The Way
Prepare your journey with practical FAQs, weather guidance, and route planning advice.
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Explore
Cotswold Way
The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile National Trail along the western edge of the Cotswold Hills, from the market town of Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire to the city of Bath in Somerset. The route climbs onto open escarpment, drops into sheltered combes, and threads through some of England's best-known stone-built villages - often with long views across the Severn Vale and beyond.
Stages
Plan daily sections and pacing for walking the trail from Chipping Campden to Bath.
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Activities
Explore walking, cycling and horse-riding opportunities along the Cotswold escarpment.
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Accommodation
Discover accommodation including B&Bs, inns, campsites, and self-catering options.
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News
Read latest notices on path conditions, events, and local updates for walkers.
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Community
Celebrate your finish: Hall of Fame, Walker's Passport, certificates, and trail community programmes.
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Hiking
The National Trail is waymarked for walkers from Chipping Campden to Bath - plan stages around villages, steep escarpment climbs, and wide views along the ridge.
Cycling
Much of the signed route is footpath-only; quiet lanes and bridleways elsewhere in the Cotswolds link the same towns and viewpoints for day rides and touring.
Horse riding
Bridleways and byways cross the hills and valleys; choose routes open to horses and be considerate where walkers use narrow path sections of the trail itself.
Families and schools
Young Cotswold Explorers
Turn a day on the trail into outdoor learning. Young Cotswold Explorers resources support Lower Key Stage 2 science - plants, living things, and habitats - and work well for schools, home educators, and groups with children aged about 7 to 9.
Families can also download Going Wild activity sheets for imaginative play along the path, plus a Cotswolds grasslands art pack that introduces wildflower meadows through creative projects.
Download activity sheets (PDF)
Planning
Frequently asked questions
The Cotswold Way is 102 miles (164 km) long. It runs along the western edge of the Cotswold Hills from Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire to Bath in Somerset.
The official start is in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, and the finish is in the city of Bath, Somerset. Both towns have good transport links and plenty of accommodation for the night before or after your walk.
You can walk in either direction. The trail is waymarked both ways. Many people walk north to south from Chipping Campden to Bath, but south to north is equally well signed and can feel quieter in peak season.
Most people allow 7 to 10 days for the full route, depending on fitness, luggage transfers, and how much time you want in villages along the way. The trail is often broken into 15 stages if you prefer shorter daily distances.
Yes. The Cotswold Way is a National Trail and is marked with the familiar acorn symbol. Even so, you should carry a paper map or guidebook and treat phone apps as a backup rather than your only navigation tool.
The path follows the escarpment for much of its length, so expect regular climbs and descents even if you are otherwise fit. Surfaces vary from grassy tracks and woodland paths to stony lanes and short road sections.
Wild camping is not permitted on the Cotswold Way. Use official campsites, B&Bs, inns, hotels, or self-catering accommodation along or near the route instead.
The trail can be walked year-round. Clear views from the escarpment are often best on crisp winter days or in autumn and spring. Late spring and early summer bring wildflower meadows, while beech woods are particularly good in spring and autumn.
A guidebook or Ordnance Survey map is strongly recommended for day-by-day notes, alternative routes, and offline navigation. See our Navigation page for recommended guidebooks, mapping tips, and app options.
There are B&Bs, pubs with rooms, hotels, campsites, and self-catering options in villages and market towns along or near the trail. Browse accommodation by type or by town to plan overnight stops that match your daily mileage.
