This Oxford to Bath walk takes you through the Cotswolds in a way that not only highlights the historic towns and villages that lie within this glorious countryside but also witnesses the pretty valleys and large expanses with grand vistas of the billowing landscapes and hills. Whilst the footpaths you follow are rarely part of busy trails, they are marked and little known paths we think offer special views and insights of the way of life in the Cotswolds as they wind past farms and picturesque hamlets each unfolding their long history. The walk through this rural and often wooded idyll, is one of gentle ups and downs and the occasional short steeper section.
Check out the Cotswolds' only palace at Blenheim, royal connections in Tetbury and explore Roman Cirencester. Enjoy Oxford with its beautiful colleges and elegant Bath with its waterways, Roman antiquities and Georgian architecture. In between are so many of the Cotswold hidden gems we love and leave you to find!
Holiday details
Price
- Classic
-
from £2,950 per person
- Luxury
-
from £5,190 per person
Based on two people sharing a room
Duration
12 nights
Start & Finish
Starts Oxford and finishes Bath. Classic tour starts Monday, Luxury tour starts Monday to Thursday.
Hotels
- Classic
-
3 small hotels, 1 larger hotel with indoor pool, a cafe with rooms and 7 inns
- Luxury
-
Three 5*, five 4* and two 3* hotels
Holiday type
Self-guided so you are free to explore at your own pace. More info...
Activity level
Gentle walking (2) More info...
Mileage
11 days of walking 6 to 11 miles (9 to 17 km)
Terrain
Undulating
What’s included?
Ensuite accommodation every night with breakfast. The services of our friendly local Hosts. Luggage transfers between hotels. 24/7 phone contact number. Adventure Handbook with our local tips. GPS Routes on an App with waterproof phone holder. Guidebook or OS maps. Protection of your funds. Advice, help and guidance planning your trip.
Entry to Blenheim Palace. Read About Our Trips for further details
Options
- Available over 8 nights with longer daily distances
- Upgrade to Tip Top hotels
- Add a guided visit (limited availability) to the garden that Kings Charles' created at Highgrove, his country home. This can be done on day 8 or 9
- Enjoy a private tour with the owner of an extraordinary 15th century Cotswold manor house (limited availability) and a 5 mile walk taking in some of the area's old mills and a working town. This can be done on day 8 or 9
- Add additional nights anywhere along the route to relax and explore further.
Itinerary day-by-day
Classic
-
1. Day one
Arrive Oxford
Arrive in Oxford and settle into your hotel located in the heart of this historic city. Explore the famous university colleges and courts, the Thames backwaters, the inns frequented by many generations of writers and the cafes and museums on our self-guided walk of Oxford. Your Host will meet you either later this evening or tomorrow morning to welcome and brief you, share their local knowledge and answer any questions you may have. Welcome to your Cotswold adventure!
-
2. Day two
Oxford to Woodstock
Walking from your hotel through Oxford - a fascinating mix of alleys, backwaters and old mills, you quickly meet the Thames River and follow it through tranquil meadows. Upstream you cross onto the Oxford Canal with its colourful boats and then open countryside with a few slopes and woods to find the small Cotswold village of Woodstock where you stay the night. Grandiose Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site and birthplace of Winston Churchill, is located here and a must see gem. Your ticket enables a visit today and tomorrow.
11 miles (17 km)
-
3. Day three
Woodstock to Ramsden
Buy yourselves a picnic in Woodstock before walking out from your hotel as today's route is rural. First up, you walk through the wooded Blenheim estate and alongside its mighty lake. Then gentle undulations lead you through the leafy Cotswolds. Encounter woodland copses, the meanderings of the River Evenlode and honey coloured stone hamlets and small farms. Your overnight stay is in a charming Cotswold inn.
8 miles (13 km)
-
4. Day four
Ramsden to Burford
Today is all about the romantic Windrush valley as you descend along an old Roman road to this unspoilt babbling stream and track its course through willow lined meadows, deserted medieval villages and rural tranquility. Several lovely inns and villages offer great refreshment spots; this really is a day for the soul to sing! Your walk finishes in the small Georgian town of Burford with its elegant high street where you stay overnight in an old inn.
11 miles (18 km)
-
5. Day five
Burford to Broughton Poggs
Big vistas open up today as you follow some of the tracks laid down by the Romans and later commandeered by salt merchants. Hamlets tend to sit in the valleys and the tiny Leach is one of our favourites where we suggest you pause at the local inn for a refreshment and enjoy the stepping stones and tiny characterful churches. Your overnight stay is a lovely village inn.
