Cotswold Walks

There's nothing like the reward of a cup of tea and a piece of cake at the end of a walk! If you are in the area do pop in. It would be rude not to.
Regards,
Andrew

Final Downton Abbey fix for 2018
https://blogs.weta.org/…/downton-abbey- movie-wraps-filming-…

The Downton Abbey movie is getting closer...
You can visit Highclere Castle where they film the series on our Scenic Guided Tours in July and Sept. and live the dream!! www.cotswoldwalks.com/scenic-cotswolds
... http://focusfeatures.com/vid…/downton-a bbey-official-trailer
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The American Colony in Broadway
https://broadwaymuseum.org.uk/broadway-ar tist-colony-room-…/

Discover more about JRR Tolkein and Oxford at the start of our Oxford to Bath walk; http://www.cotswoldwalks.com/oxford-bath
http://www.cotswoldlife.co.uk/…/a-tolki en-tour-in-oxford-1-…

The Cotswold's Miss Marple
The Cotswolds has many links with literary figures and none less so than M.C.Beaton who lives in Blockley and writes the Agatha Raisin novels. Many people may know the BBC TV series Father Brown which is filmed in Blockley and walkers pass through this village on their way to Moreton-in-Marsh on many of our walks. If you haven't seen the latest incarnation of Miss Marple, the 2nd series is coming to the USA very soon. Filmed in Biddestone near Castle Combe (one of the settings for the War Horse movie) it offers all the ingredients for a classic murder mystery and wonderful scenery to boot. Let us know what you think?
https://hiddenremote.com/…/…/agatha-r aisin-season-2-preview/

We owe it all to them.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-450 07577

A punch up in Cirencester.
Local BBC star and comedy actor describes his childhood in Cirencester and our guided walks stay in Cirencester for 3 nights. We still have spaces for the Sept. tour which includes a visit to Highgrove Gardens; the punch up is optional!
https://www.theguardian.com/…/this-beau tiful-country-charli…

36 Hours in the Cotswolds is never going to be enough time but it is a start...
https://www.nytimes.com/…/what-to-do-in -the-cotswolds-engla…

What an amazing achievement for all the volunteers at the GWSR. The first steam trains officially run at Easter and now link Broadway to Winchcombe and Cheltenham. Next stop Honeybourne where Cotswold Walks is based!!

Cheltenham's best restaurants. Do you agree?
http://www.soglos.com/…/10-hottest-rest aurant-tables-in-Che…

The stunning Hidcote Manor Gardens feature in our Cotswold Gardens Guided Walking Tour, and is one of the best known Arts and Crafts Gardens in England. This video beautifully captures the magnificent splendour of this historic garden.
Why not join us and further explore the stunning vistas and vibrant colours? Details of the tour are available at http://www.cotswoldwalks.com/cotswold-gar dens
https://youtu.be/1yHa-Ul1U3U

Living, walking and working in the Cotswolds we could not agree more with these 26 points which sum up the Cotswolds so beautifully. Living here and being lucky enough to experience these things every day also makes us perfectly placed to help you discover your own slice of Cotswold heaven! Check out our website for details on self guided and luxury guided walking tours for 2018. www.cotswoldwalks.com

If you are in the UK are you tuning into Britain's Favourite Walks with Julia Bradbury on ITV? Julia visited Winchcombe for an earlier British TV walking programme a few years back. We hope you will agree the glorious walks of the Cotswolds should make an appearance!

We're really looking forward to creating bespoke walking tour holidays for our clients this year, staying at handpicked Cotswold pubs, inns and hotels and taking in some of the most historic homes, gardens and monuments in this glorious part of England. Why not join us? For more information visit www.cotswoldwalks.com

What heralds the start of spring for you? Here in the Cotswolds the delicate pure white heads of the snow drop are a sure sign lighter days are on the way. Here at Cotswold Walks we look forward to welcoming the spring and summer months and hope to welcome you to this beautiful part of the world on a walking tour too. Visit www.cotswoldwalks.com for details of the tours we offer uncovering the real Cotswolds.

