See the Best of the Cotswolds Way on this 4-Day Circular Walk

This four-day circular walk sees the best of the Cotswolds Way. It starts and ends at Moreton-in-Marsh, covers 51 miles of rolling hills, ancient market towns, and impossibly picturesque villages.

The Cotswolds Way is one of Britain’s most celebrated long-distance trails, but at 102 miles and up to 10 days of walking, it’s out of reach for many.

So we designed something better — a 4-day circular route that cherry-picks the finest section of the Cotswolds Way, winds through the prettiest villages in the region, and begins and ends at a train station just 90 minutes from London.

The walk is comfortable, well-paced, and packed with all our favourite places in the area. There are delis to pick up picnics each day or pubs and cafes to stop for lunch.

Each day ends in a beautiful village, which you can explore when the crowds have left for the day.

It is the Cotswolds at its best, and it’s one of our favourite multi-day walks anywhere.

Here’s all the information you need to plan the trip.

Cotswolds Way Vs 4-Day Circular Route

The Cotswolds Way is 102 miles long and runs between Chipping Campden and Bath. It’s an excellent walk through some of the finest countryside in the UK. But there are some downsides.

Firstly, it takes between 7 and 10 days to complete, which requires a chunk of holiday time and a decent level of fitness.

Secondly, there are sections with no good places to stay (without walking 20 miles in a day) and often no good lunch options.

Thirdly, it’s a linear route which does not start at a train station. So either you need to get a bus to the start (if you are taking public transport), or find a way to get back to Chipping Campden from Bath at the end (if you are using a car).

So we decided to come up with a 4-day circular walk that starts and ends at a train station, hikes the finest section of the Cotswolds Way, visits the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, and has great pubs and villages to spend the evenings.

In our opinion, it’s a much more fun way to see the best of the Cotswolds than hiking the entire Cotswolds Way.

If you are keen to see the best of the Cotswolds but would rather do day hikes than a multi-day hike, all our favourites are on Best Day Walks in the Cotswolds.

Cotswolds Way Circular Hike Overview

• Duration: 4 days
• Distance: 51 miles
• Elevation: 6,000 feet of ascent and descent.
• Daily Average: 12.75 miles per day, 1,500 ft elevation
• Map: OS Map of 4-day Route

This circular walk begins and ends at Moreton-on-the-Marsh, which is 90 minutes on the train from London.

It lasts 4 days and covers 12-14 miles per day. Each day should take between 5 and 6 hours of leisurely walking time. By the time you have added an hour for lunch and an hour exploring the villages, it is a full day.

There is about 1,000 to 2,000 feet of ascent and descent each day, but the steady pace means you will get tired but should not be exhausted.

Every night is spent in a village with a few options where to stay, one of which is a traditional pub.

Each morning you order a packed lunch from your hotel, buy one from the village you are staying in, or stop at a cafe or pub on route.

4-Day Circular Itinerary

Below is a breakdown of the route each day.

Day 1 – Moreton-in-Marsh to Broadway – 13 miles

Day 2 – Broadway to Winchcombe – 14 miles

Day 3 – Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water – 12 miles

Day 4 – Bourton-on-the-Water to Moreton-in-Marsh – 12miles

Highlights of the Walk

We have picked a route that tries to pack as many of our favourite places in the Cotswolds as possible into this walk. Here are some of the highlights:

• Best section of the Cotswolds Way – Chipping Campden to Winchcombe
• Bourton-on-the-Water – known as the Venice of the north
• Lower Slaughter – possibly the prettiest village in the Cotswolds
• Broadway Tower – with great views over the Severn Valley
• Snowshill Manor & Gardens – grand manor house and quirky gardens
• Stow on the Wold – delis galore on its quaint shopping streets
• Country pub – each night in a country pub in a beautiful village

Getting There-And-Back

The walk begins and ends at Moreton-in-the-Marsh.

By Train – Moreton-in-the-Marsh is on the fast mainline service running between London Paddington Station and Hereford. From London, the train is direct and takes 90 minutes.

We got the first off-peak train of the day (usually just before 9 am), which arrives in Moreton-in-the-Marsh about 10:20 am. This gave us plenty of time to complete Day 1 of the walk.

However, if you come in the depths of winter and the days are short, you should take the 2A bus to Chipping Campden and start from there. Or take the train the night before and stay in Moreton-in-Marsh overnight.

Return trains to London run late into the evening, so there is no need to rush on your final day.

By Car – Moreton-in-Marsh is about 1 hour 15m minutes drive from Birmingham, 1 hour 20 minutes from Bristol, and 2 hours from London. There is plenty of parking on the back streets, but please be considerate of local residents.

Where to Stay

Each night is spent in a pretty village with several options for where to stay.

We prefer staying in traditional country pubs. However, some of the villages also have B&Bs and more upmarket hotels.

We will recommend options in the day-by-day detailed itineraries below, but to help you book, here are a good-value pub and a more upmarket option for each day.

