I went to the Cotswolds with Backroads in July partly for myself and partly for my clients. I wanted to know if their Cotswolds walking trip is actually as gentle and lovely as it sounds—or if it secretly requires mountain-goat fitness and a love of group schedules. Short answer: it’s a relaxed walking holiday with a few real hills, two very good hotels, and a lot of time in that soft, green English countryside everyone imagines when they think “Cotswolds.”
Why I Chose This Trip
Clients kept asking me about Backroads’ Cotswolds walking & hiking trips, and I didn’t want to guess based on a brochure. I wanted to feel the routes myself, sleep in the beds, test the spa, and see if this is something I’d genuinely recommend to people who like to walk—but also like a nice glass of wine and a comfortable bed.
The trip I did was six days, based at two properties:
- Calcot & Spa near Tetbury – a 16th-century manor turned relaxed country hotel with a serious spa and 220 acres of rewilded countryside around it.
- THE PIG–in the Cotswolds in Barnsley – the former Barnsley House with its famous Rosemary Verey gardens and a kitchen-garden restaurant.
If your ideal trip is walking through fields and villages by day and heading back to a spa and a cozy bar at night, this combo works really well.
What a Typical Day Looked Like
Most days followed the same rhythm, which I liked. It felt organized but never uptight.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Short briefing from the leaders about the route and options
- A few hours of walking, with breaks for views, stories, or coffee
- Lunch (sometimes a picnic, sometimes a pub or café)
- More walking or a village / museum / manor stop
- Back at the hotel by mid- or late afternoon for spa, bar, or a nap
- Group dinner in the restaurant or at a local pub
You always knew what was coming, but there was room to choose the shorter or longer option, linger at a view, or ride in the van if your knees decided they were done.
How Hard the Walking Felt
This is the part everyone asks me: “Can I actually do it?”
The Cotswolds is rolling countryside, not dramatic peaks. Most of our walking was on:
- Grass footpaths through sheep pastures
- Farm tracks and narrow lanes
- A few short, steeper hills
- Some woodland sections and village streets
Most days were in the 3–7 mile range, with the option to add a little more. If you can walk a few miles at home without it being a big deal, you’re in the right zone. You’ll feel your legs on the longer days, but it’s more “I walked a lot” than “I’m ruined.”
Backroads also has a support van, and people used it. If you wake up and your knees are cranky, or you want to cut a day short, you can. No one makes a thing of it.
What We Actually Did in Those Six Days
Here’s the quick version of what we did, without pretending it was some mysterious secret itinerary.
Days 1–3: Based at Calcot & Spa
The Calcot half of the trip felt like a soft landing into the Cotswolds. We did countryside walks with views toward Highgrove and Gatcombe Park (King Charles and Princess Anne’s homes are nearby), so there’s a quiet thrill in knowing you’re basically walking near the royal backyards.
We spent time in Tetbury, a small market town that’s an easy place to wander—antique shops, interiors stores, a few good cafés. It’s not flashy, but it feels very “Cotswolds in real life.”
One day we visited Chavenage House, an Elizabethan manor still lived in by the family. It’s been used in multiple period dramas, and being inside it with the family’s stories layered over the architecture felt like stepping into about four centuries at once.
We also stopped in Castle Combe, which looks exactly like the postcard version: stone bridge, river, cottages that make you Google real estate even though you know better.
Days 4–6: Based at THE PIG–in the Cotswolds
Mid-trip we moved to THE PIG–in the Cotswolds, and the energy shifted slightly—more gardens, more cozy corners, still very relaxed.
We spent time in Cirencester, with a visit to the Corinium Museum (Roman mosaics, artifacts, and a nice sense of the town’s history beyond cute shops). There was enough free time to wander the high street and find coffee or a snack.
We walked through the Coln Valley, where the trail follows the river and passes through tiny villages and farmhouses, and we finished one day in Bibury, home of the famous Arlington Row cottages. It’s busy, but walking into it rather than just unloading from a bus makes it feel less like a backdrop and more like somewhere you’re actually exploring.
On the last day, we did a shorter farewell walk, then headed back to the hotel to shower, pack, and say our goodbyes before transferring onward.
The Practical Stuff People Always Ask Me
Group vibe
My departure was actually a women’s-only Backroads trip, which I loved. The entire group was women—some solo travelers, some mother–daughter pairs, a couple of sisters, and a few small friend groups doing a “girls’ trip” in the Cotswolds.
What’s actually included
On this trip, Backroads covered:
- All breakfasts
- Most lunches and dinners
- Trail snacks and non-alcoholic drinks during the day
- A refillable water bottle and hiking poles if you wanted to use theirs
- Luggage transfers between hotels
- Entry fees for the included visits (like Chavenage and the museum)
- The support van and daily route logistics
What you pay for on your own: alcohol, any extra spa treatments, trip leader tips, and your travel to and from the trip’s start/end points.
Weather & clothing (July reality)
We honestly got lucky with weather. For a July trip in England, it was kind of a dream: we had mostly overcast days, no rain, and those cool, fresh mornings and evenings that make walking feel easy. Midday was warm, but never in a “this is miserable” way—more like “I’m glad I wore a t-shirt under this light layer.”
What I was genuinely glad I had:
- Hiking boots instead of tennis shoes – A lot of the walking is through fields and pastures, and the ground is uneven with rocks, ruts, and plenty of sheep poo. Boots made it so I wasn’t worrying about where I stepped.
- Light layers – Mornings and evenings were cool, and midday warmed up, so I was constantly taking a layer on and off.
- A packable waterproof jacket – We didn’t get rain (we got lucky), but in England I’d still rather have it and not need it than the other way around.
- Quick-dry socks and an extra pair in my daypack – Just nice to have when you’re on your feet for several hours.
- Hat and sunglasses – For those warmer stretches in the middle of the day when the sun did come out.
Who I’d Send on This Trip (and Who I Wouldn’t)
I’d happily recommend this Cotswolds walking trip if you:
- Like the idea of walking every day, but not all day
- Want comfortable, character-filled hotels with good food and a spa
- Prefer small-group structure over planning every route and lunch stop yourself
- Care more about villages, gardens, and countryside than big cities on this trip
I’d probably point you to something else if you:
- Want a big, physical challenge with long daily mileage
- Really dislike any kind of group setting
- Don’t actually enjoy walking, but feel like you “should”
If You’re Thinking About a Cotswolds Walking Trip
I did this trip so I’d know what I’m sending my clients into—how the walking feels in a real body, whether the hotels are worth the hype, and how much flexibility you actually have once you’re there.
If you’re curious about this exact Backroads itinerary or want something more private—like a custom Cotswolds trip with hand-picked hotels, drivers, and walks that match your comfort level—that’s exactly the kind of trip I help plan.
If you’re dreaming about English villages, hedgerows, and good hotel bars after a day on the trail, you can reach out and we’ll figure out whether a Backroads group trip, a custom itinerary, or a mix of both makes the most sense for you.
Start planning your Cotswolds journey here!
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