The picturesque Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water

Cotswold Round

View Photos

View Map

On this page:

Overview

Route

What's Included?

Itineraries & Prices

Accommodation

Travel Info

Additional Days

Overview

Walking Holidays

4 - 9 Nights

49 miles / 80 km

Prices from: £675 per person
Start: Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
Finish: Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
Availability: Any start date from April to October
Grading: Easy to Moderate
Way-marked: Partly

Cotswold Round Highlights

Honey-stone villages

Explore some of England’s most photogenic settlements, where medieval churches overlook cottage gardens bursting with hollyhocks and climbing roses.

HIstoric Hailes Abbey on the Cotswold Round

Living history

Step back centuries as you encounter ancient abbey ruins, grand manor houses, and market towns that have traded since medieval times.

Broadway Tower

Ascend to this 18th-century folly perched on the Cotswolds’ second-highest point, where sweeping vistas reveal the patchwork landscape you’ll traverse.

Architectural treasures

Marvel at golden limestone masterpieces, from Stanway House’s Jacobean grandeur to the unexpected Mughal-inspired domes and minarets of Sezincote House.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Linger beside crystal-clear streams in one of England’s most picturesque villages, where low bridges span the River Windrush and time moves at a gentler pace.

A self-guided hiker on the Cotswold Round

Gentle adventure

Experience the joy of multi-day walking without intimidation. Rolling hills and well-maintained paths make this a gentle introduction to long-distance hiking.

A Captivating Circuit Through England’s Most Enchanting Villages

The Cotswold Round takes you on a circular route through the northern Cotswolds’ finest landscapes, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You will walk through countryside that epitomises rural England, crossing ancient woodlands, rolling meadows and historic parkland, before arriving in beautifully preserved honey-stone villages.

This route showcases everything the Cotswolds offers visitors. Golden limestone cottages line quiet valleys where clear streams flow past medieval churches and centuries-old manor houses. Starting and finishing in Moreton-in-Marsh, a traditional market town with excellent transport links, you will explore countryside that has inspired generations of visitors.

The trail connects some of the region’s most celebrated destinations. Stow-on-the-Wold features antique shops surrounding its historic market square, while Bourton-on-the-Water offers willow-lined waterways that earned it the nickname “Venice of the Cotswolds”. Chipping Campden showcases magnificent merchant houses built during the medieval wool trade. The route combines sections of the renowned Cotswold Way with quieter local paths, including the Windrush and Macmillan Ways.

Walking distances are manageable rather than demanding, with daily stages designed to allow thorough exploration of each location. There is time to enjoy afternoon tea in historic coaching inns, browse independent shops, or simply appreciate the unhurried pace of village life. This represents English countryside walking at its most rewarding, combining natural beauty with rich cultural heritage.

Cotswold Round Route Map

Recommended Itinerary

Our most popular itinerary is COTR1, which covers the route in 4 days / 5 nights.

Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh for your first night’s accommodation

Arrive in Moreton-in-Marsh, a historic market town with excellent rail connections from London and Birmingham. Settle into your accommodation and explore this charming town, which has hosted markets for over 800 years.

Day 1: Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water (11.5 miles / 18.5 km)

Your walking begins gently as you leave Moreton-in-Marsh’s bustling high street, following field paths through traditional Cotswold farmland. The route passes Sezincote House, an extraordinary Regency mansion with distinctive Mughal-inspired architecture that merits a brief detour.

Continue across rolling countryside to Stow-on-the-Wold, perfectly positioned for lunch and exploration of its antique shops clustered around the historic market square.

The afternoon’s walk leads through pastoral landscapes to Lower Slaughter, widely considered one of England’s most beautiful villages, before reaching your destination in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Day 2: Bourton-on-the-Water to Winchcombe (12 miles / 19 km)

Following the River Windrush valley, today’s route passes through the unspoiled villages of Naunton and Guiting Power, both showcasing classic Cotswold architecture. The landscape reveals the area’s strong equestrian heritage, with numerous stables and training facilities visible along the way.

The path continues through tranquil woodland before emerging at Parks Farm, where Winchcombe first comes into view. The final approach descends past Sudeley Lodge to the imposing Sudeley Castle, once home to Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife. The castle makes an excellent visit before the short ascent into Winchcombe.

