Packing for The Cotswold Way

I wouldn't carry something I "might want."
How about some "elevated" flip flops that would serve the dual purpose of giving your feet a break in the evening? Sarah Murdoch recommends the Teva mush wedge, but it also comes in a flat: https://www.amazon.com/Teva-Womens-Olowahu-Flip-Flop-Black/dp/B0017LT9U8/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2KA9H01KUQ5O9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RX45ygUXPDRRLfXHS6SLkx3JaSLTYtsltACbIYDOwqYpQBI5AE7YmPr5X6UlBzUhz5VC0Z5OkiBTLZ4L13RP95Uno6YzyU5JvWS1qAhEVKYKrFZokDiavFxnNIKh8XeMoQfiJ8P8jB2-KcxPt270eALWIijhg85USJgsAnVI3348OBgE-ytXu9Y-DyP6Z0vdOgLCdACvNvBMJ13CRNL039UhSCfSCdtJRw6dCcbdYAH2QUsfDrz_XsqUd3WgCb5xRMBoPzqRn-C6caZfpKtfnjThDTZwfqC8Zb4ODfjB8Bs._W63QfLNjIBN5tplZKaMjefWuMYOcy1UhvDhBYNR7no&dib_tag=se&keywords=teva+mush&qid=1752881533&sprefix=teva+mush%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-4
Speaking of evenings, it might be nice to shower and slip into a lightweight travel-friendly LBD (always a topic of discussion on the Forum) after your long day of walking. Add an oversized tissue-weight scarf, and you can dress it up for tea.

I brought a pair of Allbirds Tree Breezers for "dress-up" shoes when we visited London and also walked the Cotswold Way in 2023. Personally I can walk a couple miles in them if needed since they offer more support/structure than a foldable flat, but they're still lightweight and take up very little room. They double as my hotel room slippers.

We used 8 different inns/B&Bs on our Cotswold Way trip, and I'm afraid they varied from having no toiletries whatsoever, to having quite a selection of items. I have a lot of fragrance allergies, so I pretty much use my own stuff no matter what's provided. If you've already booked your nights, and the places have websites, you can check the pictures of the bathrooms to see what's available, or the website might list amenities. Or you could email and just ask.

We used a baggage service (we're over 20 years older than you--our joke was that the 4 of us had over 260 years of walking experience between us), but I try to keep my bags light since I'm carrying them on planes, trains, and everywhere else. One thing I did was choose a dark pair of hiking trousers without a bunch of obvious pockets and zippers on them. That way I could wear them to a restaurant and with a nicer top they "read" as regular trousers. My dress-up top was a Quince washable stretch silk with cap sleeves, similar to the silk t-shirt they offer now. Lightweight and takes up very little space. We took rain jackets, but skipped rain trousers. Our hiking trousers dried quickly and in July it was on and off with the rain gear all day long. Bad enough with the jackets and caps without adding in bottoms.

I loved the Cotswolds! We walked a portion of the trail, but I definitely want to go back to do more! I carried a pair of Sketchers (SN22263) that were perfect for dressing up (wear with a skirt or dress) or down (jeans). I have a Travel Dress in Black that is very light material (bought in online at a "Travel" store called Magellan's - MB7207) with a small, light, multi-colored silk scarf. I also used Ecco walking shoes, not hiking boots. Got mine in black leather and you can wear them walking the trail, or with a pair of black pants to go to dinner (Costco has some nice, stretchy dress pants)

Regarding the toiletries, most B&B's have them in the bathrooms, they even provide hair blowdryers. Just remember to bring a Norwex facecloth (they don't provide those). In the morning, wet the facecloth, put it in a ziplock bag and put it where it's easy to get to in your pack...you will find you are needing a face/neck swipe multiple times during the walk. Bring only 3 pairs of underwear - 1 to wear, 1 to wash, 1 to have, in case. Bring soap and/or laundry sheets...you can get the small travel size ones for washing clothing and yourself, in case there is no toiletries (no weight at all with these). I always use the toothpaste chews when I travel, light and always are available to freshen your mouth when needed, along with a folding toothbrush. No need for the electric ones,,,this is a vacation, remember. Keep it simple!

Just remember, you are not going to a third-world country, so you can always buy what you need and leave it there when you leave.
Bring a small map of the Cotswolds, even one that has the trail on it...there are hundreds of smaller trails that meld into the Cotswold Way and the only way to know if you are still on the trail you want to be on, is the symbols that are on trail posts along the path.We got lost twice, but we found the best things ever by going off the trail and coming across and ancient Celtic burial mound. The next day we also made a wrong turn, and ended up at an old stone mill house on a small creek with the wheel still in the water and turning...it was like going back in time, but so peaceful, so we stopped and had our lunch we brought with us. Definitely, stop at the Abbey ruins when you come across them...and don't forget to stop at Sudley Castle in Winchcombe, so worth the stop on the trail.

