Michele, Betsy, Barbara, Ann
From: Leavenworth, USA
Started: 12th May, 2017 — Finished: 23rd Jun, 2017
We began The Cotswold Way, in Chipping Campden on Friday, May 12th, 2017. Completed in Bath, on Monday, May 22nd, 2017. Began with 4 of us. Michele Flood - Leavenworth, WA U.S.A. Betsy Weaver - Sammamish, WA U.S.A. Barbara Johnson - San Ramon, CA U.S.A Ann Davis - Tiburon, CA U.S.A. We met 2 other hikers on the first day in Chipping Campden, and hiked the entire route with them, start to finish. Lorraine Atter - Sheffield, U.K. Mark Atter - Sheffield, U.K. Walking the Cotswold Way was truly the trip of a lifetime for all of us. Each day a new adventure, enjoying the spectacular views from above, the abundance of wildflowers, from wild garlic to buttercups, and the delightful people we met along the way. Everyone we encountered was wonderfully welcoming, inquisitive about our journey, and so genuinely charming, that I believe chatting with fellow walkers became one of the unexpected highlights of our trip. I cannot say enough about the breathtakingly beautiful countryside… other than that I definitely want to return.
Kurt and Peggy Dunphy
From: Santa Rosa, California, USA
Started: 14th Jun, 2017 — Finished: 23rd Jun, 2017
We wanted a leisurely pace to enjoy the beauty, history, and culture of the several towns that we walked through. We used Mickledore Walking Holidays to make the arrangements and move our luggage from inn to inn. We were very satisfied with the level of service that we received.
Day 1: Chipping Campden to Stanton
Day 2: Stanton to Winchcombe
Day 3: Winchcombe to Charlton Kings
Day 4: Charlton Kings to Birdlip
Day 5: Birdlip to Painswick
Day 6: Painswick to King’s Stanley
Day 7: King’s Stanley to North Nibley
Day 8: North Nibley to Old Sodbury
Day 9: Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton
Day 10: Cold Ashton to Bath
Some high points:
· Historical town of Chipping Campden.
· Mount Inn Pub in Stanton. Great pub food and views from patio.
· Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe.
· Pub at the Lion Inn in Winchcombe. Upscale and great fish pie.
· Black Horse Inn in North Nibley. Great mussels and salmon.
· Rococo Gardens in Painswick.
· Dyrham Park in Chippenham. Could have spent all day here.
Low Point: The 40C + temperatures on June 21, 2017; the hottest day in England in over 40 years.
Shout out to Will and Martin; two fine gentlemen from Bristol who we ran into often.
Julian Clark and Natalie Hodgson
From: Doncaster
Started: 13th Jun, 2017 — Finished: 20th Jun, 2017
We walked from north to south. A great walk with some fantastic views. We also managed to take in a few pubs along the way as well. Having had some pretty wet days walking in the past we were pleased to see the weather forecast. Hot and sunny. However, nothing prepared us for quite how hot and sunny. For the first time ever whilst walking we were looking for shade when choosing a spot for lunch.
PAULINE AND DUNCAN INWOOD
From: 3 HALL DYKE, SPONDON, DERBY DE21 7LF
Started: 6th Apr, 2017 — Finished: 18th Jun, 2017
We walked the Cotswold Way from north to south over thirteen walking days during April, May and June. We stayed in four campsites and used twelve local buses and one taxi, and our own small camper van. We chose both the longer options on the Way and walked approximately twenty-three additional miles to and from starts and finishes. We had fantastic weather throughout ending on a very hot day into Bath. We loved the scenery and extensive views on every day of the walk. Lambs, flowers, villages, churches, archaeological interest, structures, varied landscape were all on the plus side. Not such fun was the aggressive peahen and our occasional disappointment when an expected refreshment stop had ceased trading! We finished with a great day in Bath on the hottest day of the year. We can't decide which long distance trail to attack next as it has to live up to this one, especially for those wonderful views.