We live, work and walk the beautiful Cotswolds every day and it is a privilege to share our local knowledge and passion for this extraordinary part of the world with you. We offer bespoke self guided walking tours right through to luxury guided tours tailored to the sites, scenery, villages, views, inns and iconic monuments on your wish list. For more details on how to book visit our www.cotswoldwalks.com

Turn #BlueMonday into #BloomMonday and book onto our guided #CotswoldGardens #walkingtour to see gems like Highgrove up close and personal #CotswoldWalks. Find out more at http://www.cotswoldwalks.com/cotswold-gar dens

A sure sign that Spring is on the way in the Cotswolds! We are looking forward to welcoming our clients to this beautiful part of the world this year. There is still some time remaining to enjoy a £50 discount on a guided walking tour with us this season. Just book onto one of our luxury guided walking tours by 19th January.

my wife and I did a circular walk from Moreton in Marsh returning 9 days later, this was the best holiday we have ever had by far, I have no hesitation in recommending this holiday to anyone, for any one wondering how far they should walk per day, we found between 10 to 15 km per day is ideal giving plenty of free time to stop and enjoy the sights, anymore than that and I feel even for fit hikers there would be a bit of a rush to get to the next town and explore the area. What a great holiday!!!

We went on the Cotswold Garden tour from 17-23 June 2018, and can thoroughly recommend it. Andrew was a terrific guide, but was also very attentive in ringing us from the UK - we live in New Zealand - and advising on train connections and suchlike beforehand. It was a good indication of his skill and attention to detail during the tour itself. Our group was small and, after viewing open gardens in Chipping Camden on the first day, we were driven to 11 different gardens in the Cotswolds area (including Highgrove). We were very fortunate with the weather and the season, a great one for roses, we were told. The range of gardens was excellent, and it was nice to be able to talk to their creators and current gardeners in many cases. Most were gardens not normally open to the public. The food was also excellent, and we liked the ability to choose our own accommodation from the options provided - all were very good. We would thoroughly recommend this walk, even if you aren't a keen gardener (which my husband certainly isn't, but he loved it as well). It was such a nice way to view a beautiful part of the UK, and worth every penny!

We went on the Best of Cotswolds self guided tour in May 2018. We enjoyed every minute of the walk. The route notes, helpful travel hints, and support from Mr. Guppy were great (though I have to admit we did get mildly lost from time to time). The accommodations were charming, we found good food in all the restaurants we happened into, and we got such a friendly welcome from everyone we met along the way. Also the rental of walking poles was a godsend. We used one each and they were such a help.

We started our adventure on Cotswold Walks the middle of April. We had already spent three weeks in Portugal and Spain and this was the end of our holiday from our home in California. We did not have a car the entire time and took the coach from Heathrow to Cheltenham as Andrew had made that as one of his many good suggestions. When we arrived in England Andrew had already helped us get rented poles and a phone, and we found these waiting for us at our first lodging. All of our accomodations were charming, clean, with helpful, friendly people all along the way. It was especially interesting and fun that each hotel/B&B was unique. Our first day out on the walk, it poured and I must confess that it rained so hard, that we temporarily lost our way as the visibility was a challenge. Although we saw no one else walking in the rain, we eventually came across an English couple who lived in Cheltenham and were off walking for thier weekly luncheon at a pub that was at our destination. They "rescued" us, got us back on the trail, walked with us in the rain to their favorite pub, where they shared great local history information with us over lunch. We spent hours visitng with them at the pub, had a wonderful first day and made new friends. It turned into an adventous start. The second day, rain was predicted again almost all morning, so like others who have done this walk we selected this day to go to Sudeley Castle. Before the down pour came we had an opportunity to see this wonderful castle and garden and make our way on foot to our B&B afterward. The luggage pick up was efficient, went smoothly at every place, and the rest of the walk was terrific with normal spring weather. Cotswold walks had sent us a local bus schedule, so when we were not walking, we took the local buses to expand the area that we were able to explore. Besides our wonderful hikes in this beautiful part of England, we had signed up for a 'Secret Cottage tour" at the end of our trip and it was like "the frosting on the cake". It was pricey, but worth the amount. Although not a part of the Cotswold Walks, the two tours complimented each other so perfectly that we found that after doing both, we really had a taste of the charm of the Cotswold area. And, if you take Cotwold Walks at such a reasonable price, there is money left over for "The Secret Cottage tour". We are recommending Cotwald walks to anyone who likes enjoying the outdoors with a good hike trip in a beautful place.

