Cotswold Way Short Break
Sample the Cotswold Way on a short self-guided walking holiday: the perfect weekend getaway. Accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included.
Cotswold Way Short Break
https://www.contours.co.uk/cotswold-way-short-break
A magnificent trail showcasing the world-famous Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
From £500 per person
The Cotswold Way walk runs along the western edge of the Cotswold Hills from the old wool town of Chipping Campden to the historic city of Bath, showcasing varied terrain and unforgettable views. Along the way, the walking holiday encounters tranquil woodlands and sheltered valleys dotted with welcoming towns, villages and hamlets.
Each settlement boasts intriguing insights into the region’s fascinating past, while the surrounding landscapes also feature a wealth of historical landmarks such as hill forts, castles and ancient battle sites. The Cotswold Way is an iconic trail filled with everything a walker could wish for from this magical realm.
Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.
From £500 per person
This short break covers the central section of the Cotswold Way from Dowdeswell to King’s Stanley in three walking days. The walk meanders through quiet woodland, open meadows and along the edge of the escarpment, offering fabulous, far-reaching views.
Along with the wonderful scenery, places of note include Crickley Hill Country Park, with its fascinating archaeological site; Painswick and its historic church; and the old town of King’s Stanley, where this walk comes to its conclusion.
Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
---|---|---|---|---|
COTWSB | From Dowdeswell(T) to King's Stanley(L) | 3 days walking | £500 |
Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
---|---|---|---|---|
COTWSB | From Dowdeswell(T) to King's Stanley(L) | 3 days walking | £500 |
Kindly note that this trail is very popular, if you have flexibility with your start date, please advise this when booking. Please do not make any travel plans until we have double checked and confirmed availability for your booking.
Travel to Dowdeswell(T) where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Dowdeswell(T) to Birdlip(L). 9.5 miles (15km) / 1621 ft (494 m) ascent
Birdlip(L) to Painswick. 7 miles (11.5km) / 781 ft (238 m) ascent
Painswick to King's Stanley(L). 9.5 miles (15.5km) / 1027 ft (313 m) ascent
Depart from King's Stanley(L) after breakfast
This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.
Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.
The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.
Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.
Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
Wandering through the landscapes of the Cotswolds and enjoying the tranquillity of the English countryside.
Visiting Cooper’s Hill; world-renowned as the site of the annual Cheese Rolling event.
Admiring the white stone buildings and insightful history of the market town of Painswick.
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:
The most convenient major city and international airports are London Heathrow, Bristol and Birmingham.
The nearest rail station to the start of the trail (Dowdeswell) is at Cheltenham Spa (about 5 miles away). The nearest rail stations to the end of the trail (Kings Stanley) are either Stonehouse (about 2 miles away) or Stroud (about 4 miles away).
There is a bus service from Cheltenham Spa to Dowdeswell (sometimes 2 buses), but a taxi would be much quicker. There are bus services from King's Stanley to Stonehouse or Stroud, but again, a taxi would be much quicker.
Trains run from London Paddington station to Cheltenham Spa. From there a bus/taxi will be required to Dowdeswell.
The easiest way to return to the start of the trail is to take a taxi from King's Stanley to Dowdeswell.
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites: