The best walks in the Cotswolds

Get outdoors in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and experience this wonderful region up close with a countryside ramble. If you’re a keen walker, and even if you aren’t, there’s so much to see in the Cotswolds that you won’t be able to stop yourself venturing out and about. This exquisite area is crisscrossed with a wide variety of Cotswolds walking trails for you to choose from, whether you’d prefer a rural hike or a stroll through traditional villages, with far-reaching views, iconic attractions, and cosy walkers' pubs where you can end your trek with a well-earned dinner.

Many of these Cotswolds walks would be great for families to follow, allowing children to experience the natural world first-hand and burn off some energy on a long trek. These hikes in the Cotswolds make unforgettable dog walks too if you have a canine companion who is young and fit enough to keep up, while couples on a getaway could conquer the more challenging trails together or spend a pleasant day meandering around pretty Cotswold towns and villages.

Take a look through what we consider to be a few of the best walks in the Cotswolds, and then strike out and begin exploring this beautiful holiday destination.

Holiday cottages in the Cotswolds

The Cotswold Way

Probably the most well-known walk in the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Way National Trail stretches all along the Cotswold Hills from the idyllic village of Chipping Campden in the north down to the spa city of Bath in the south. It’s 102 miles long and a fantastic challenge for keen hikers, but if you don’t fancy days and days of Cotswolds hiking, it can be broken up into many shorter trails, a few of which we’ve included later in this post.

Interestingly, if you choose to tackle the full 10 days’ worth of walking, you could pass through up to 35 different varieties of lavender! So, make sure you venture out along the Cotswold Way during the spring and summer months to see this beautiful and fragrant plant in full bloom. Take a look at the Cotswold Way on National Trails to discover a few iconic attractions you might like to visit during your walk.

The Rollright Stones

This intriguing ancient site is set in the north of the Cotswolds, right on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border, and it’s over 5,000 years old. The Rollright Stones near Chipping Campden are made up of three elements – the King’s Men stone circle, King Stone and the Whispering Knights – each of which was created at different times across the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods of history. It is a wonderful hidden gem in the Cotswolds to visit and you needn’t walk anywhere. However, if you are planning on stretching your legs, then have a go at the 5.5-mile trail taking you through woodland, over a stile and stream, and through the village of Little Rollright.

This Rollright Stones trail begins and ends in Salford village which has a pub, farm shop, tearoom and grassy play area for kids to enjoy, where you may decide to stop for a picnic. There are delightful picnic spots en route too, so you can sit on the grass and enjoy a break before continuing on your Cotswolds walk. Take a look at the full Rollright Stones route for directions.

Chipping Norton cottages

The Diamond Way

So-named as it is roughly a diamond shape route, this Cotswold walk covers much of the north of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a wonderful way to get to know the region. The four corners of this diamond-shaped trail are Northleach (southern point), Chipping Campden (north), Guiting Power (west) and Bourton-on-the-Water (east).

Like the Cotswold Way, the Diamond Way route will take days to complete so feel free to break it up into shorter sections. Bourton-on-the-Water is known locally as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ and is a delightful place to stay in the Cotswolds or visit with its welcoming pubs and shops, so why not pick one of the Cotswolds walking routes leading to or from the quintessential village?

For more inspiration, read our guide to the best walks in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Bourton-on-the-Water cottages

The Leckhampton Loop

One of the best short walks in the Cotswolds, the Leckhampton Loop begins and ends right outside a pub so after you’ve conquered this trail, you can pop in for a pint or enjoy a well-deserved supper. Along the way, you’ll pass an Iron Age hillfort, a nature reserve, and see the Devil’s Chimney limestone rock formation (pictured above).

You’ll conquer this trek by following part of the Cotswold Way walk until you reach Leckhampton Hill, when the Leckhampton Hill Walk provides a scenic route that circles back to the beginning where the pub awaits (find the full directions at National Trails). Leckhampton is a district of the bustling town of Cheltenham, a wonderful place to stay during a Cotswolds getaway, with many more local walking opportunities.

