Chris Sims
From: Warmley, Bristol
Started: 27th Oct, 2014 — Finished: 26th Mar, 2015
I walked The Cotswold Way as a series of 7 day walks during the winter months of 14/15 with two walking friends. Our experience is written as a blog at http://walkthecotswoldway.blogspot.co.uk/ where I include images too. It was my third National Trail, having walked the South West Coast Path in 13/14, and the Ridgeway in October 2014. Despite the season, we were generally lucky with the weather though were caught in heavy rain towards end of day 6. Really enjoyed the Trail. It has such a variety of experience: ridge walking and picturesque towns and villages, with a lot of historical and archaeological interest added in.
Ron and Jill Ritchie
From: Doynton, near Bath
Started: 3rd May, 2014 — Finished: 6th Feb, 2015
We enjoyed the route from north to south in monthly stages with a group led by Cotswold Wardens (many thanks to them). The views were at times spectacular despite occasionally losing them through rain or mist. Overall, a great walking experience that we highly recommend.
The Hamiltons
From: Cheltenham
Started: 26th Jan, 2013 — Finished: 7th Dec, 2014
We started at Chipping Campden in early 2013 and completed it just before Xmas Dec 2014, walking in the dark through the streets of Bath enjoying the Xmas market. The first few walks saw some snow, either falling or in patches that hadn’t yet melted. Our walks were always around the 10 mile mark which we found just right for us all. The only overnight stay we did was at Westonbirt where we camped so we could do 2 days walking and enjoy a Sunday lunch at a pub. We tried to have a meal out at a local pub at the end of each walk which was great as a family treat as well. There was only one really muddy wet patch we went through and that was near Stanton so the wellington boots were a must there. We did take 2 cars each time and planned each journey so we would drop one car off where we planned to finish and then go back in the first car to the walk start. This did mean we covered a lot of miles but the key was we all managed to walk the Cotswold way from start to finish as a family, a great achievement. The scenery was superb and every time we drive up or down the M5 we look across at the escarpments and think about how far we walked, at times you do do more walking than taking the direct route but the long way on each occasion was our choice. The history or the monuments and the buried camp you walk through near Old Sodbury were all of great interest and we would recommend to anyone to try and complete this walk.
Neil and Andrew Nelson
From: Evesham and Cheltenham
Started: 27th Feb, 2012 — Finished: 20th Oct, 2014
Done in 17 stages over two and a half years and exhibiting varying degrees of fitness! Very well signposted and a pleasure to walk
Peter James
From: UK
Started: 8th Sep, 2014 — Finished: 17th Sep, 2014
Having completed the National Trail just recently, at 'noisy' Bath Abbey on 17th September in 9.5 days and 111 miles in perfect weather without a spot of rain, l must let you know what an excellent job everyone does to keep it in such good order. The waymarking cannot be faulted and the work carried out, including by volunteers, to keep the trail open and usable is all too plain to see. A credit to all involved, and it gave me great pleasure to be able to thank personally one such working party. Being involved myself here in Shropshire, it is not often that those working on footpath maintenance are on the spot to receive the plaudits.
However, l hope that when the funds become available it will be possible for more of the stiles to be replaced by kissing gates.
Almost without exception my accommodation was excellent, and Anthony Burton's Trail Guide was all that it sets out to be.
Thank you for a most satisfying and enjoyable experience (as was the Sally Lunn High Tea at the end in Bath!)
Len and Terry Vander Woude
From: Bellingham Washington USA
Started: 29th Aug, 2014 — Finished: 9th Aug, 2014
We had a wonderful time walking the Cotswold Way with our friends Jerry and Faye Hop. We had pre-booked all our Bed and Breakfasts before we arrived so all we had to do was stay on the paths and walk. We carried our backpacks with us so some of the hills were a little tiring. Everyone we met was very friendly and the food was wonderful.
Len and Terry Vander Woude
From: Bellingham Washington USA
Started: 29th Aug, 2014 — Finished: 9th Aug, 2014
We had a wonderful time walking the Cotswold Way with our friends Jerry and Faye Hop. We had pre-booked all our Bed and Breakfasts before we arrived so all we had to do was stay on the paths and walk. We carried our backpacks with us so some of the hills were a little tiring. Everyone we met was very friendly and the food was wonderful.
