Our rural region has almost 800 square miles of rolling hills, charming English towns and historic landmarks that make the Cotswolds an ever-appealing destination to live. Notably, there are over 3000 square miles of footpaths and bridleways to explore.

There are countless walks to discover, and here are some of our favourites…

Coln St. Aldwyns to Bibury

This route highlights some of the best villages in the Cotswolds. It starts in Coln St Aldwyns, in the Coln River valley. The route itself is just over six miles long, taking in sections of peaceful countryside on the way to Bibury, home to the famous Arlington Row.

Whilst in the area, we would highly recommend checking out The New Inn. Local food duo Baz and Fred recently renovated and re-opened it in 2020. New Inn is a 16th-century coaching inn set in a beautiful, quiet Cotswold village setting. It has 15 luxurious en-suite rooms, and in the restaurant, it offers traditional pub classic options done very well.

Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill

A notorious walk in the Cotswolds that you are bound to have heard of is the walk up to Cleeve Hill. This is the highest point in Gloucestershire, and it’s also the highest point of the Cotswolds. Cleeve Hill tops out at an altitude of 330 meters and has an incredible vantage point across Cheltenham, the Vale of Evesham, and even as far west as the Black Mountains.

The walk itself starting in Winchcombe is a six-mile circular route.

Bourton-on-the-Water

This is a circular walk that loops back to the heart of the village. The route mainly involves the beautiful surrounding countryside. There are varying routes, roughly around 4.5 miles heading through the Greystones Nature Reserve before reaching the peaceful hamlet of Wyck Rissington and looping back to the starting point in pretty Bourton-on-the-Water.

Broadway

A beautiful village walk along the picturesque high street, past the pretty cafes, tea rooms, country shops, and traditional pubs before heading off into the Cotswold hills. It’s a leisurely route at a reasonable distance of around 5 miles.

If you are tempted to put on your walking boots, the Footpath map is a useful GPS tool to keep you on track.

UK footpaths, bridleways and byways online map | FootPathMap.co.uk