We just returned from our delightful Cotswold wandering, and we loved every minute. Using the detailed directions with the OS maps app, we had no trouble navigating through scenic field and forest, but it was nice to know that there was help at hand if needed. Our accommodations were consistently excellent, centrally located and well appointed despite the age of the wonderful old buildings. We were particularly appreciative of Andrew’s care in returning a vest left behind at one of the hotels. We have come home with many photos and happy memories. We would strongly recommend this walking adventure!

We did a 4 day/5 night tour in late May/early June from Winchcombe to Moreton-in-Marsh with an extra day in Chipping Campden to visit Hidcote and Kiffgate gardens. The accommodations were lovely, especially the Old Bakehouse in Chipping Campden where Zoe was extremely helpful. The walks were pleasant and not over strenuous, even the 13 miler from Winchcombe to Broadway in some rain (the Mount Inn in Stanton made a nice break). Andrew was always available in helping to set up the trip which made life easier and the guidebook was perfect for finding our way. One side trip to recommend is to walk from Dover's Hill down into Weston-sub-Edge for lunch at the Seagrave Arms. The walk back is a bit of a climb, but the chips (fries) were worth it. All four of us agreed that it was a perfect vacation.

We absolutely loved our Best of Cotswolds tour. We quickly wer entranced with the people and the villages. In Broadway, a cool guy saw us exiting from the trail and bought us a beer! We ate Indian food every night with gusto because we don’t have this quality of Indian food in Arkansas. Our accommodations were lovely. Andrew answered the phone when we got lost���!

You can trust the notes and the arrangements totally. I think trust is important when you are striking out every day alone. Never doubt that this organization is first rate and delivers over and above.

This is now referred to in our home as, "Best Vacation Ever". Andrew made sure we had transportation to the once a year/once in a lifetime event: "The Cotswolds Olympics" even when our hotel gave us little hope of getting there. The directions were adequate to get us traveling the right direction down the many paths, over the many stiles, through the many kissing gates and to our charming accommodations supplying us with pictures and detailed explanations when necessary. In spite of their clarity, every so often from out of the blue, an English lady or gentleman would wander by at the right time to set us straight and give us interesting tips and suggestions. The whole adventure was magical.

Our group of 4 did the Best of the Cotswolds in 8 days last September. Before the tour, we found Andrew to be responsive to our emails and questions. The walks were the perfect length for us- 6-10 miles/day. We arrived at our B&B or hotel in plenty of time to explore and head to a pub for a glass of wine or beer. On the one day it rained, we visited Sudeley Castle, home of Katharine Parr. That was excellent, then we took the bus to our next town. The B&B we stayed at in Stanton, the Old Post was charming. In fact, while all the B&B's were different- some very old, others newer they each had their charm and everyone was friendly and helpful.

My wife and I checked in to the White Hart Inn in Wynchecombe on Monday, June 4. We began our 3-day hike early on Tuesday. Each day of our hike was filled with wonderful moments. We met lots of friendly, helpful people, saw the richest countryside, wandered around Broadway, Chipping-Campden, and Moreton-in-Marsh. The accommodations in each town were great. We loved the food, the pubs, and the restaurants. We are already thinking about next year! By the way, the information provided by Cotswold Walks was just what we needed to stay on the pathways and see the best sites.

My wife & I just finished the Best of the Cotswolds self guided walking tour and we loved it. Cotswolds Walks set up all of our B&B / hotels and moved our luggage every day without incident. The guidebooks were first rate. Very easy trail finding. We both had a great time exploring England. The people are wonderful and the countryside was beautiful. I definately recommend going.

My husband and I were in England in May, and did 3 days of the Cotswolds Walks self-guided - somewhat customized at our request - starting in Chipping Camden, so I could see gorgeous Hidcote Gardens. The owner of the inn we stayed at, Bantam Tea House, was incredibly helpful, especially in arranging for a taxi. I actually followed the provided walking directions to return to Chipping Camden from Hidcote - surprisingly thrilling, to follow directions like that, navigating with a map. The laminated maps were awesome fun. We did a full day walking, the next day, through Broadway and on to Winchcombe. And the next day was another full day to Bourton-on-Water along Warden's Way. We had fantastic weather. I would have planned to have longer pauses in villages along the way, but we kept sleeping in and starting late! The Cotswold Walks provided excellent service, and I recommend them and their walks strongly to everyone I've spoken to about our trip. I think everyone says it, but it really was the highlight of our trip.

