Amber, Lisa and Paul
From: Gloucestershire
Started: 29th Jan, 2023 — Finished: 28th Aug, 2023
Amber, aged 9, wanted to walk the Cotswold Way as her New Year's resolution challenge. We planned to walk it in 14 stages. We have loved the undulating walk and have loved the views along the way. We have enjoyed the villages along the way and we have met some lovely people. We climbed up the Tyndale monument, explored new places to eat and even shared some sections with other family members. We found Cam Long Down very steep to climb up and we missed a few markers so we walked a few more miles but we really enjoyed it.
Marcus and Giselle Vere
From: London, UK
Started: 18th Aug, 2023 — Finished: 24th Aug, 2023
What an experience but, don’t be fooled, this is a BIG effort in 7 days and we are regular walkers! You can opt for taking more time of course. Lots of steep ups and downs on uneven ground (we took 35 litre packs weighing around 7 kg), so we would suggest good ankle support as a major factor in your choice of well-worn boots. Your elevation gain will be 400m - 500m (with matching descents) every day, so a good level of fitness is paramount. In spite of us both having done big miles in our boots previously we still got blisters early on, so a blister pack/compeeds should be high on your packing list.
It’s often said that The Way is well marked which, for the most part, it is. However, in the summer months particularly, there are many sections where the markers are hidden in hedges and briars or local wits have removed them. There are also markers which unhelpfully point in a ‘general’ direction, which are the jokers in the pack. Take a good guide book with maps included (we used Trailblazer which, as it turns out, contains quirky, Winnie The Poo style maps of questionable accuracy), but we would seriously recommend the OS Maps app as this plots your position relevant to The Cotswold Way to within a meter or two; invaluable. Although the app is battery hungry, I can’t tell you how often we relied on it and would have consistently wandered off piste without it which, over a 100 mile trail, would not have been funny. We were so lucky with the weather; dry all the way. If it had rained, many of the steep paths would have been treacherous, so keep an eye on your weather app and be aware that this area is notorious for four seasons in a day.
Accommodation along the trail is ‘adequate’ at best, which is a shame. We used a mixture of b and b’s, pubs and a hotel, as most do, and were disappointed with almost all of them. Grubby rooms, 70s decor, apathetic staff and below standard food was the norm. Coming from London, we thought we’d entered a time warp. Don’t be put off by this though, its not a deal breaker, and all part of what is essentially a great experience. That said, boy, there’s a heck of an opportunity for hospitality entrepreneurs!
Overall though, this is a great and testing walk, taking in quintessentially English countryside, featuring amazing views, heart-achingly pretty Cotswold towns and some really lovely flora and fauna (spring and summer particularly). We hope you find our shared experience useful. Wishing you a great walk and happy memories. M and G.
Nathalie
From: Switzerland
Started: 4th Aug, 2023 — Finished: 15th Aug, 2023
Catriona & Liberty Irvine
From: Bristol, UK
Started: 11th Mar, 2017 — Finished: 31st Jul, 2023
When my dad went into a home with Dementia, over 6 years ago, my daughter and I thought it would be a good idea to walk the Cotswolds Way and raise money for BRACE - a dementia research charity in Bristol. Sadly, my dad died nearly 2 years ago now and we had to start in very small chunks as my daughter was 11 when we started - but we've finally finished! (she's 17 now and much taller than me!) We had a big break for Covid and for her GCSEs and we used all manor of transport to get us to and from the trail - taxis, lifts, buses and even steam trains! It was a nice little adventure and a chance to spend time with my daughter, who will be going off to university next year. I'm sure my dad would have approved.
James Blagg & Dave Turner
From: Bristol
Started: 10th Oct, 2021 — Finished: 16th Jul, 2023
Jocelyn Suiter, Wendy Pugh, Patrick Suiter
From: Melbourne Australia
Started: 8th Jul, 2023 — Finished: 16th Jul, 2023
Beautiful way to enjoy the English countryside
Chris McIntosh and Erica Melton
From: Portland, OR USA
Started: 26th Jun, 2023 — Finished: 4th Jul, 2023
What an epic journey! So many ups and downs and twists and turns…and not just describing the trail itself! We met all sorts of friendly and welcoming people along the way—fellow CW trekkers, locals walking dogs around the commons, pub regulars, groups of boisterous Duke of Edinburgh candidates and of course the amazingly hospitable BnB and hotel hosts.
Rosalyn & Kevin Miller
From: Portland, OR USA
Started: 24th Jun, 2023 — Finished: 4th Jul, 2023
We had a wonderful walk. The people we met were friendly and knowledgeable, the countryside was tranquil and beautiful, the villages were charming and welcoming. Our experience using Cotswold Walks company was great, they took really good care of us and were responsive to our inquiries.
Shawn Morningstar
From: San Clemente, Ca USA
Started: 2nd Jun, 2023 — Finished: 12th Jun, 2023
What a wonderful experience. Walked it solo and met so many nice people along the way… Had lovely weather, but got hot at the end. Thank you to all of the volunteers who keep the trail so walkable and enjoyable. Cheers!
Kathy Billings, Dick Capps
From: USA
Started: 21st May, 2023 — Finished: 3rd Jun, 2023
Beautiful trek through green fields, woods and small villages. A lot of up and down. Gorgeous views. Well marked in most places. A few of the diversions were confusing. Signs did not match descriptions in these areas. Recommend using a GPS app to check junctions. Watch out for the stinging nettles along the trail. Some busy roads but mostly remote trails and paths. We took a rest day in Painswick and Wotton-Under-Edge - nice villages to take a day off. Flowers were amazing and the wild garlic was everywhere. We were very lucky - no rain and no mud. Recommend spending at least one extra day in Bath at end of trek.
Mark Harris
From: Cheltenham
Started: 24th May, 2023 — Finished: 29th May, 2023
Brilliant ! Really loved the experience, people and sights. I did it solo and wild camped 4 nights, bnb 1 night. I should have done it over more than 5 days, it was hot and some days were really tough to get the miles done. Still extremely enjoyed it!! Also would be better with family and friends.
Julian Moore
From: Abingdon, Oxon
Started: 21st May, 2023 — Finished: 26th May, 2023
I ran/ walked the Cotswold Way with my Springer Spaniel Isla. We had amazing weather and would thoroughly recommend the route. She dictated a blog along the way: https://islacw0.Wordpress.com
Clare Josaitis & Christine Chalkley
From: Idaho, USA and Colorado, USA, respectively
Started: 14th May, 2023 — Finished: 25th May, 2023
We hiked from Chipping Campden to Bath. We are so thrilled to have done this hike. I was enthralled, overwhelmed, gobsmacked by the beauty of the countryside and the villages. Everyone we met was so extremely kind. We have been so blessed by this adventure. It was my first time to England. Somedays the hike was hard, but it was always worth it.
TORI BREITHAUPT
From: FLORIDA/COLORADO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Started: 14th May, 2023 — Finished: 23rd May, 2023
lucked into beautiful weather! Loved hiking this trail. Chipping Campden to Cleeve Hill my favorite two days.
Carla and Pieter
From: the Netherlands
Started: 15th May, 2023 — Finished: 21st May, 2023
What an absolute privilege to hike in this wonderful landscape.
We've been walking on sunshine all the way to Bath.
A big thank you to all the volunteers who keep these paths so well maintained.
And to the landowners who grant us the public rights of way.
"Pepsi & Shirlie": it was so much fun hanging out with you two!