guiting Power or Winchcombe
Hiking Duration: 4 hours approx. Hiking Distance: 12 KM approx.
Day 7 Guiting Power – Winchcombe
The walk leads you to the atmospheric ruins of Hailes Abbey, destroyed under Henry VIII, and the still inhabited Sudeley Castle, where Henry VIII’s last wife Katherine Parr lived. Winchcombe is a delightful town nestling in a deep valley near the regency town of Cheltenham.
Tonight’s accommodation is a 15th century merchants house, and its restaurant has a reputation for excellent food, elegant surroundings and exemplary service. If you arrive here on a Saturday night, halfboard booking is mandatory with bed & breakfast with dinner. There is a supplement of £50 approx. per person.
Meal: Breakfast (& Dinner)
Stay: Wesley House
Hiking Duration: 6 hours approx. Hiking Distance: 18.5 KM approx.
Day 8 Depart Winchcombe
Simply rest and relax until it’s time for your onward journey or check out (1100 hours) and the tour concludes.
Meal: Breakfast
Inclusions
~ 7 nights accommodation with ensuite facilities;
~ 6 Breakfasts;
~ luggage transfer where necessary, 1 piece per person not exceeding 20 KG;
~ information pack including route notes & maps;
~ emergency hotline.
Exclusions
~ air/rail travel;
~ visa arrangement;
~ personal travel insurance;
~ expenditure of personal effects;
~ meals not mentioned in the itinerary;
~ anything not specified in the itinerary.
Important Notes
~ Non – refundable deposit, 20% of total tour price is required at the time of booking. Full or balance payment is 60 days prior to departure.
~ This self-guided trip is good for 1 hiker to go.
~ Should you require a visa to enter United Kingdom, it is your responsibility to obtain such document before departure.
~ Our utmost priority is always the safety of the hikers. Therefore inclusion of the itinerary may be altered due to (not limited to) bad weather, local conditions, accommodation book out, the skill levels of the hikers and/or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to make changes necessary and there will be no refund should you decide to discontinue with the trip.
~ Because hiking requires certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for participants with chronic and/or acute disease. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Hikers must ensure they are medically and physically able to hike/walk.
~ Trip grading is an indication on the difficulty of the activities included. Preparation and engaging in regular exercise to maintain good physical condition and active lifestyle prior to the trip will be most beneficial in ensuring you have full enjoyment of the trip. We are glad to discuss your concerns and answer your queries.
~ All hikers are strongly encouraged to be appropriately dressed in the right footwear (covered hiking shoes) and attire suitable for hiking.
~ Option to extend your stay in United Kingdom or other parts in Europe.
~ Every effort is made to ensure the trip and included experiences take place during the ideal time or period of the year, however certain sights are subject to weather conditions and seasonal variations that are not within the control of Travel Wander and the Operator. Although you may get to see and/or experience, we cannot guarantee the sightings.
~ Provision of meals during the trip showcases local authenticity, cuisine and food culture of the places we are visiting. All food allergies and dietary restrictions must be disclosed to Travel Wander at the time of booking. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements or requests but this is not always possible given the nature of the destinations visited and availability of options. We cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. Travel Wander is not liable for failure to accommodate or fulfil such requests. Meal supplementary charges may be imposed to meet your dietary needs.
~ Our utmost priority is always the safety of the hikers. Therefore inclusion of the itinerary may be altered due to (not limited to) bad weather, local conditions, accommodation book out, the skill levels of the hikers and/or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to make changes necessary and there will be no refund should you decide to discontinue with the trip.
~ Because hiking requires a certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for hikers with chronic and/or acute disease. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Hikers must ensure they are medically and physically able to hike.
~ If hiker presents difficulty in completing the hike of the day, we strongly discourage the hiker from continuing for the day with top priority on the safety of the hiker (and travel companions) in mind. The hiker can fast track to the next accommodation making use of public transportation (where available) or booking private transfer at the hiker’s own expense. Hikers can use mobile applications such as Google Search, Google Map, etc. to source for fast-track options.
~ Hiker may choose to terminate the ride early during any time of the planned hiking day or make it a rest day, and fast track to the next accommodation by making use of public transportation (where available) or booking private transfer at hiker’s own expense. Should the hiker wish to partake in other activities or sightseeing on the rest day, it will be at the hiker’s own expense. Hikers can use mobile applications such as Google Search, Google Map, etc. to source for fast-track options.
~ There is no refund for uncompleted hiking distances or missed inclusions.
~ Purchasing comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See HERE for details.
~ By making a payment to Travel Wander LLP, you (and on behalf of the rest of travelling companions) acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to Travel Wander’s Booking Conditions and Other Important Information: Cancellation and Amendment, Modes of Payment, Privacy Policy, Indemnity Policy, and Terms & Conditions.
