Hello, My family will be travelling to the Cotswolds to spend the better part of a day from Bath then ending our night in Blenheim. We would like to get some hiking in while driving through. The type of hiking we typically enjoy most is in forested areas where the pathways take some careful footwork, so not a paved walkway, and where the scenery is beautiful. Knowing this which of these 2 hike itineraries would you recommend 1) Chipping Campden to Broad Campden to Blockley to Bourton-on-the-Hill (and then taking a bus back to Chipping Campden) or 2) Stow-on-the-Wold to the Slaughters to Bourton-on-the-Water (and taking the bus back to Stow)?? In addition, could you tell me how long each one way hike would take as well as how long the bus rides back to the starting locations would take? I know you may not know the answers to all my questions but any information would be helpful. Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1526 posts
You can look at the National Trust UK web site to get a look at "walking" under "activities" if you pick a destination like "Chipping Campden" . It will show you several hikes with a photo, distance and time.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2805 posts
Your first option would be around 14 miles, second option would be around 10 miles. You could get a bus from Bourton-on-the-Water back to Stow-on-the-Wold.
Instead of either one you mentioned I would recommend you hiking the Cotswold Way Trail. Start in Chipping Campden and hike to Broadway which is 6 miles. The trail is what you described woods and pathways that takes careful footwork.
Or
Stanton to Winchcombe which is 8 miles. Either of these hikes have some steep ascents and descends. You will see some of the most beautiful views that can only been seen from the Cotswold Way Trail.
We walked the trail (102 miles) a couple years ago. It was great.
Posted by
UK
1015 posts
Well, you certainly won’t have many paved walkways in the Cotswolds and plenty of beautiful scenery. British public footpaths aren’t so much actual “paths” as public rights of way, for example the edge of fields. Be prepared for mud, some careful map-reading and lots of stiles.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
And wear footwear that doesn't care if sheep, bulls or cows have been in the field and on the footpath before you.
Posted by
Kingston, Surrey
239 posts
I'd second the comment about maps. even for a short walk in the countryside it's advisable to have the right OS map with you. It's difficult to get lost on the Cotswold Way itself (it's well signposted), but it is possible and it's quite likely on other paths. The OS map will clearly show you rights of way, and areas where you have freedom of access, and is as essential to a walk in the UK as good boots, waterproofs and a pub near the end of the walk.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5837 posts
...and a pub near the end of the walk.
And it's even better if your route has a pub in the middle of the day.
PS "Hiking" in the UK implies rougher terrain than "walking".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiking
The word hiking is also often used in the UK, along with rambling (a
slightly old-fashioned term), hillwalking, and fell walking (a term
mostly used for hillwalking in northern England).