Day 1 – Broadway – Crown & Trumpet (Good Value) or Broadway Hotel

Day 2 – Winchcombe – White Hart Inn (Good Value) or Lion Inn

Day 3 – Bourton – The Lamb Inn (Good Value) or Slaughters Manor House

Day-By-Day Detailed Itinerary

Below is a day-by-day outline of the hike. We have included the start point, end point, walking distance, and elevation change.

It also has an expected walking time, but be sure to add another 60 to 90 minutes for lunch, rest, enjoying the views, and exploring the sights on route.

If you walk a lot in the UK (like we do) then OS Maps are a great resource. They cost a £36 a year subscription for all the Ordnance Survey Maps of the UK.

The app allows you to save hikes, download the routes offline and follow your progress as you walk. They are incredibly detailed, and with them, it’s almost impossible to get lost.

We use them all the time, and below we have provided a link to an OS Map for each day of the walk.

Day 1–Moreton-In-Marsh to Broadway

• Start: Moreton-in-Marsh
• End: Broadway
• Distance: 13.0 miles
• Elevation: 1,600 ft ascent and descent
• Time: 5 to 6 hours walking time
• High Route Map: OS Map Cotswolds Circular Day 1

Morning

On day 1, after arriving by train from London, we hiked from Moreton-in-Marsh to Broadway. It’s a lovely walk, first across fields and then along the top of the Cotswolds escarpment. Along the way, it visits four great villages and there are two excellent pub options for lunch.

Exiting the train station, we spent 15 minutes exploring the antique stores of Moreton-in-Marsh before picking up the Monarch’s Way and heading across the fields northwest to Blockley.

Lunch

Blockley is a very picturesque little village with a couple of good lunch options. Blockley Cafe serves simple snacks and lunches from 9 am each day. The Great Western Arms is a traditional country pub serving pub classics with interesting twists (Fri-Sun). Or you can do what we did and pick up a picnic from the deli in Moreton-in-Marsh.

From Blockley, we continued following the Monarch’s Way to Broad Campden, another lovely and under-visited village set around a pretty green. It has its own excellent pub, The Bakers Arms, also serving lunch and is open every day.

Afternoon

Next stop is Chipping Campden, renowned for its stunning honey-coloured limestone buildings and well-preserved medieval High Street. It’s worth taking time to explore here, and we suggest you take the detour to the St. James Church at the east end of town and don’t miss the old ‘chipping’ or ‘market.’

Chipping Campden is the beginning of the Cotswolds Way, and for the next two days, the trail follows this 102-mile-long distance walk. There are plenty of places for a tea or coffee before setting off towards Broadway

From Chipping Campden, the Cotswolds Way climbs up the escarpment to the viewpoint at Dover’s Hill and then follows the top of the ridge to reach Broadway Tower.

This strange folly has magnificent views north and west, and when we were there, it was so clear we could see all the way across the Severn Valley to the Black Mountains.

From the tower, the route steeply descends the Cotswolds escarpment, ending in the village of Broadway.

Evening

I’ve always loved Broadway; little art galleries, cute coffee shops, and grand facades make it a great place to spend the night.

We stayed at the good-value, friendly Crown & Trumpet, but for a more upmarket offering, try the Broadway Hotel, which has a lovely garden out front.

Day 2 – Broadway to Winchcombe

• Start: Broadway
• End: Winchcombe
• Distance: 13.8 miles
• Elevation: 2,000 ft ascent and descent
• Time: 6 to 7 hours walking time
• High Route Map: OS Map Cotswolds Circular Day 2

Morning

Day 2 starts at Broadway and ends in Winchcombe, following the Cotswolds Way for almost the entire day. It’s an excellent day that heads up and down the escarpment, has wonderful views and visits several very attractive – but off the beaten track – villages.

We began with a bit of a slog back up the escarpment, passing the ruins of an old hill fort. At Buckland Wood, we decided to take a short detour off the Cotswolds Way to Snowshill (and we recommend you do the same) .

We had heard it was a beautiful village with a grand manor house and striking church – and were not disappointed. We then headed back to rejoin the Cotswolds Way and descend into Stanton, another lovely little village.

Lunch

Stanton has a great pub called the Mount Inn. We had taken a bit of time looking around Snowshill, so it was just about lunch time when we arrived in Stanton, and we could not resist having lunch on the inviting tables outside the pub (Tue-Sun 12 pm to 3 pm).

If you’d rather have a picnic, grab some food at one of the delis in Broadway before setting off. Or get a packed lunch from where you stayed the night.

Afternoon

After lunch, we continued on the Cotswolds Way following the valley floor to the hall at Stanway. There is a climb up to Stumps Cross and then a descent back to Hailes (both of which you can skip if you want).

Just before Hailes, you’ll pass Hailes Fruit Farm, which sells its own Apple Cider and the ruins of Hailes Abbey. The last stretch is an easy walk into Winchcombe.

Evening

Winchcombe is a charming Cotswolds village, slightly spoilt by the busy road that runs through it. But head one street back, and it’s a quiet little place.

We stayed at the good-value White Hart Inn, but for something a bit grander, try the Lion Inn.

