Cotswold Villages - tour description
The villages and ‘wool-towns’ of the north Cotswolds were constructed over many centuries from the famous local honey-coloured limestone.
Each has its own memorable character: Burford’s High Street running down to the River Windrush; the market square at Stow with its mediaeval ‘stocks’; the astonishing array of architectural styles at Chipping Campden; the fine 18th and 19th century terraces of Blockley; the elegant houses of Broadway and Stanton. The villages are linked by well-signposted footpaths along which you can explore this peaceful landscape of placid riverbanks, pastures enclosed by dry-stone walls, stately manor-houses, steep escarpments and broad panoramas.
Our route passes close to a number of famous houses and gardens which are open to the public most days, including the magnificent Hidcote Manor Gardens, Snowshill Manor (both National Trust) and Sudeley Castle (once the home of Henry VIII’s last wife Katherine Parr). And, not least, around lunchtime we can usually direct you to a typical English country pub serving real ale and bar meals...

Reports from previous Discerning Traveller customers in the Cotswolds

‘I want to thank you for the unforgettable trip and I really enjoyed making use of your excellent service. [The best aspects of the trip were] the unforgettable landscape [and] the fact that our luggage was transported every day’ Mrs Blusse and Miss Blusse.

‘ The accommodation ... was excellent and just what we wanted at the end of a day's walk..’ Ms J Rees.

‘Beautiful landscapes, hardly any other tourists, nice villages...very thoughtful of ‘Discerning Traveller’ to make sure we arrived at our accommodation each day.’ Ms M van der Spek and Mrs T de Jong.

‘ Good information - beautiful route.’ Mr H Bergman and Ms A de Boer.

Cotswold Villages - tour details 2014
A Discerning Traveller self-led hiking tour
Duration. 6 or 8 nights. Tour code. C6E (6 nights); C8E (8 nights).
Dates. April to mid-October starting any day.
Note on Hidcote Manor and other gardens. During this tour you have an opportunity to visit the world famous Hidcote Manor Garden (National Trust) near Chipping Campden. Ask us about this. For details of opening days and times of this and other gardens and houses see our Factsheet for this tour (FSC). To order Factsheets click here.
Grade. Easy (some people may find some days tiring, but they can readily be shortened).
Train stations. Start of tour Charlbury or Oxford; end of tour Moreton-in-Marsh (C6); Cheltenham or Evesham (C8).
Overnight stops (6-night tour): night 1 Burford; 2 Bourton-on-the-Water; 3 Stow-on-the-Wold; 4 Blockley; 5 & 6 Chipping Campden.
Overnight stops (8-night tour): nights 1 to 6 as 6 night tour, then: night 7 Stanton; night 8 Winchcombe.
Accommodation. Selected high quality B&Bs. En suite/private facilities are standard.
Meals included. Breakfast each morning. Other meals can be obtained locally without pre-booking.
Extra nights. Can be included at any point at the time of booking. A second night is already included at Chipping Camden. Winchcombe is also popular for an extra night. For those who want somewhere quiet we suggest Blockley or Stanton. Bourton-on-the-Water is very 'touristy' during the daytime. Burford is a delightful place to relax after a long journey.
Factsheets. These are more detailed information sheets, one for each tour, which can be obtained from The Discerning Traveller before booking. The factsheet code for our Cotswold tour is FSC. Enquiry form
Reading. Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie is a poetic account of growing up in the Cotswolds.

Cotswold Villages - tour prices 2014

• C6E (6 night tour, ES or private facilities every night): £570. SRS*: £115. STS**: £140.
• C8E (8 night tour, ES or private facilities every night): £665. SRS*: £145. STS**: £175.
• Extra nights on all Cotswolds tours: £50 per person per night; single rooms may cost more.
• SRS* = single room supplement (applicable when 3 or 5 persons book together).
• STS** = single traveller supplement (applicable when booking is for one person only).
• Prices quoted are per person on basis of two people in double or twin-bedded rooms. Included in the price are bed and breakfast each night, with baggage transfers, maps and route directions. ‘ES’ (en suite) facilities means that there is a private bathroom with shower or tub and toilet within the main door of your room. ‘Private facilities’ means that the private bathroom may be outside the main door of your room. When the booking is made for a party of 3 or 5 customers, a single room supplement is payable. When the booking is made for a single traveller, a single traveller supplement is payable. Maximum one single room per booking.

Other Discerning Traveller ‘easy’ grade walks are available in the Lake District and in Wales: Pembrokeshire Coast: Skomer and St David's

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