Emily Wadds & Clive Banks
From: Bath uk
Started: 9th Jun, 2017 — Finished: 17th Jun, 2017
We had a wonderful week. The weather was pretty much perfect, a bit windy at the start, but sunshine and only 10 minutes of rain the whole time. The best bit, we had views all the way! We were so lucky. I will remember this walk just me and my Dad forever.
Gerrit & Truss Meijering & Johan & Jeannette Maatje
From: Schoonebeek, Netherlands
Started: 4th Jun, 2017 — Finished: 13th Jun, 2017
Nick & Ceris Feakes
From: Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
Started: 26th May, 2017 — Finished: 4th Jun, 2017
We walked North to South. Generally a very picturesque walk with some stunning villages and beautiful homes along the way and some lovely views particularly during the early part of the walk.. We never realised people built golf courses right on the top of some of the biggest hills along the walk. We some some interesting people along the way, only one group going South to North. The walk was more strenuous than we had anticipated with the occasional steep ascents, we had a picture in our minds of gentle walks along the rolling hills that make up the Cotswold Way. We chose to spend ten days walking and we felt that was about right, time to rest and enjoy some spectacular scenery. The route was generally well marked but we found the GPS useful to reassure us we were on the right path, particularly on some of the optional additional sections.
Pete and Glynis Hargreaves
From: West Sussex
Started: 14th May, 2017 — Finished: 25th May, 2017
For full details of our Cotswolds adventure, see our blog at gpcotswold.blogspot.co.uk
Alan Veitch
From: Bath, UK
Started: 20th May, 2017 — Finished: 25th May, 2017
Wonderful time spent walking the Cotswold way and enjoyed meeting different people from various nationalities on the trail.
Ken Butcher
From: Dundee
Started: 10th May, 2017 — Finished: 22nd May, 2017
Jennifer L Pauley
From: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Started: 13th May, 2017 — Finished: 20th May, 2017
The Cotswold Way was every bit as charming as I thought it would be. Rolling Hills and beautiful green vistas. It is very well marked. The trail is challenging at times, with some very steep inclines. Its not for the faint of heart, but those views at the top of the hills was worth every sore muscle. Would love to walk it again!
TREVOR HARVEY
From: 3 DENE GARDENS HOUGHTON LE SPRING
Started: 10th May, 2017 — Finished: 18th May, 2017
OUR ANNUAL CHARITY WALK FOR 2017 WAS THE COTSWOLD WAY. OUR 10th SINCE WE RETIRED. WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE BEAUTIFUL GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTRY-SIDE EVEN IF 1 OR 2 OF THE HILLS WERE CHALLENGING.ONLY RAINED FOR A DAY AND A HALF. THE STRETCH FROM OLD SODBURY TO PENNSYLVANIA WAS VERY DAMP! GREAT TO END THE WALK AT BATH ABBEY WITH MICHAEL PORTILLO THERE TO GREET US.(HE WAS MAKING A TV PROGRAMME.)
Peg Carver and Karen Roll
From: Ridgefield, Washington, US & Sammamish, Washington, US
Started: 4th May, 2017 — Finished: 13th May, 2017
The Cotswold Way lived up to its reputation as a charming and bucolic ramble through some of England's most beautiful countryside. With steep climbs to stunning hilltop vistas, easy strolls through picturesque villages and wobbling through uneven sheep-filled pastures, the experience was both restorative to the soul and challenging enough to qualify the walk as an accomplishment. Signage is generally excellent, though be prepared to get lost a time or two. But never fear. There's always another walker or passer-by to set you straight and motorists seem quite willing to be flagged down to help.
Thank you to all those who support the trail system.
Sue & Steve Bolingbroke
From: Oxfordshire
Started: 12th Nov, 2016 — Finished: 10th May, 2017
Wayne & Maggie
From: Solihull, West Midlands
Started: 4th Jun, 2016 — Finished: 6th May, 2017
We completed the Cotswold Way in 10 legs with our walking club. The scenery and weather lived up to our image of english countryside and villages at their very best. We have walked several long distance paths now and this is by far our favourite.