My husband and I came from the US (outside Philadelphia) to do a 5 night four day self-guided luxury tour. We booked online, and the experience was fantastic top to bottom. Our accommodations were wonderful, and while we were a bit nervous going on our own, it ended up being one of the best vacations we've taken. The walks were beautiful, the suggestions for lunch were great, and we felt very well taken care of throughout. While I think we brought a little too much gear with us- we could have used smaller backpacks- we would gladly do another walking holiday again, and will recommend it very highly to all of our friends!

My husband and I booked the Best of the Cotswolds for late May and had a wonderful time exploring the region. Our interaction with Cotswold Walks was flawless. The maps and directions took us from village to village through beautiful countryside, and our accommodations were wonderful – clean, comfortable and welcoming. We even had the experience of bumping into owner Andrew Guppy on the outskirts of Broadway as he and a colleague filmed new content for their FAQ videos (which I highly recommend). If we were to do this trip again, we would walk fewer days (we booked eight), spend more time exploring the villages, and hope for sunnier skies (oh well!). We especially enjoyed Broadway and Chipping Campden for the shops and pubs, and Stanton and Guiting Power for the solitude. And the sheep! Overall it was a tremendous way to experience an idyllic region of the world. Highly recommended.

I had a marvelous time. The mapping info made it sufficiently easy to access the trails, none of the walking was too hard in spite of the uncommon heat, the lodgings were quite nice as were the towns I visited. Am already thinking of another trip I might take!

Great time in the Cotswolds. We selected the Best of the Cotswolds itinerary and went in early May 2018. Perfect time of year, the weather was beautiful and although we certainly came across other walkers (many carrying the tell-tale Cotswold Walks book w/directions!), we were mostly alone enjoying the countryside. Directions were easy & fun ... cross the stile, turn left at the field boundary, go through the kissing gate, cross the stone bridge, take a right at the row of hedges ... we crossed rolling hills & farmland - saw pheasants, sheep, lambs, horses, cows, and dogs; it was a wonderful vacation. Each village was more picturesque than the last. All guest houses/B&Bs/hotels were perfect & the hosts were lovely. Shoutouts to all. Thank you. (posted our slideshow on the main page of Cotswold Walks) Gail & Rory

Andrew arranged a tailor made tour for us and it was perfect! All our accommodations were wonderful, he provided us with maps, information packets and other materials which were very useful. He even provided my husband with an emergency umbrella on a rainy day! Andrew listened to our special requests and accommodate everything for us. We had one of the best vacations ever thanks to his excellent organizing. I strongly recommend Cotswold Walks!

The Cotswolds themselves were lovely as were all the people that we encountered in our trip.

A wonderful self guided walk through the Cotswolds with 3 friends. We did the 6 night 5 day luxury tour..and loved every minute of it!

Well done Andrew and Cotswold Walks for all you did, including...providing us with variety of walks through the countryside, villages and towns, gardens and historic sites. Good directions ( booklet great and ordinance survey app kept us on track if we weren’t sure). The whole trip so well organized for us. Lovely and very comfortable accommodation in Chipping Campden, Upper Slaughter and Cirencester...each so different. Transfers and taxis with drivers who were more like tour guides with all kinds of stories and history...loved the suggestions for lunch, dinner or refreshment stops, such as Ebrington Arms, New Inn at Coln St Aldwyns, The Mount Inn at Stanton...as well as morning tea at Hidcote Gardens and a browse through their fabulous shop. (I’m a shopper!) Just to name a few!

Such beautiful countryside and walking a perfect way to get a feel for it.

Met with such kindness everywhere.

A memorable holiday!

A group of eight of us from the U.S. (five from the Seattle area and three from Arlington, Virginia) just finished an eight-day tailored walking adventure, based largely on the Best of the Cotswolds itinerary. We had perfect weather each day, and our holiday has to rank up there with the best vacations we have ever had. The scenery was wonderful, and our walks, ranging from 6 - 9 miles each day, were just the right length. After researching several different companies, we finally selected Cotswold Walks and were very happy with this organization. The route notes, trip information, and handling of luggage, taxi transfers, etc. were just excellent, and we felt like we were in good hands throughout the trip. The trip was also a good value, and the company proved itself to be very professionally run. We highly recommend this company!