Cotswolds hike options

We walked (I have a hard time with thinking of walking thru cow pastures as a hike) from Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water (it’s downhill) then took the bus back to Stow. Bourton was very crowded. The Information office in Stow had maps and people to answer questions/give advice so I’m glad we stopped by there first. I highly recommend you stop in the TI in CC if your base is there. And using the bus for this area was very easy. Have a great time and watch out for the cow pies!

just mentioning, as did margie, that Stow on the Wold is distinctly uphill from every other nearby town.

Broadway is too.

Hidcote is significantly uphill from Chipping Campden, and while close to Kiftsgate is somewhat uphill from Kiftsgate.

Hi Margie, thanks for your reply. Did you enjoy that particular walk/hike? It’s interesting you don’t think of using the term as I do. I think of a hike as anything centered in a natural area with a bit of distance. I use the word walk more if I am in my neighborhood, or on a paved path, etc. I got curious to see if there is any difference. Here’s a copy/ paste from Webster’s Dictionary.

hike
2 of 2
noun
1
: a long walk especially for pleasure or exercise

What term is used more in the UK? We’ll be sure to stop by the TI booth in CC. Thanks for the feedback!

Nigel, are there any particular walks that you would suggest from CC?

We did the walk from Bourton on the Water to Stow on the Wold via the Slaughters a few years ago and enjoyed it. It's easy to then get back on the bus.

Regarding terms, I don't think the word hike is used very often here, mostly we talk about long distance walking.

Yes, Mustlovedogs, we really enjoyed it. We’ve done it twice now, once before Covid when we also walked back to Stow and managed to miss a turn or something but still made it back. And then a couple of years ago with the grandkids, the 6 year old got tired thus the bus ride back instead of the uphill trek. And I grew up with dairy farmer for a grandfather so I guess walking thru cow pastures doesn’t feel quite the same to me as hiking in the Sierra’s or Cascades, just my thing. 😆 Have a great trip!

Well to further confuse it, in the UK one of the main walking clubs is called the Ramblers Association.

I would use the terms walk and hike pretty interchangeably and at least in my circles people do a lot of hiking in the English Lake District.
I'm not sure if you've been to the Lake District, but I suppose if you walk the railway path from Threlkeld to Keswick, or around Buttermere that is probably a walk. But start adding any height then it is probably a hike.
Maybe a UK definition is, that if you should be wearing boots it's a hike, if it can be done in normal shoes it's a walk.

I've just been looking at the Washington Trails Association (WA state, not DC) website and they call your kind of walk a hike- even what I would personally see more as modest walks they term hikes- such as Peoh Point 3.5 miles round trip and 50 foot elevation gain is a hike to the WTA.

Well, the first time we did this trail before Covid, it was lightly raining and we were advised to wear our hiking boots. I was in mud up to my ankles so I guess I stand corrected and it should be referred to as a hike 😆…….. I did wear my sneakers last time because it was quite dry.

Such good info about the need for hill climbing on the return if we decide for that walk. I would imagine if it isn’t dry and you’re dealing with muddy conditions, that could be very tiring! I’m still trying to pick out which ones we are going to do. We have three days penciled in for exploring different routes. I’m also glad it’s easy to get back by bus. I was looking at The Robin website and that offers another really good option; you can book out two weeks in advance.

I really like “ramblers”. That gives an adventurous feel to it! And this will be an adventure! Cow pies included I am sure!

I don't walk the Cotswolds anymore - too hilly for me. I use my car. When I was a boy I used to walk up Cleeve Hill from my uncle's pub in Prestbury, Cheltenham - where I lived - to walk the dog, an extremely enthusiastic Dalmation, Cleeve Hill was perfect to run off his energy 3 times a day.

I also would walk around the extremely hilly golf course at the top of Cleeve Hill with my father and uncle. Had to watch out for the sheep on the course. And the dips where anything could be out of sight from the tee.

When my parents moved to Lower Swell I often walked UP UP UP into Stow and back from there.

But other than walking in the town of Chipping Campden I haven't walked to or from the town. I used to walk around when my car was being serviced off Sheep Street.

A lovely walk a little further away is from Broadway to the Broadway Tower. Great views. Broadway Tower is a very historic folly, by Capability Brown

I think people in the UK would use the word hike only for a very long walk involving maps, tricky terrain and backpacks full of sandwiches. And even then walk is more common. Anything under 10 miles would definitely only be a walk.

We find it strange to hear Americans talk about going on a hike which is just a short walk around a well marked path.

I may check into that Broadway to Broadway Tower walk if the views are nice, Nigel. It’s nice that it is circular. I saw it listed in one of the articles I read about good Cotswolds walks to try. We are going to Broadway to catch the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway one of our days. Maybe we could do it after we return from the train ride?