Day 3 – Winchcombe to Bourton-On-The-Water

• Start: Winchcombe
• End: Bourton-on-the-Water
• Distance: 12.2 miles
• Elevation: 1,400 ft ascent and descent
• Time: 5 to 6 hours walking time
• High Route Map: OS Map Cotswolds Circular Day 3

Morning

Today, the route leaves the Cotswolds Way and heads southeast, using the Winchcombe, Wardens and Windrush Way, ending in Bourton-on-the-Water. Bourton is one of the most famous villages in the Cotswolds and can be crammed, but fortunately it is often quiet in the evening – which is when you’ll be there.

We started straight after a great cooked breakfast, following the Winchcombe Way. The route gradually leaves the escarpment behind, joins up with the Wardens Way and heads through dense Guiting Wood to the village of Guiting Power.

Lunch

Guiting Power sits in the rolling hills between Winchcombe and Bourton-on-the-Water. A picturesque village, with a classic English green, honey-stone cottages, and an atmosphere largely untouched by tourism. There are two great places for lunch.

The Farmers Arms offers pub classics and grills with lunch served from 12 pm to 2:30 pm daily (till 4 pm on Sunday). We opted for the Old Post Office Cafe (9 am to 4 pm). The sandwich and carrot cake were just what we needed.

Afternoon

Satiated from lunch, we continued on the Wardens Way, following the path to Naunton. Make sure you come off the main trail to explore the village, then pick up the Windrush Way and follow the River Windrush all the way into Bourton.

It’s a lovely stretch along the banks with the river babbling beside you. Hopefully, by the time you arrive in Bourton, the crowds will have left, and you can enjoy this stunning village to yourselves.

Evening

Bourton-on-the-Water is often called the “Venice of the Cotswolds,” thanks to the series of elegant low bridges spanning the River Windrush as it flows through the centre of the village. Make sure you take the time to explore before leaving the next day.

We stayed at the good-value Lamb Inn, but Bourton-on-the-Water has lots of options. If you want a very grand old-style stay, then hike a small part of tomorrow’s walk and stay at the Slaughters Manor House in Lower Slaughter.

Day 4 – Bourton-On-The-Water to Moreton-In-Marsh

• Start: Bourton-on-the-Water
• End: Moreton-in-Marsh
• Distance: 12.2 miles
• Elevation: 900 ft ascent and descent
• Time: 5 to 6 hours walking time
• High Route Map: OS Map Cotswolds Circular Day 4

Morning

The final day of this circular walk passes through possibly the most beautiful village in the Cotswolds and an excellent market town before finishing back at Moreton-in-Marsh.

Today we got up early and explored Bourton-on-the-Water before breakfast. There was almost no one about, and it was wonderful. After breakfast, we followed the Monarchs Way and then the Macmillan Way to Lower Slaughter.

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in England, its idyllic stream, the River Eye, flows gently past a row of immaculate honey-stone cottages to a picturesque old corn mill. It is entirely unspoilt and free from commercial intrusion.

We took our time wondering the little laneways and explored the mill before rejoining the Macmillan Way. The path cuts across the fields, past Hyde Mill and Nether Swell Manor, before climbing to the main road.

Crossing the road, and just before the Macmillan Way reaches Maugersbury, turn left and enter Stow-on-the-Wold.

Lunch

Stow-on-the-Wold is the highest town in the Cotswolds, where eight ancient roads converge, reflecting its historic importance as a major market town. It’s a great spot for lunch.

There are antique shops to explore, independent galleries to pop your head into, and cosy pubs dotted around the handsome market square. We opted to potter into all the different delis and pick up bits and pieces for a light lunch. Although I think we may have gone overboard in the cheese shop.

Afternoon

After lunch, we picked up the Monarchs Way, following a track between two high hedges before reaching the villages of Broadwell, Donnington, Longborough and finally Moreton-in-the Marsh.

Feeling rather tired as we wandered into town, and slumped onto = the benches on the train platform for our journey home.

We couldn’t say we’d completed the Cotswolds Way, but we could say we’d had an amazing four days.

Other Multi-Day Hikes

If you enjoyed this multi-day hike, then you may enjoy our similar 3 to 5-day Lake District Hike.

Again, it does not just follow the long-distance Cumbria Way, but picks out a circular walk that heads into the wildest and most beautiful parts of the National Park while staying in excellent country pubs in the evening.

More Cotswolds Guides

• Read our guide to the best things to do in the Cotswolds.
• Enjoy the romantic city with our guide to the best things to do in Bath.
• Enjoy a classic country walk with our top Cotswolds day hikes.
• Or see the best of the Cotswolds Way on this 4-day Circular Hike.
• Find your perfect hotel with our guide to staying in the Cotswolds.
• Oxford vs Cambridge which is better for tourists to visit.
• Enjoy a spa break at Heythrop Park Hotel.
• Check out the best day trips to the Cotswolds from London.
• Swoon over the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds.
• Find our favourite secret swimming spots in the Cotswolds.
• Read our the best things to do in Oxford.