Day 3: Winchcombe to Broadway (13 miles / 21 km)

Today’s route follows sections of the Cotswold Way in reverse, but quieter diversions avoid the busiest stretches.

Leaving Winchcombe, you will encounter the evocative ruins of Hailes Abbey, a 13th-century Cistercian monastery once among England’s most important pilgrimage sites. The trail continues to Stanway House, a magnificent Jacobean mansion, and the village of Stanton, both exemplifying the region’s distinctive golden oolitic limestone architecture.

A short but challenging climb out of Stanton rewards you with sweeping views before the gentle descent into Broadway, the “Jewel of the Cotswolds”.

Day 4: Broadway to Moreton-in-Marsh (13 miles / 21 km)

The final day begins with a climb to Broadway Tower, an 18th-century folly offering panoramic views across three counties. From this elevated position, enjoy the long descent towards Chipping Campden, a perfectly preserved medieval wool town whose merchants’ houses demonstrate the wealth generated by England’s historic wool trade.

The return journey follows quieter paths through Broad Campden and the stone village of Blockley. Time permitting, Batsford Arboretum provides a peaceful conclusion with its diverse collection of trees and plants from around the world.

Onward travel

After breakfast, begin your onward journey, taking with you memories of the Cotswolds’ lovely landscapes and charming villages.

What's Included?

Your Cotswold Round walking holiday includes:

Carefully selected accommodation along the route and trail transfers when applicable
En-suite or private bathroom facilities whenever possible
Daily door-to-door baggage transfers
Comprehensive information pack, kit list, guidebook and map (one set per room)
Personalised itinerary with details of your accommodation, route and recommendations for lunch and dinner
Traditional English breakfast each morning
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your walking holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Transport to and from the start and end of the walk
Lunches and evening meals

Itineraries & Prices

We offer 4 suggested itineraries for walking the Cotswold Round.

Our most popular itinerary is COTR1 which covers the route in 4 days.

Tour code

Days / Nights

Average miles

Difficulty

Price per person Price per person

COTR1

4 days / 5 nights

12.5 miles per day

Moderate

From £675

Average miles : 12.5 miles per day

Tour code: COTR1

4 Days / 5 Nights (COTR1)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water 11.5 miles / 18.5 km

Day 2 Bourton-on-the-Water to Winchcombe 12 miles / 19 km

Day 3 Winchcombe to Broadway 13 miles / 21 km

Day 4 Broadway to Moreton-in-Marsh 13 miles / 21 km

Depart Onward travel from Moreton-in-Marsh

Prices

Premium

Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels

From £1070 per person

Enquire

Carefully selected guest houses, inns and hotels throughout your walk, which will be the best available in each location.

As premium accommodation is in short supply on this trail, please note that some establishments will be of a higher standard than others. En-suite facilities or private bathroom guaranteed.

Enquire Now

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £675 per person

Enquire

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

Enquire Now

COTR2

6 days / 7 nights

10.5 miles per day

Moderate

From £895

Average miles : 10.5 miles per day

Tour code: COTR2

6 Days / 7 Nights (COTR2)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water 11.5 miles / 18.5 km

Day 2 Bourton-on-the-Water to Guiting Power 6 miles / 10 km

Day 3 Guiting Power to Cheltenham 11 miles / 18 km

Day 4 Cheltenham to Winchcombe 9 miles / 14.5 km

Day 5 Winchcombe to Broadway 13 miles / 21 km

Day 6 Broadway to Moreton-in-Marsh 13 miles / 21 km

Depart Onward travel from Moreton-in-Marsh

Prices

Premium

Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels

From £1435 per person

Enquire

Carefully selected guest houses, inns and hotels throughout your walk, which will be the best available in each location. As premium accommodation is in short supply on this trail, please note that some establishments will be of a higher standard than others. En-suite facilities or private bathroom guaranteed.

