England | England: The Cotswolds
Revel in the beauty and quintessential charm of Southwest England.
Trip Highlights:
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Take in the amazing views of a bucolic landscape replete with historic sights.
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Visit Stonehenge, one of the world's most well-known prehistoric monuments.
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Wander through honey-colored villages en route to the region's coziest pubs and B&Bs.
Welcome to the Cotswolds, an area of south-western England which is famous for its gently sloping green hills and ancient, picture-postcard towns and villages. The term originates from Cod, meaning 12th Century Anglo Saxon chieftain/landowner, and Wold, meaning High Land, hence Cod-Wold, or Cotswolds, as it became known. It is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the largest in the country, and its quintessentially English charm predominantly spans the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, while also reaching into parts of Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire.
The Cotswolds is famous for its honey-colored limestone, which was used to construct the villages and lively market towns. The warm, serene color of the aforementioned limestone blends wonderfully with the surrounding greenery of the English countryside – a significant contributing factor to the distinctive beauty of the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds was initially built as a centre for the wool trade in the 13th and 14th Century – it has transcended time beautifully and exists today as one of the most treasured destinations in the UK and indeed the world. Nowhere else can one find such unique and heart-warming preservation on such an extensive scale.
Our tour begins in the elegant northern Cotswold town of Broadway, a wonderful first view of what to expect on this tour. The town couldn’t work any better as a wonderful first viewing of what to expect – charming, honeycomb-colored buildings make up a town seemingly unchanged in centuries, while little boutiques and cafés serving cream teas abound in this delightful town. We end in Bath with with Roman baths and beautiful Royal Crescent being the highlight.
Over the course of the tour, we’ll visit centuries-old castles, quaint English gardens, stately country estates, and historic cities and spa towns brimming with culture. We’ll hike through the rolling green countryside, savor cream teas in tucked-away cafés, explore Neolithic burial mounds and ancient hilltop fortifications, dine in cozy pubs (a true cornerstone of British culture), and stroll cobbled lanes in villages that feel lifted from a Laurie Lee novel or a Wordsworth poem. A highlight is our visit to Stonehenge, one of the world’s most well-known prehistoric monuments. And, of course, we’ll venture off the tourist trail to discover hidden corners only a local guide could reveal.
Trip Itinerary
Travel independently to Broadway. Check into our lovely, classic English hotel. Meet your guides and group at 7:00 pm for an orientation, cocktails and dinner.
Enjoy the first of our lovely ‘Cotswold Circular Walks’. This 6-mile loop walk winds through two of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds, over hilltops, down valleys and through woodlands. We finish with a visit to Snowshill Manor, a National Trust manor house and gardens. Return to our hotel in Broadway.
Distance: 6 miles.
We set out from the charming village of Winchcombe, following both classic and lesser-known stretches of the Cotswold Way. The trail climbs gently to Belas Knap, a Neolithic long barrow perched high on the ridge, offering a glimpse into the region’s mysterious past. From here, we descend through a scenic valley to Sudeley Castle, renowned for its exquisite gardens and as the final resting place of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife. Our journey then continues south to the elegant village of Painswick, affectionately known as the “Queen of the Cotswolds,” where we check into our delightful, boutique hotel.
Distance: 4 miles.
We begin at one of the finest markets in the country—the lively Stroud Farmers’ Market—before setting out on our second circular walk. This 4-mile route winds through some of England’s most cherished beech woodlands, including the serene, bluebell-filled Buckholt Wood in spring. The trail circles Cooper’s Hill, home of the centuries-old Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling competition, and continues on to the Great Witcombe Roman Villa. Return to our hotel in Painswick.
Distance: 4 miles.
Today blends scenic drives with gentle strolls as we explore the rural retreats once favored by British royalty. We begin at the magnificent Westonbirt Arboretum, the National Arboretum and home to one of the country’s most spectacular tree collections. A pause for a classic Sunday lunch at the historic Ragged Cot near Minchinhampton Common offers both charm and a storied past. We finish the day with a well-earned treat from Winstone’s Cotswold Ice Cream before returning to our hotel in Painswick.
Distance: 3 miles
Our day begins with a visit to Highgrove, the elegant home of King Charles III, with time to stroll through its beautifully designed gardens. We continue to the southern edge of the Cotswolds for sweeping views of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath from Beechen Cliff. The day concludes with an unforgettable evening at Stonehenge, where exclusive Stone Circle Access allows us to wander among the ancient stones as the light fades. Tonight, we stay in an elegant, hotel in Bath.
Distance: 2 miles.
Our final day begins with a visit to the Roman Baths, followed by a guided walking tour of Bath. After lunch, we set out on Journey’s End: The Walk into Bath, a route with a true sense of pilgrimage, descending from hilltop and farmland into the city that culminates at Bath Abbey, the southern end of the Cotswold Way. Return to our hotel in Bath.
Distance: 5 miles.