10 miles (16 km)
-
6. Day six
Broughton Poggs to Bibury
There's a little more of the Leach today and then enjoy glorious views as you head to the equally charming River Coln and its several beguiling villages. This is easy walking across fields and meadows with willows overhanging the narrow water courses and peek a boo views of some of the Cotswolds most picturesque hamlets. Bibury, where you stay the night is one of the most famous with its terrace of woollen workers cottages but there are several other hamlets of equal charm.
11 miles (18 km)
-
7. Day seven
Bibury to Chedworth and Cirencester
Today's route is so special. The Coln is hugged by a series of typical Cotswolds hamlets, their ancient stone walls a work of art, their cottage gardens a picture, the lanes and paths twisting and steepening today as the valley narrows. Cross the Roman Fosse Way to find Chedworth village, a thriving off the beaten track place and the woods beyond which descend steeply to a Roman Villa. It's perfectly preserved mosaic floor is the highlight. We meet you here after your visit and lunch to transfer you to Cirencester, a very important centre established by the Romans and today a bustling market town, where you stay the night.
8 miles (13 km)
-
8. Day eight
Cirencester to Tetbury
Explore Cirencester before setting off and we ease the distance today with a morning transfer to the source of the River Thames - which rarely sees any water but is a landmark or a little further on if you are looking for a shorter walk. This is classic Cotswolds country today with open views from the footpaths crossing the pretty undulating terrain and irregular fields, dotted with picturesque hamlets. There are no inns on your route so you need to pick a picnic before you leave Cirencester. Staying the night in Tetbury, a charming small market town, gives you an opportunity to peruse the antique shops. See 'options' for an alternative itinerary today.
10.5 miles (17 km) or less
-
9. Day nine
Tetbury to Sherston
Several members of the Royal family live in this area and today you skirt the country home and garden of the King and Queen. See 'options' for an alternative itinerary today to visit the garden. Your shorter route today gives you time to see a little more of Tetbury before you set off and you have the opportunity of pausing in the Arboretum at Westonbirt as you walk through this magnificent collection of trees. Follow tiny footpaths connecting farms with hamlets nestled in the peaceful rolling countryside to arrive at your overnight stay in the tiny hamlet of Sherston. See 'options' for an alternative itinerary.
7 miles (11 km)
-
10. Day ten
Sherston to Castle Combe
Peppered with gentle ups and downs, today's walk leads you past tiny brooks and woods, along steeper river valleys, across irregular fields of animals and crops to pretty village inns, churches and historic houses all framed in peaceful and beautiful countryside. Castle Combe, your overnight destination is so picturesque it has doubled as a film set on many occasions. The best of the Cotswolds scenery today!
7.5 miles (12 km)
-
11. Day eleven
Castle Combe to Rudloe
Your path follows a brook as it twists and turns past old mills and weirs and through thick woodland with large deposits underground of the warm coloured Bath stone which was mined here extensively until recently, for building. Some of the old quarries are now bat sanctuaries. This is tranquil countryside with deep valleys sheltering a chocolate box village or two and a single pub a very picturesque refreshment spot. You reach habitation at your overnight stay!
6 miles (9 km)
-
12. Day twelve
Rudloe to Bath
Here's one final day of glorious rural walking as you descend towards magnificent Bath to cross the River Avon and follow the old towing path along the Kennet and Avon Canal into the heart of the city. Enjoy expansive views, enchanting bridges and colourful boats, meadows and cottages and all the Georgian charms that await you in Bath where you stay a final night. You've come a long and gorgeous way from Oxford. Well done!
8 miles (13 km)
-
13. Day thirteen
Depart Bath
Bath has so much to offer, so take time to explore here before departing.
Luxury
-
1. Day one
Arrive Oxford
Arrive in Oxford and settle into your hotel located in the heart of this historic city. Explore the famous university colleges and courts, the Thames backwaters, the inns frequented by many generations of writers and the cafes and museums on our self-guided walk of Oxford. Your Host will meet you either later this evening or tomorrow morning to welcome and brief you, share their local knowledge and answer any questions you may have. Welcome to your Cotswold adventure!
-
2. Day two
Oxford to Woodstock
Walking from your hotel through Oxford - a fascinating mix of alleys, backwaters and old mills, you quickly meet the Thames River and follow it through tranquil meadows. Upstream you cross onto the Oxford Canal with its colourful boats and then open countryside with a few slopes and woods to find the small Cotswold village of Woodstock where you stay the night. Grandiose Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site and birthplace of Winston Churchill, is located here and a must see gem. Your ticket enables a visit today and tomorrow.
11 miles (17 km)
-
3. Day three
Woodstock to Ramsden
Buy yourselves a picnic in Woodstock before walking out from your hotel as today's route is rural. First up, you walk through the wooded Blenheim estate and alongside its mighty lake. Then gentle undulations lead you through the leafy Cotswolds. Encounter woodland copses, the meanderings of the River Evenlode and honey coloured stone hamlets and small farms. We meet you in a village inn for a transfer back to Woodstock for a second night there.