Now the food...I ordered Bangers and Mash and a Shandy with Bitters every pub we stopped at and each place had their own recipes of how it is made...loved every one of them! If you want the fancy tea party, wait and get it in Bath. Just be a regular person in the Cotswolds and order tea and scones with clotted cream, and jam. Best way to have a 4:00 break!

I hope this covers everything for you...as you can tell, I had a wonderful trip there and will definitely be going back. Just relax, keep it simple, enjoy life as a real Englishman and don't go in the wrong side of a pub (Men, only)...you will get THE LOOK! Smile and enjoy your trip!

Thank you all so much for the recommendations! I’m worried that I won’t get use out of a dress given that the internet has told me September highs are typically in the mid-60s F. However, I will think more on this, as I do have a couple good ones and can see how one would be useful.

I think I will take only the toiletries that I can’t live without since, as one of you pointed out, it’s not the 3rd world.
Fortunately, this isn’t my first trip living out of a backpack in Europe (though this is my first having to carry it everywhere with me). So I have plenty of wool tees, panties and bras that should continue to serve well. I usually take small Woolite packets and will be plan to do the same for this trip. Tablet toothpaste is a good idea!
Thanks also for the tip on the men’s-only side of the pub— I imagine we’ll be having many meals in them and don’t want to violate the local customs if I can help it!

I haven't done the Cotswold Way, but I did do the Cost to Coast trail carrying my own pack (35L). I second the suggestion made earlier to consider a pair of flip flops or hiking sandals as your second pair of shoes. I did this for C2C and they felt so good to put on in the evenings and my test days. A pair that you can carry on the outside of your bag no matter the weather will make packing easier (I carried mine in one of the side mesh pockets on my bag).

I also strongly support having a light weight, packable evening outfit. I would wear this every night to dinner. Didn't worry about washing it because it was only on me for a couple hours at most, but after a long dusty, muddy, mucky day on the trail it made me feel human again.

When I did the C2C for a second time a few years ago, the trip included several days at the end in London. I mostly re-wore my hiking clothes (washed of course). Companies like Eddie Bauer have several bottoms that can look appropriate on both the trail and town. Tops are a bit trickier to escape the "trail" look, but they are out there!

Have a great hike!

There's no men-only sides of pubs.

There might be areas where the local lads congregate, but you're still allowed to go in there, you might even make a new friend....

the days of the Public Bar (where the men ordered) and the Lounge (for ladies. older men and children) like the pub where I grew up 60 some years ago are long gone. Everybody in together now. Except of course the facilities which are often separate but sometimes unisex with floor to ceiling doors.

The pub mentioned above, still exists in a small Cotswold village near Cheltenham had the toilets outside in a shed near the barrel store, one very large facility for the men and a very small single toilet cupboard for the somewhat smaller numbers of ladies.

You probably will get looked at when you walk into the bar if it’s full of locals but it’s fine to stay and chat. It’s a social space and often people are happy to talk to anyone who comes in. Start by asking what you should drink.

Nigel, if my memory serves me well, the lounge had slightly plusher furniture and the same beer cost a penny or two more per pint than the public side.

What always made me smile. In the public bar at a local guys would go in jeans and shirts during the week but wear trousers, shirts and ties on a Saturday night.

As I’ve noted more than once on the Forum I’m A huge fan of the Keen brand of shoes.

For days out walking I wear the low cut Targhee boots. Then I change into the Kaci slip ons which I wear out to dinner and theatre.

Keens are pricey, comfortable and durable. On a personal note they also cured my plantar fasciitis.

The shoes have been to San Francisco, London, Havana, Miami, Santa Fe, Lake Tahoe, and Vegas. Wear the Targhee in LA for jaunts up the Charlie Turner trail up to the Tom LaBonge Panorama in Griffith Park.

Really how much are you saving over 8 days on your hike instead of using a luggage service?

I’m not really doing it to save money, mostly I was doing go have one fewer thing I needed to arrange for the trip.

Update: I’ve thought about it more and decided to book the baggage service. We have a few pretty long days, and I think we’ll be better off with just day packs. Gives us a little more flexibility packing as well. Thanks everyone for the input!

