Walks in the Cotswolds
My selection of classic walks in the Cotswolds, ranging from easy family strolls to challenging long hikes.
The Cotswolds have long been regarded as perfect walking country with their wonderful series of rolling hills set amidst lush green countryside. The epitome of rural England with exquisite villages built of the local golden stone, the Cotswolds are simply beautiful. Beside the hills and brilliant open countryside there are many wooded valleys, sparkling brooks, mature rivers, parks and also town and village trails to follow. Opportunites to walk are therefore magnificent from family strolls to day walks and for the more adventurous the wonderful Cotswold Way than runs the full length of the Cotswolds from Chipping Campden to Bath. Enjoy my Cotswolds walks, all are free to download so you can enjoy them as much as I do.
Interactive map of the walks| Walk | Miles | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hill and Brockworth Wood | 2.1 | Cooper's Hill is most famed as the location for a popular cheese rolling event. The surrounding woodland is gorgeous. |
| Lineover Wood and Ravensgate Hill | 3.4 | A walk with a superb range of woodland flowers in Lineout Wood followed by truly amazing views from Ravensgate Hill. |
| Haresfield Hill and Cliff Wood | 3.9 | Haresfield Hill is perfect to see the extensive views of the west country and Severn Estuary. Cliff Wood is delightful. |
| Dursley and Cam Long Down | 4.0 | The views from Cam Long Down and Peaked Down are superb in this lovely four mile walk from Dursley. |
| Stanton and Stanway | 4.6 | This walk begins in the village of Stanton, much used as a set in TV and cinema period dramas. Altogether a glorious walk. |
| Cleeve Hill | 4.6 | A walk on Cleeve Hill, the highest point on the Cotswold Hills with stunning views of the Vale of Evesham. |
| Little Sodbury, Old Sodbury and Horton | 4.7 | A lovely easy walk to three well kept and quiet villages. There is also a hillfort to explore on this nice ramble. |
| Painswick and Painswick Beacon | 4.7 | Painswick is known as the queen of the Cotswolds, an apt title. The walk starts here and visits an Iron Age hillfort. |
| Uley, Nympsfield and Frocester Hill | 4.8 | This walk is full of interest for fans of neolithlic antiquaries. It also takes us to Frocester Hill, scene of wide ranging views. |
| Stroud and Standish Wood | 5.0 | A walk from Westrip on the edge of Stroud up to Haresfield Hill and returning by delightful Standish Wood. |
| Broadway Tower Country Park | 5.2 | A lovely walk of just over five miles from Broadway village to a country park with red deer to spot and to a picnic area. |
| Upton Cheyney and Lansdown Hill | 5.4 | A walk to fantastic views of Bristol from Hanging Hill and Bath from Lansdown Hill. Also visits North Stoke. |
| Chipping Campden and Dovers Hill | 6.3 | A nice circular walk from the golden stone village of Chipping Campden to Dover's Hill, a place of unusual sporting history. |
| Stinchcombe Hill and North Nibley | 7.3 | A superb walk from Dursley to Stinchcombe Hill, North Nibley and the Tyndale Monument. Excellent views throughout. |
| Bourton-on-the-Water, Naunton, Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter | 11.0 | The most popular walk in the north-east Cotswolds. One of marvellous countryside and stunning villages. |
Feedback and Suggestions:
I am always pleased to received feedback on the structure and content of the website. I also welcome suggestions on how I can improve the website which may include new areas to cover, new walks or route alterations to existing walks. To contact me with feedback and/ or suggestions please complete the Walking Englishman Feedback Form. Thank you.
(Note: Walking without proper preparation can be dangerous. Information and downloads on this website are provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check the material and use accordingly. Postscript: My walk reports are not route guides and should not be treated as such. They are written with personal reflections of my walks)