8 miles (13 km)
-
4. Day four
Ramsden to Burford
Today is all about the romantic Windrush valley as you descend along an old Roman road to this unspoilt babbling stream and track its course through willow lined meadows, deserted medieval villages and rural tranquility. Several lovely inns and villages offer great refreshment spots; this really is a day for the soul to sing! Your walk finishes in the small Georgian town of Burford with its elegant high street where you stay overnight in an old inn.
11 miles (18 km)
-
5. Day five
Burford to the Leach Valley
Big vistas open up today as you follow some of the tracks laid down by the Romans and later commandeered by salt merchants. Hamlets tend to sit in the valleys and the tiny Leach is one of our favourites where we suggest you pause at the local inn for a refreshment and enjoy the stepping stones and tiny characterful churches. We meet you here for a transfer to your overnight stay in Bibury.
7 miles (11 km)
-
6. Day six
The Leach Valley to Bibury
We return you to the Leach today to then enjoy glorious views as you head to the equally charming River Coln and its several beguiling villages. This is easy walking across fields and meadows with willows overhanging the narrow water courses and peek a boo views of some of the Cotswolds most picturesque hamlets. Bibury, where you stay a 2nd night is one of the most famous with its terrace of woollen workers cottages but there are several other hamlets of equal charm.
8.5 miles (13 km)
-
7. Day seven
Bibury to Chedworth and Cirencester
Today's route is so special. The Coln is hugged by a series of typical Cotswolds hamlets, their ancient stone walls a work of art, their cottage gardens a picture, the lanes and paths twisting and steepening today as the valley narrows. Cross the Roman Fosse Way to find Chedworth village, a thriving off the beaten track place and the woods beyond which descend steeply to a Roman Villa. It's perfectly preserved mosaic floor is the highlight. We meet you here after your visit and lunch to transfer you to Cirencester, a very important centre established by the Romans and today a bustling market town, where you stay the night.
8 miles (13 km)
-
8. Day eight
Cirencester to Tetbury
Explore Cirencester before setting off and we ease the distance today with a morning transfer to the source of the River Thames - which rarely sees any water but is a landmark or a little further on if you are looking for a shorter walk. This is classic Cotswolds country today with open views from the footpaths crossing the pretty undulating terrain and irregular fields, dotted with picturesque hamlets. There are no inns on your route so you need to pick a picnic before you leave Cirencester. Staying the night in Tetbury, a charming small market town, gives you an opportunity to peruse the antique shops. See 'options' for an alternative itinerary today.
10.5 miles (17 km) or less
-
9. Day nine
Tetbury to Sherston
Several members of the Royal family live in this area and today you skirt the country home and garden of the King and Queen. See 'options' for an alternative itinerary today to visit the garden. Your shorter route today gives you time to see a little more of Tetbury before you set off and you have the opportunity of pausing in the Arboretum at Westonbirt as you walk through this magnificent collection of trees. Follow tiny footpaths connecting farms with hamlets nestled in the peaceful rolling countryside to arrive in the tiny hamlet of Sherston where we transfer you to your hotel nearby. See 'options' for an alternative itinerary.
7 miles (11 km)
-
10. Day ten
Sherston to Castle Combe
Peppered with gentle ups and downs, today's walk leads you past tiny brooks and woods, along steeper river valleys, across irregular fields of animals and crops to pretty village inns, churches and historic houses all framed in peaceful and beautiful countryside. Castle Combe, your overnight destination is so picturesque it has doubled as a film set on many occasions. The best of the Cotswolds scenery today!
7.5 miles (12 km)
-
11. Day eleven
Castle Combe to Rudloe
Your path follows a brook as it twists and turns past old mills and weirs and through thick woodland with large deposits underground of the warm coloured Bath stone which was mined here extensively until recently, for building. Some of the old quarries are now bat sanctuaries. This is tranquil countryside with deep valleys sheltering a chocolate box village or two and a single pub a very picturesque refreshment spot. You reach habitation at your overnight stay!
6 miles (9 km)
-
12. Day twelve
Rudloe to Bath
Here's one final day of glorious rural walking as you descend towards magnificent Bath to cross the River Avon and follow the old towing path along the Kennet and Avon Canal into the heart of the city. Enjoy expansive views, enchanting bridges and colourful boats, meadows and cottages and all the Georgian charms that await you in Bath where you stay a final night. You've come a long and gorgeous way from Oxford. Well done!
8 miles (13 km)
-
13. Day thirteen
Depart Bath
Bath has so much to offer, so take time to explore here before departing.