Using a luggage service was nice, not only for not lugging bags all day, but also for not needing to find room for a carryon-sized bag when we stopped for lunch. The only "downside" was needing to have our bags in the pickup area at a certain time in the morning. We used Sherpa Van, but there seem to be a number of services out there. We saw a lot of different tags when we left our bags each morning. I'm not sure what other travels you're planning on this trip, but our British friends had one larger bag between them which saved them money since this service charged by the bag. (Weight limit with them was an 18 kg bag)

I saw your post (after a busy couple of days in my non-travel life) with delight. I planned my own hiking trip in the Cotswolds, and took that trip in mid May. My first day of hiking was not on the Cotswolds Way, then I joined it after that.

I did this walk at the end of three weeks in Europe, so I had to use a luggage transport service, though even then, my luggage wasn't huge, 23". I was very happy with the service. Each day, I left my bag downstairs, appropriately tagged. I had a Android Tile (I'm an Android user) and a Apple Tag in my bag, which gave me peace of mind. I didn't constantly check, but my bag was picked up after 11 am and already beat me to my day's destination.

If you're active, experienced hikers, the walking won't be difficult, but I'm predicting you will LOVE it. I live in the Rockies, and hike a lot here. I was looking forward to a different experience than my usual weekend hiking, and I got that! Hiking from cute village to cuter village, being able to visit historic castles, monuments, burial mounds, Victorian homes. I was tickled to be walking through fields (carefully latching each gate), past sheep, cows, goats, and one (though I never saw it) bull. I was so tickled to actually climb over several stiles, too!

Each day, I had a picnic lunch, though I think if I had wanted, I could have had lunch at a cafe every day. But i preferred to buy local bread, cheese, cheese and for a couple of days, cut up slices of cucumber from a town's Market day. One day I had a pie (called a pasty when I'm in Detroit, my home city), another day a sausage roll. Wanted to eat local! I decided to make sure that I stopped for a drink (for me, coffee-based) at every town or village or cafe that I could, and I had fun doing that. That's certainly not an option where I usually hike!

The people at every inn that I stayed at were very nice and helpful, as were the people at the restaurants that I ate at, or pubs that I stopped at for a drink. Sometimes I was seated in the pub side for dinner, sometimes the restaurant side, and I enjoyed both.

Have a wonderful trip!

Lexma,
Thank you so much for that lovely reply. We have a couple pretty long days planned (one 16m and one 17m, back-to-back), but we’re doing some practice hikes beforehand to just get used to the mileage. I’m hoping our general fitness and the lesser elevation changes vs what we are used to hiking in the PNW will help as well.

I appreciate the tip on the AirTags— my husband ordered them as soon as I mentioned it. The cost for the transfers was $141 total, so very reasonable, and the AirTags will give us extra peace of mind. I’m using CarryaBag, as it was the site linked via the National Trails website, but I’m sure there are several good ones, as you mentioned. Given the length of our days and just generally being morning people, I don’t think we’ll have a problem with the 9am strict pick-up time.
My husband and I are not drinkers, so it’s nice to know we can get a coffee pretty much everywhere and still have a cultural experience.
Thank you again to everyone who has been so helpful!

I used the CarryABag service.

I'm an early-morning person as well, but left a bit later several days, as there were sites I wanted to visit that were close by and didn't open until 10 (for example, Sudeley Castle). My days were (intentionally) shorter than you are planning, because I wanted time to visit the villages and other things, but I am SURE that your days won't be too long for you.

Enjoy! I'm already thinking I will do another walking trip next Spring!

You will love this trip. We did the hike from Chipping Campden to Bath and it was a wonderful experience. We actually booked through https://www.contours.co.uk/ which both booked our lodgings and handled transport of our bags from place to place. We were happy with all the places they arranged for us - sometimes an inn, sometimes a B&B. They made the process seamless so all we had to do was worry about climbing the current day's escarpment. :)

We hiked the full Cotswold Way in 2022 for my 60th birthday. You will love it! On your shoe question, I agree that you will want non-hiking clothes and shoes for dinners along the way/touring in Bath, and that your second pair should be comfortable and multi-use. Some shoe options that are lightweight and easily packed are Rothy's, Vivaia, All Birds Tree Breezers or Sketchers. In 2022, I ended up bringing a cute lightweight pair of sneakers as my second pair and those were fine. Pick what fits your feet best.

We brought our own shampoo and conditioner and used the B&B soap/body wash. Some also had other toiletries but others didn't. I also brought a small microfiber washcloth as most didn't have that. Most but not all had hair dryers.

For your 3rd question, you should be able to keep your hiking pack pretty light other than the usual items (rain jacket, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, water). There are limited bathrooms in some sections, especially the Southern portion, so you may want to bring items for that. If the forecast is cold and rainy, you could pack rain pants too but otherwise shouldn't need them. We had no trouble following the trail markers and also used an app where we could download the trail map offline.

It's a great trail. Beautiful views, lots of rolling hills, and stable ground to walk on. Have a wonderful trip!