Looking for suggestion(s) for a pub walk in and around Cotswolds. Prefer not over 5 miles as my girlfriends and I are trying to squeeze a ton of English Countryside activities into 3.5 days. Would love to incorporate Upper and Lower Slaughters, if possible but open to other ideas. We are basing out of Bath for the 3 nights. Also, what attire and/or things do you suggest we bring for the walk other than coat and wellies?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33998 posts
why do you need a coat on a walk? What month are you going?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33998 posts
take an OS map
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33998 posts
are you going off the trail? I've never walked or hiked in wellies - too klunky. Decent waterproof shoes will do it.
take a hat. Keeps off water and sun
Posted by
OP
Portland, OR
3 posts
We are going at the end of this week and the forecast is looking chilly and wet.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33998 posts
Oh too bad - I know that the heat of this weekend will dissipate a little into next week, but I haven't seen a forecast beyond then.
It is April but we are well above average this year.
I'm on the 20th of April sitting in my garden in shorts and a t-shirt at 6 o'clock in the evening and my Chromecast tells me it is still 22 degrees out!
I hope your forecast is wrong...
Posted by
8325 posts
We stayed in Chipping Campden for six nights and used it as a base. We loved the Cotswolds.
We stayed in the Volunteer Inn, which had the best pub in town and a great Indian restaurant (separate). There were only about three pubs in that city.
Not sure how many towns you will visit going about 5 miles. There are several villages in the Cotswolds, but separated by miles.
I suggest basing in the Cotswolds. Bath is a great place to see for a couple of days, we stayed at the Brooks Guesthouse and had the very best fish and chips ever at a restaurant called the Scallop Shell.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33998 posts
will you have 2 cars so you can put one at the end and then drive to the start, or do you need a circle of 3.5 miles?
Posted by
Yorkshire
1344 posts
Hi OR Traveler -
Check out this article from the Daily Telegraph:
Some of the walks may be a little longer than you would like but the area is relatively easy walking so shouldn’t be too strenuous. I also echo the recommendation not to walk in wellies. Lightweight mid hiking boots or approach shoes should do the trick. Don’t forget a waterproof jacket even if the weather looks good when setting out. As has been said before in this forum, after that it’s layers, layers, layers!
Back up the Telegraph article (or any other walk instructions) with the relevant OS map or Yellow Publications OS based maps - they do pocket sized ones of certain areas, maybe the Cotswolds too, I’ve picked up several local based ones here in the north of England and they are a sight easier to use en route as they aren’t the grand size of the full OS map - assuming you can read one (they’re not that difficult to get the hang of and are invaluable imho).
Have a great trip!
Ian
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33998 posts
Now I see that you might get a little wet - agree with a waterproof top and layers, I still wouldn't wear wellies unless you're tramping through fields or want to walk through the Lower Slaughter ford - I don't recommend it as the water is often deeper than it looks and quite fast flowing.
I still haven't seen if OR Traveler wants a loop or a two car straight line.
Posted by
OP
Portland, OR
3 posts
Sorry for the delay! Been busy with Easter and getting ready to leave on Wednesday!
We will only be in 1 car. Short trip - arrive Thursday morning, head out to Bath. Back into London on Sunday evening.
Thursday we are hitting Windsor Castle on way out of town. Then exploring Bath the rest of the day.
Friday morning we have sunrise visit at Stonehenge. Thought is to hit some of the southern portions of Cotwswolds (Bibury, Leckhampton, Cranham, Chippenham, Lacock). Afternoon tea in one of those spots.
Saturday drive further north into Cotswolds and hit Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, The Slaughers, Chipping Campden, etc. Idea would be to try and find a nice pub walk this day.
Sunday we are trying to hit Blenheim Palace and Hampton Court as we travel into the city.
Whew! Lots to get in but it will be fun. Oh and forgive me if my geography is off on any of these places!
Posted by
Hampshire, UK
407 posts
There is an smart phone app called pub walks which I have found useful. It gives circular walks from pubs.
Looking now there are none in the immediate vicinity of the Slaughters, but there are walks that start in:
Chipping Norton (from the Chequers Inn - two routes, one of 2 hours, one of 2.5 hours)
Woodstock (the Woodstock Arms, 2.5 hours)
Southrop (The Swan, 1 hour)
Coln St Aldwyns (The New Inn, 1.5 hours)
Broadway (The Crown and Trumpet, 2.5 hours, or alternate 1 hour route)
Stanton (The Mount inn - 1.5 hours)
There are several others near Stroud and Bath as well