While the characteristic Welsh humility and isolation may have caused the region to escape your notice, Wales is an exceptional destination to visit. The region is often quite remote, escapes... read more →
Hiking in England conjures up memories of abandoned seaside castles, rolling fields filled with lambs, and clusters of thatch-roofed houses. Nothing about the English countryside could be more charming.
While the historic pathways that follow the Cornish coast of Cornwall and wind through the Cotswolds pass through innumerable historic locations including Roman-era Christian churches, it is often the little things that become treasured memories of England: lanes of huge oak trees, tea in a local bakery, or a covered bridge over a forest stream. Whatever the image, these memories all bring with them a sense of peace unique to the English countryside.
Ryder-Walker features two trips in England – the Cornish Coastal Path in Cornwall and The Cotswolds. We also offer a self-guided variation of the Cotswold Way. Both of these hiking routes follow historic public pathways that have been protected and enshrined in English law since the 1600s.
Read More
Wherever you are hiking in England there is a bounty of interesting and historic sights to enjoy on your journey. Strolling past a famous witches hut, a haunted hotel, and a Roman bridge isn’t an odd afternoon at all in the Cotswolds. Visiting a castle or a tin mine in Cornwall is always an adventure
Cornwall is the most southwesterly county in Great Britten and the Cornish Coastal Path follows the dramatic Atlantic coastline, taking you to wave-battered cliffsides and seaside fishing villages. The Cotswolds trail represents a fairy tale route that winds through the famous Cotswold Hills, considered by many to be the most beautiful and charming section of England..
Meanwhile, the English countryside is dotted with a plethora of charming local farms, where you can meet entire packs of lambs which play in large open pastures. From these local farms comes an excellent farm-to-table cuisine that balks the English tradition of less exciting cuisine, offering delicious cuts of meat, pies, locally baked bread, and locally sourced fruits and vegetables. The coastline offers delicious seafood, locally sourced produce and wonderful cheeses, pastries and their famous cream tea.
The history on display in England is second to none. The end of the Cotswold Way, for instance, is in the historic city of Bath. Bath is famous for its architectural innovation of the curving apartment block, which maps the city into a maze of stunning historic apartments that twist around each other rarely meeting at right angles. In the city’s center are the Roman baths themselves, complete with a museum and a nearby teahouse.
If you are looking for a seaside adventure, countryside ramble or a historic trek, England is an excellent option. The local bed and breakfasts are the most charming in the world, contrasted with royal hotels that have been in operation for hundreds of years. The hiking in the Cotswolds meanders between forested hillsides and farmland, while the countryside of Cornwall crashes into the rocky English beaches and precipitous coastline.
Welcome to Cornwall, Great Britain’s most south-westerly county. Surrounded by the lashings of The Atlantic Ocean and the warming currents of The Gulf Stream, this peninsula boasts over 400 miles of dramatic cliff-edged coastline complete with palm trees, cute tucked away fishing villages, windswept pristine beaches, and water so turquoise you might mistake it for The Caribbean. Cornwall is also...
View trip detailsPrice
$6990*
Welcome to the Cotswolds, an area of southwestern England which is famous for its gently sloping green hills and ancient, picturesque towns and villages. The derivation of the term Cotswolds is most commonly understood to be mean “sheep enclosure in high rolling hills” although the Oxford dictionary of British place names states that it is derived from the 12th century...
View trip detailsPrice
$7100*
Quintessential England is, perhaps, the best way to describe the Cotswolds of west-central England. Peaceful villages welcome travelers with warm stone cottages and intimate B&Bs. Winding country lanes, cobblestoned and lined with dry-stone walls guide explorers through a tapestry of quiet tearooms and cozy pubs. Stately hedgerows divide a fanciful realm of rolling hillsides and mysterious woods. It is not...
View trip detailsPrice
$3090*
Hear It From Our Guests
“The best part was hiking in the beautiful English countryside, seeing the wildflowers, trees, lambs and sheep. It was really fun to see the small villages, the churches, and to eat the delicious food at the restaurants. We also really enjoyed the other people on the trip. Rogan really made the trip unique because he showed us the places that were special to him growing up. He really knew the English history, and we learned a lot as we toured. Eating ice cream amidst the hail storm was fun! I really liked England at the end of the trip, and I want to go back!” (Cotswolds)
“We absolutely loved the trail, the English Countryside, the peacefulness and lack of tourists. The trail was very well managed and easily navigable with the help of your directions.” (Cotswolds self-guided)
Need Some Help Deciding? Choose Your Hiking Style!
Recent Posts
Ten Delicious Holiday Cookie Recipes from Across Europe With the holidays upon us, it’s the perfect time to share some of our favorite holiday cookie recipes from across Europe. Every... read more →
Photos from the Trail Photos are streaming in from guests and guides as Ryder-Walker treks are in full stride this summer. From the Alps in Europe to the Fjords of... read more →
Your Perfect Women's Hiking Trip All of Ryder-Walker’s treks are accessible and enjoyable regardless of gender, whether avid hikers or people just breaking into the sport! Still, some hikes may... read more →
Editor's Note: Rogan O’Herlihy guides our England and Scotland hiking tours. He is a native of the famed Cotswolds region in England, and his passion for the area is contagious.... read more →
Cotswolds Hiking What are the hikes like on our Cotswolds Way hiking trip? How long are the days? How high are the hills? To answer these questions, let’s define what... read more →