Enquire Now

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £895 per person

Enquire

Enquire Now

COTR3

8 days / 9 nights

6 miles per day

Easy

From £1215

Average miles : 6 miles per day

Tour code: COTR3

8 Days / 9 Nights (COTR3)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Moreton-in-Marsh to Stow-on-the-Wold 7.5 miles / 12 km

Day 2 Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton-on-the-Water 4 miles / 6.5 km

Day 3 Bourton-on-the-Water to Guiting Power 6 miles / 10 km

Day 4 Guiting Power to Winchcombe 6 miles / 10 km

Day 5 Winchcombe to Stanton (Overnight Toddington) 8.5 miles / 13.5 km

Day 6 Stanton to Broadway 4.5 miles / 7 km

Day 7 Broadway to Chipping Campden 6 miles / 10 km

Day 8 Chipping Campden to Moreton-in-Marsh 7 miles / 11 km

Depart Onward travel from Moreton-in-Marsh

Prices

Premium

Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels

From £1985 per person

Enquire

Enquire Now

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £1215 per person

Enquire

Enquire Now

COTR4

3 days / 4 nights

11 miles per day

Easy

From £550

Average miles : 11 miles per day

Tour code: COTR4

3 Days / 4 Nights (COTR4)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water 11.5 miles / 18.5 km

Day 2 Bourton-on-the-Water to Winchcombe 12 miles / 19 km

Day 3 Cleeve Hill to Leckhampton Hill (overnight Cheltenham) 10 miles / 16 km

Day 4 Winchcombe to Cheltenham 9 miles / 14.5 km

Depart Onward travel from Cheltenham

Prices

Premium

Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels

From £825 per person

Enquire

Enquire Now

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £550 per person

Enquire

Enquire Now

Cotswold Round Accommodation

All of the accommodation that we reserve for you has been personally selected by our expert team to ensure it meets our exacting standards. We regularly review our extensive database.

We will always prioritise accommodation as close to the walking trail as possible. Occasionally, your accommodation may be located a short distance from the trail, or you may need to spend more than one night in the same place, in which case we will provide return transfers.

Travel Information

As an environmentally conscious tour operator, we actively encourage the use of public transport by providing clients with a detailed breakdown of travel options in their information packs. The following information may help with your pre-trip planning.

Getting to & departing from Moreton-in-Marsh

By Air

Nearest International Airports: London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

From London Heathrow, take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington, then board the direct service to Moreton-in-Marsh (total journey time 2 hours 10 minutes).

From London Gatwick, travel by train to Reading before connecting to Moreton-in-Marsh (total journey time 2 hours 50 minutes).

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Moreton-in-Marsh.

Great Western Railway operates frequent direct services from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh (journey time 1 hour 30 minutes). Connections from Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol and Exeter require one change.

By Car

Moreton-in-Marsh lies in the northern Cotswolds, approximately 45 miles south of Birmingham and 80 miles west of London. Parking in the village is limited, but we can provide guidance on parking arrangements when you make an enquiry.

Additional Days

We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the Cotswold Round.

You may wish to plan a rest day or have an additional night at any of the locations along the route which offer activities or sightseeing opportunities – we’ve made some suggestions below. Please request this when you make an enquiry.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Stroll through the “Venice of the Cotswolds,” admiring the picturesque low stone bridges spanning the River Windrush
Visit the charming Model Village, a one-ninth scale replica of the village itself, or explore local history at the Motoring Museum & Toy Collection
Discover Birdland Park and Gardens, home to one of the UK’s largest collections of exotic birds and endangered species

Winchcombe

Tour Sudeley Castle, England’s only private castle with a queen buried within its grounds. Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth wife, spent her final years here following the king’s death
Experience a nostalgic journey on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, operating heritage trains along 28 miles of restored track

Chipping Campden

Explore this exceptionally well-preserved medieval wool town, where honey-coloured limestone buildings line the historic market street
Visit the renowned National Trust gardens at Hidcote Manor, considered among England’s most influential 20th-century gardens

Walking in Painswick on the Cotswold Way - one of the wonderful walks in England's picturesque Cotswolds.

Walking the Cotswolds: A Complete Guide to Routes, Day Walks and Planning Tips

To celebrate the launch of our new Cotswold Round walking holiday, our walking specialists are sharing their top tips for hiking in the Cotswolds. Discover the best long-distance trails, day walks, insider tips, and local highlights to help you make the most of every step.

Our client walking in the North York Moors National Park

How do our Walking Holidays Work?

For more than 20 years, we’ve been weaving together unforgettable walking holidays amidst the enchanting landscapes of the British Isles. Dive deeper into how they work in our comprehensive guide.