Kerri
From: Bath
Started: 20th May, 2014 — Finished: 24th May, 2014
Chipping Camden to Bath
Kate Treatman-Clark
From: Cheltenham
Started: 28th Apr, 2014 — Finished: 19th May, 2014
April/May 2014 was my first time hiking the Cotswold Way - I did it on my own as I couldn't get any friends to commit to do it with me. While the logistical challenges of getting to and from trail heads were a headache, I loved every moment of the solo hike, and would encourage anyone to try it, even if they can't get a hiking partner. I've hiked the trail three times since, in large and small groups and that has been fun too. I've hiked in glorious spring sunshine and lashing rain in the winter. One climb from Winchcombe to Belas Knap was so foggy that I could not see my feet, let alone the trail. The hike up Cleeve Hill is one of the most difficult, but the views are lovely. There are so many wonderful places to discover along the trail - enjoy!
Rebecca Mileham and Yin Chien Yeap
From: Banbury
Started: 28th Aug, 2008 — Finished: 12th Apr, 2014
We seem to have spread this walk over a much longer period than most - six years! - fitted in during short breaks from work. The last leg into Bath we walked with our children. Such a beautiful route, we've really enjoyed it.
Rodborough Scouts
From: Rodborough
Started: 6th Jan, 2013 — Finished: 30th Nov, 2013
In 2013 one of our Young Leaders suggested hiking the Cotswold Way as a challenge for the year. We started in January in Chipping Campden and ended in Bath in November. We only got rained on once on the overnight camp at Cranham, saw the sun rise and the sun set and saw glorious views across Gloucestershire. The highlight was reaching Bath Abbey - with a band playing outside and knowing we had completed our challenge.
The Rodborough Scouts - Tracey Chudley; Ian Anderton; Emma Woodward; Theresa Mansbridge; Elizabeth Applemelk; Ben Chudley; Harry Chudley; Edward Vosper; Laurence Applemelk and Nia Chudley.
Jim Colman & Jacquie Manley
From: Massachusetts, USA
Started: 16th Oct, 2013 — Finished: 26th Oct, 2013
Lovely old beech trees; well-behaved cows, sheep & horses; pristine pastures, farmlands and golf courses and the privilege of meandering through them; quaint villages and friendly, helpful people; pubs & conversation; comfortable B&B's at the end of a long day of walking; delicious food; historical artifacts/events with information signs; reaching the tops of the hills that didn't seem to have a top; spotting those Cotswold Way sign posts just when we started to wonder what happened!! We thank you in advance and Commend You for Your Wonderful National Treasure in the Cotswold Way!!
Suggestion: We are not golfers, so we don't know the etiquette involved when a golf ball narrowly misses your head and lands on the trail in front of you. A golfer probably 75 yards from us was waving his arm at us which we took to mean 'please toss the ball back onto the green'. After we did that and continued walking, pangs of guilt came over us as we reconsidered that maybe the golfer really was saying 'leave the ball alone and get the heck away from it'. Oops... When we got home, I checked with my brother-in-law who is a golfer, he confirmed that we should not have touched the ball. Therefore, we were wondering if it might be a good idea for the Cotswold Way organisation to place some signage on the trail about proper hiker etiquette at the golf courses... Unless, of course, the golfers already have a hiker-handicap built into their game. ((:
LL & Ron
From: Miami, Florida, USA
Started: 1st Jul, 2013 — Finished: 10th Jul, 2013
We walked south from Chipping Campden to Bath, arriving in Bath on our 20th wedding anniversary. We loved the beautiful countrywide, the warm English summer, and all the kind and friendly people we met along the way.
James Teslow
From: Seattle, WA, USA
Started: 8th May, 2013 — Finished: 16th May, 2013
I had a wonderful walk. Since finishing the Cotswold Way, I have completed the Wicklow Way in Ireland, the John Muir Way in Scotland, and the South Downs Way and Ridgeway in England. I'm 71 years old. If I can do it, you can do it.
Simon Herbert & Thibault Corens
From: Belgium
Started: 6th Aug, 2012 — Finished: 6th Aug, 2012
Hello, we loved to walk the Cotswold Way. We slept in tents in the gardens of B&B's and friendly nice people. We love the landscape we walked through and soon we will be walking again on other trails in England. We also made a blog of our travels through the Cotswold Way 'CotswoldWay.blogspot.co.uk' We walked the tour in less than five days, we are very proud of each other and we are just 16 years old, maybe a new age record to mention on the website.