DAY 1

You may arrive at any time to the thriving market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, which has welcomed travelers for at least 1700 years.
The Manor House Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh

DAY 2

Follow the Roman Fosse Way before branching off through wheat fields and copses of hawksbeard and buttercups, and descend to the antique-filled village of Stow-on-the-Wold for lunch overlooking the stocks on the village green. At the height of the Cotswold wool industry the town was famous for its huge annual fairs where as many as 20,000 sheep were sold at one time. Listen for woodpeckers in oak woods on the way to Lower Slaughter, from where a gentle stroll brings you to the charming Bourton-on-the-Water. Regularly voted the prettiest village in England, Bourton is one of the showpieces of the region and its hidden streets are full of tiny shops, Tudor houses, and gourmet restaurants.
Washbourne Court, Bourton-on-the-Water

DAY 3

Walk alongside the Windrush river, lined with bright daffodils, to the beautifully timeless villages of Naunton and Guiting Power. You continue on through shady woodland before descending to the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe and nearby Sudeley Castle, one of England’s most enchanting old estates set against the quiet dignity of the Cotswold hills. It is the final resting place of Queen Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth wife.
White Hart Inn, Winchcombe

DAY 4

Today you follow the Cotswolds Way and an ancient pilgrim’s route leads from Winchcombe to the eerie ruined arches of Hailes Abbey. It’s a gentle climb up to the Iron Age Fortress at Beckbury Camp for superb valley views. After passing Stanway House’s magnificent gatehouse and tithe barn, enjoy a pub lunch in Stanton, and then amble through open meadows to charming Broadway, referred to as The Jewel in the Cotswold Crown, with its picturesque tree-lined High Street.
Broadway Hotel, Broadway

DAY 5

Walking beneath the Worcestershire Hills, your first stop is at Broadway’s Tower, the 18th-century folly inspired by Capability Brown, where you’re rewarded with stunning, unspoiled views. Located 1,024 feet atop Fish Hill, the tower is the second highest point in the Cotswolds; it is said that in good weather 13 counties can be seen from here. The tower was built to satisfy a whim of a countess, and later was the home of William Morris, a 19th-century poet, painter, and social reformer. It’s a gentle descent to Chipping Campden, a charming town, once famous for its wool trade, with many fine 14th-century buildings, a covered market, almshouses, and silversmith.
Noel Arms Hotel, Chipping Camden

DAY 6

Today’s route takes you to Blockley, an ideal stop for lunch, then descend to Batsford, where you’ll discover an arboretum filled with spectacular Coral Bark Maple trees and russet-berried Mountain Ash. Your final stretch is an easy stroll to Moreton-in-Marsh, at the head of the beautiful Evenlode Valley and where your wonderful walking journey in the Cotswolds began six days ago.
The Manor House Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh

DAY 7

After breakfast (and prior to the hotel’s check-out time), you transfer on your own for connections home or to your next destination.

Itinerary Changes

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual activities, sites, and accommodations may vary due to season, special events, weather, or transportation schedules. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Nights 1 & 6

The Manor House Hotel
Moreton-in-Marsh, England

On the main street of Moreton-in-Marsh, a 16th-century golden-stone manor converted into a classic country-house luxurious hotel. Bedrooms are stylishly decorated with modern furnishings and warm colors with views of the surrounding town and country. Common rooms include a library, inviting sofas, striking artwork, and an open terrace on the ground floor onto a tranquil garden with herbaceous borders, pathways, and a 300-year-old mulberry tree. A market town since the 1200s, and a traveler’s stop for 1,700 years, the main street has many 18th-century inns and houses.

Night 2

Washbourne Court
Bourton-on-the-Water, England

A rural manor converted into a stylish boutique hotel blending traditional architecture and furniture with strategically placed modern art. Plush guestrooms incorporate vintage and handmade furnishings and luxurious linens. Occupying manicured gardens and grounds on the bank of the River Eye, it is a 15-minute stroll along country paths to Bourton-on-the-Water, the Cotswolds’ best-known village for its picturesque streets, series of bridges over the Windrush River, and bird habitat.

Night 3

White Hart Inn
Winchcombe, England

An old coaching house, this small inn is ideally situated on the main street in charming Winchcombe. Individually decorated rooms on the second floor have either light-blue-and-cream colors or a tartan theme. On the main floor are a contemporary restaurant and popular bar with exposed wood and big windows looking out on the street. The town’s long history includes associations with King Henry VIII, and it still has a historic “wool church,” financed by successful medieval wool merchants.

Night 4

Broadway Hotel
Broadway, England

A 16th-century coaching inn on the main street of the “Jewel of the Cotswolds” features tastefully appointed rooms surrounding a small central courtyard. Guestrooms, located in a converted wing, are luxuriously furnished and decorated in light colors. Bar, restaurant, and lounge areas on the ground floor have low beams, open fires, warm colors, and paneled walls. The honey-colored limestone buildings and garden-lined streets were an inspiration to many artists and writers such as J.M. Barrie and John Singer Sargent.

Night 5

Noel Arms Hotel
Chipping Campden, England

One of the oldest inns in the Cotswolds, a converted stone manor house in Chipping Camden at the start of the Cotswold Way walking route. Refurbished guestrooms are well-equipped with modern and antique furnishings. Also blending antique and exposed beams with contemporary flair are restaurant, coffee shop, bar, and terrace. The town that was once the center of Europe’s wool trade contains the region’s most beautiful “wool church” and rows of historic stone houses.

Please note that this is a sample hotel itinerary for this tour. While these hotels are featured on many departures, we regularly reserve other hotels of similar style and quality. If you are currently booked on a Country Walkers adventure, a hotel itinerary has been sent to you for your exact departure date. Please call Country Walkers at 800.464.9255 if you have any questions about the exact hotels selected for any of our tours.