Cheltenham cottages

The Windrush Way

Linking two National Trails, the Windrush Way is one of two routes that wind from Winchcombe and the Cotswold Way, to Bourton-on-the-Water and the Oxfordshire Way. Its sister route, the Warden’s Way, will take you through pretty Cotswolds villages and is an easier option, but we’ve chosen the Windrush Way as one of our favourite walks around the Cotswolds because it will take you over the hills, with fantastic rural views and through the remains of a mysterious ‘lost’ village.

At the beginning of this Cotswold walk, you’ll pass the magnificent Sudeley Castle before climbing up to the idyllic village of Hawling, meandering along past Gazeley Wood and Westfield House, and finally descending to the River Windrush and Bourton-on-the-Water. Both Winchcombe and Bourton-on-the-Water have a variety of eateries and shops, so you can plan to stop off at a pub at the end of your walk or head straight back to your cosy Cotswolds holiday cottage to relax.

Winchcombe cottages

The Blossom Trail

Seek out the AA signs and these will lead you through this fantastic springtime trail – you may want to plan your holiday to the Cotswolds accordingly! You’ll soon see why this is one of the best walks in the Cotswolds as you pass through Evesham, Broadway and Pershore, taking in charming honey-hued houses, cosy country pubs and a variety of trees in full bloom. Even though this route is named for its wonderful springtime blossoms, it makes a delightful rural route to follow any time of year.

Strike out through the beautiful Evesham Valley on this route and you’ll meander over the River Avon, past grassy picnic areas, and you’ll even pass a variety of cafés and shops too during your exploration. The AA signs are great guides although if you’d prefer, you could download this trail guide from Worcester’s Vale & Spa which has a couple of alterations from the traditional route that takes in additional places of interest. You can cycle or drive around The Blossom Trail too!

Evesham cottages

Moreton-in-Marsh Circular Walk

One of the most scenic circular walks in the Cotswolds, this hike gives you amazing views, plus the chance to see resident deer! End up where you began in Moreton-in-Marsh - pick up a bargain in the high street before following the Monarch's Way south to the village of Longborough where you will find a 12^th-century church and an opera house home to the Longborough Festival Opera in June and July each year.

From Longborough, head north along the Heart of England Way towards Sezincote House with its magnificent gardens. After passing Sezincote, continue north to the pretty village of Bourton-on-the-Hill where you can stop for a refreshing pint and a pub lunch at the Horse and Groom pub, before tracking alongside Batsford Arboretum and Deer Park. Here, you may be able to get photographs of the gallant deer and the Elizabethan-style Batsford House. The final section heads east through farmland back to Moreton-in-Marsh.

Moreton-in-Marsh cottages

Cirencester Park Walk

This 9-mile walk around Cirencester winds through 3,000 acres of parkland and woodland.  It’s one of the finest places to walk in the Cotswolds, with a vast lake and deer park to admire. First stop, the park! Perfect for children to run around in, pack a picnic for the family and enjoy a lazy afternoon in the sun before wandering along the tree-lined Broad Ride.

Continue further and visit the 19^th-century polo ground – the oldest in Great Britain. Take in the sights of the Cotswolds countryside before following the footpath in a loop and back to where you started at the western side of the town centre. You can discover more things to do in Cirencester with our handy guide.

Cirencester cottages

Stay in the Cotswolds

There are seemingly endless Cotswold walks that crisscross this region, but if you have already explored these routes, we’ve no doubt you’ll find many more corners of the Cotswolds to walk during your next break. 

Once you’ve decided which of these walks in the Cotswolds you’d like to tackle, start browsing through our collection of holiday cottages and discover your ideal getaway. From hot tub lodges to family-friendly retreats, and big celebration houses to romantic getaways for couples, you'll be spoilt for choice when looking through our range of cottages in the Cotswolds.

Cotswolds cottages