The South Cotswold Ring Walk

'The South Cotswold Ring' is a unique village-to-village walking tour, which offers walking in some of the least visited parts of the Cotswolds, following a circular route of just over 70 miles/112 kms.

Itinerary

Day 1: Overnight in Regency Cheltenham.

Day 2: Cheltenham to Bourton-on-the-Water (24 kms/15 miles) From Cheltenham climb gently up the Cotswold escarpment to the high wolds and head towards the lovely villages of Naunton and Guiting Power. The trail follows the pretty River Windrush, passing through the site of a 'lost' medieval village, before entering Bourton-on-the-Water with it many attractions.

Day 3:Bourton-on-the-Water to Northleach (17 kms/11 miles) The route passes through Bourton's water park then ascends to the Rissingtons, before descending to Sherborne and then on to the historic village of Northleach with perhaps the finest of all Cotswold wool churches, as well as a fascinating museum devoted to mechanical music.

Day 4:Northleach to Cirencester (22 kms/14 miles) Pass close by Hampnet with its charming church and head across country towards the palatial magnificence of Stowell Park. Arrive at the village of Chedworth with its welcoming pub (and nearby fine Roman villa), before walking to Cirencester, the second town of Roman Britain with its excellent Corinium Museum, market square, and the largest parish church in England.

Day 5:Cirencester to Painswick (21km /13.5 miles) From Cirencester walk to Sapperton, once a centre for William Morris's Arts and Crafts Movement. Follow the remains of the Thames and Severn Canal (one of the great feats of 18th century engineering) and pass through a succession of tranquil villages to Bisley with its handsome church and 'Poor Soul's Light', before journeying through woodland to Painswick, 'Queen of the Cotswolds'.

Day 6:Painswick to Cheltenham (20kms/13 miles) From Painswick walk across Laurie Lee's 'Cider with Rosie' country to Sheepscombe, charmingly scattered along a beautiful valley. Through woodland and across country to Birdlip, joining the Cotswold Way to walk along the Cotswold escarpment with far-reaching views across the city of Gloucester to the Malvern Hills and the Welsh Mountains, before descending into Cheltenham.

Day 7: Departure after breakfast

Practical Information

PRICE:

£870.00 per person (based on 2 sharing) staying in a mixture of Inns & Hotels.

£960.00 per person in upgraded accommodation

A single person supplement is dependent on the accommodation chosen, please ask

ACCOMMODATION:

A selection of carefully chosen Hotels or Inns – all rooms with private bathrooms. Upgrades are possible and it is possible to mix and match the accommodation if you wish – please ask us.

Options:

Optional extension to Burford from Bourton on the Water making this a 7 night holiday.

Bourton on the Water to Burford. (15 kms./9.5 miles)

A comfortable walk from Bourton takes you around a series of lakes, the home of flocks of water birds, and passes through Taynton, whose quarries produced the finest Cotswold stone used in the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and many Oxford colleges. For those who want to spend extra time in the area, there are regular buses between Burford and Oxford.

Burford to Northleach (17kms/10.5 miles)

From Burford walk along the pretty Windrush valley and passing through a succession of charming villages, including Windrush, Sherborne and finally Northleach with perhaps the finest of all Cotswold wool churches, as well as a fascinating museum devoted to mechanical music.

REMEMBER - many of our walks can be shortened by using either public transport or taxis. We can also adapt these routes to suit the time you have available and your walking capabilities.

What To Take

Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack), rucksack/day pack, 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity, insect repellent, sun glasses, sun hat, sun block/cream, compass, torch, first-aid kit

When To Go

Mid-April to mid-September. Accommodation will be difficult to obtain on UK national holidays unless booked well in advance (and may require an alteration to the programme).

GETTING THERE:

The nearest airports are London (Heathrow), Birmingham and Bristol.

Rail: Cheltenham is served by frequent trains, with some direct trains to London (Paddington), Birmingham and also Bristol.

Included

6 nights B and B, luggage transportation each walking day, route notes and maps, local back-up

NOT INCLUDED:

Lunches, dinners, drinks, insurance, anything not mentioned in programme.

Insurance

We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason.

Reviews

Mrs C.S, USA

“Hello Christopher,

We all want to thank you for the wonderful experience of our Cotswold walks!! The arrangements for our overnight stays were all super. We held an informal “vote” on the favorite one and found all were favorites but in various categories. No one can top Karen in Cheltenham for warmth, helpfulness and comfort. She was the perfect first hostess. Historically, staying in Wesley House was a treat. It also got top honors for serving oatmeal with Drambuie for breakfast! Hadley House offered excellent accommodations and an elegant breakfast. We were in two different B&B’s in Moreton-on-Marsh, so we couldn’t vote there but both places were very nice. But the best all-around winner has to go to Cherry Trees in Chipping Campden; outstanding comfort, great breakfast, and warm and friendly hosts. The top winner for restaurants was a Greek restaurant in Chipping Campden.

There were lively conversations on which way was the ‘right’ way on some of the walking directions, but that created a lot of fun and joking among us. The only thing we wished for was some indication of when we were at half-way or 3/4 of the distance while on each segment. Because we stopped to take pictures, admire the views or have a snack, the amount of time from when we departed from the B&B each day was of no help. So…that’s our only suggestion….just a general or approximate indication between walking segments would have been good. The maps helped, but topography sometimes affected travel times.

We have already started recommending your services to anyone who seems interested in our trip. You may have already received an inquiry. Even though we didn’t need to call you, it was a great comfort to know that you had given us your cell and we could trust you to come to our aid. You were very patient with all my questions in working out the details before the trip. I, especially, am grateful to you.

A word about the people we met, both locals and fellow travellers……Everyone was wonderful, helpful, cheerful….not a single grumpy or disinterested person. What a wonderful place the Cotswolds are!!

Our best to Ann….Our cheers and gratitude to you. We had a wonderful, wonderful time..” ___________________________________________________________________

Mr and Mrs S, USA

“Our cheers and gratitude to you. We had a wonderful, wonderful time…” ___________________________________________________________________