Explore our favourite Cotswold walks and hikes

With golden stone cottages and rolling green hills, the Cotswolds are quite rightly designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). As a place it is vast, covering parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. As you’d expect from such a large swathe of English countryside, there are some splendid countryside walks to enjoy, encompassing romantic hillsides, picturesque villages, and beautifully preserved castles. For the more ambitious rambler, there are well-established Cotswold hiking trails that take you through historic sites and natural wonders.

So pick up a pair of comfy Timberland boots, don a classic Barbour jacket and head to the country, equipped with our selection of some of the very best walks you can enjoy in the Cotswolds...

Enjoy these delightful walks in the Cotswolds

Long-distance trail, 1 hour and 20 minutes from Bicester Village

The Wychavon Way passes through the Worcestershire district of Wychavon, a beautiful part of the country. Established in 1983, the trail covers approximately 40 miles (64 km), starting from the town of Droitwich Spa.

The trail is considered moderate in terms of difficulty, with some gentle ascents and descents, as well as flat sections suitable for all levels of experience. It is generally well-maintained and marked with signposts, but some sections can be slippery during wet weather, so it's important to wear appropriate footwear – you can’t go wrong with a good pair of Timberland boots.

Overall, the Wychavon Way is a wonderful trail for walkers who want to explore the beautiful Worcestershire countryside. Find the details of the route here.

WE LOVE
The walk ends at Broadway Tower, a historic folly with panoramic views and the brainchild of the great 18th century landscape designer, Capability Brown. Watch out for its eclectic mixture of turrets, battlements, balconies... and even gargoyles.

Seasonal trail, 1 hour and 10 minutes from Bicester Village

As the weather warms, the Cotswolds come alive with a flurry of tree blossoms. To make the most of the fleeting spring season, why not walk part of the 50-mile (80-km) Blossom Trail in Worcestershire’s Vale of Evesham, delighting visitors for 40 years. Along the route, you’ll see cherry, plum, apple, pear, peach, and crab apples blossom. Find all the details, including information on the different types of blossoms, on this dedicated Blossom Trail page.

TOP TIP
If you’ve missed the springtime, don’t worry. The trail takes in many of the horticultural highlights the area has to offer throughout the rest of the year: award-winning parks, garden centres, nurseries, and farm shops – often with tempting cafés attached.

Circular walk, 1 hour and 10 minutes from Bicester Village

Winchcombe is a charming medieval market town just outside Cheltenham and a short walk away from Sudeley Castle – one of England's most picturesque castles.

The route to Sudeley Castle from Winchcombe is one of the easiest circular walks in the Cotswolds, taking only around an hour, at two miles (3 km) long. The walk may be fairly short but there is still plenty to see on the way, including the River Isbourne. See a map and details of the route here.

DID YOU KNOW?
The last of Henry VIII’s six wives, Katherine Parr, lived and died in Sudeley castle. She now rests in a beautiful 15th century church within the gardens that are open for tours.

Circular walk, 1 hour from Bicester Village

The village of Broadway is known as the Jewel of the Cotswolds for its stunning High Street lined with honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages and glorious horse chestnut trees. Not far from the village is the Cotswold landmark, Broadway Tower.

The enchanting four-mile (6 km) walk to Broadway Tower leads you through the village, along historic tracks, and up to the beacon hill with its spectacular views across the Severn Vale into Wales. Find a map of the walk here.

INSIDER SECRET
Broadway Tower was built for the Countess of Coventry in 1798, who wondered whether a beacon on this hill could be seen from her house in Worcester – about 22 miles away. (And yes, it could.)

Hiking trail, 1 hour from Bicester Village

The Cotswold Way National Trail is a long-distance trail encompassing 102 miles (164 km) from Chipping Campden to the steps of Bath Abbey and is considered one of the best hikes in the Cotswolds.

The Cotswold Way hike takes most people between five to ten days to walk in full and is challenging at times. You’ll definitely need some good quality walking gear – we recommend something from The North Face or lululemon to help tackle the walk in its entirety. However, there are plenty of circular walks that branch off from the trail that take you to points of interest such as the Stroud Water Canal and the Broadway Tower.

For more information about the Cotswold Way, head to the National Trails website.

DON’T MISS
Following the Cotswold hills, the trail offers panoramic views across the Severn Vale, passing through beech woods, open pasture with dry stone walls and picturesque villages of limestone cottages.

Hiking Trail, 1 hour and 30 minutes from Bicester Village

On this five-mile (8 km) circular walk, you pass through the verdant slopes of the Slad Valley, crossing small rivers and streams and meandering through woodlands – all of which contain a rich variety of wildlife. Starting at Bulls Cross crossroads, and following the red arrows displayed on the posts, the walk can take as long as five hours to complete and includes one particularly steep section near the beginning.

Download a leaflet from the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust before you go to get the most from this Cotswold walking trail.

WE LOVE
The trail’s namesake, author Laurie Lee, shares a rollicking yet deeply moving account of his Cotswold childhood during the early 20th century in his beloved book Cider with Rosie.

Circular walk, 40 minutes from Bicester Village

One of the best Cotswolds trails for a family stroll in a beautiful setting, this walk also offers you the option of wild swimming to reinvigorate yourself. Over the 3.5-mile (over 5 km) walk, you’ll see plenty of the River Windrush and the pretty village of Minster Lovell. There, the ruins of the manor house are hauntingly beautiful, the main feature of the walk which takes you to the nearby village of Crawley. See the route here.

DON’T MISS
There are some great pubs in the area, such as The Old Swan in Minster Lovell and The Lamb Inn in Crawley, to reward yourself with a pint of English ale and a bowl of chips.

Other places to visit

After working up an appetite on the Cotswold hiking trails, you’ll want something to eat from our specially curated list of local restaurants in the Cotswolds. However, if you would prefer to stay more local to Bicester Village, there is so much to see and do in the historic city of Oxford, as well as the charming surrounding countryside and the picturesque villages of Oxfordshire.