Several long distance footpaths run through the Cotswolds. Some of these are part of the National Trails system with trail signs marked with their acorn symbol. Many of the popular walking trails in the Cotswolds will include part of one of these long distance paths. The benefits of walking on one of these paths is that they are well maintained and signed.
There are companies that will help you plan these long distance walks, booking your hotels and luggage transfer. (I recommend Cotswold Walks.)
Cotswold Way (100 miles - National Trail): Straight walk from Bath to Chipping Campden, along the western edge of the Cotswold escarpment. Passes through Wotton-under-Edge, Dursley, Painswick, Winchcombe and Broadway. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold-way/
Cross Cotswold Pathway - Macmillan Way (86 miles): The Macmillan Way (290 miles) is a straight walk from the south coast in Devon to the Boston on the east coast. The part from Bath to Banbury, called the Cross Cotswold Pathway, passes through Cirencester and Stow-on-the-Wold. http://www.macmillanway.org/
Cotswold Round (207 miles): Combine the Cotswold Way with the Macmillian Way - Cross Cotswold Pathway to get a circular walk in the Cotswolds.
Cotswold Canals Walk (37 miles): The Stroudwater Canal starts at the River Severn and meets the Thames and Severn Canal near Stroud, which continues through the southern Cotswolds reaching the River Thames at Lechlade. This walk joins the The Thames Path. Guide from Countryside Matters
Diamond Way (60 miles): Circular walk in the northern Cotswolds from Northleach to Chipping Campden, passing through Moreton-in-Marsh, Blockley and Guiting Power.
Gloucestershire Way (100 miles): Almost a circle starting and ending near the River Severn. Chepstow to Glouchester to Stow-on-the-Wold, then back to Winchcombe and Tewkesbury. Guide from Countryside Matters
Heart of England Way (100 miles): Straight path from Bourton-on-the-Water north to Milford, passing through Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Chipping Campden and then north into the West Midlands. https://www.heartofenglandway.org/
Monarch's Way (615 miles): Straight walk from Worcester to Shoreham, passing through Stratford-on-Avon and into the Cotswolds (Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester) to Bristol and then down to Shoreham on the south coast. Following a historical path of Charles II in 1651, fleeing after his defeat in the Battle of Worchester. http://www.monarchsway.50megs.com/
Oxfordshire Way (65 miles): From Bourton-on-the-Water in the central Cotswolds into Oxfordshire, ending at Henley-on-Thames.
Thames Path (184 miles - National Trail): Follows the River Thames from the source near Cirencester, through the Cotswolds Water Park, to Lechlade, then leaving the Cotswolds and ending in London at the Thames Barrier. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path/
Wardens Way (14 miles): In the northern Cotswolds, from Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water, connecting the Cotswold Way with the Oxfordshire Way. Combine with the Windrush Way to make a circular long distance walk.
Windrush Way (14 miles): Following the River Windrush from Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water in the northern Cotswolds. Combine with the Wardens Way to make a circular long distance walk.
Wysis Way (55 miles): A southern Cotswolds walk linking three rivers - Wye, Severn and Thames. Starts west of the Cotswolds in the Forest of Dean, comes into the Cotswolds above Stroud to Bisley, then down into the Frome Valley to the source of the Thames south of Cirencester. Guide from Countryside Matters
Resources
On the Cotswold Way above Painswick
There are companies that will help you plan these long distance walks, booking your hotels and luggage transfer. (I recommend Cotswold Walks.)
Cotswold Way (100 miles - National Trail): Straight walk from Bath to Chipping Campden, along the western edge of the Cotswold escarpment. Passes through Wotton-under-Edge, Dursley, Painswick, Winchcombe and Broadway. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold-way/
Cross Cotswold Pathway - Macmillan Way (86 miles): The Macmillan Way (290 miles) is a straight walk from the south coast in Devon to the Boston on the east coast. The part from Bath to Banbury, called the Cross Cotswold Pathway, passes through Cirencester and Stow-on-the-Wold. http://www.macmillanway.org/
Cotswold Round (207 miles): Combine the Cotswold Way with the Macmillian Way - Cross Cotswold Pathway to get a circular walk in the Cotswolds.
Cotswold Canals Walk (37 miles): The Stroudwater Canal starts at the River Severn and meets the Thames and Severn Canal near Stroud, which continues through the southern Cotswolds reaching the River Thames at Lechlade. This walk joins the The Thames Path. Guide from Countryside Matters
Diamond Way (60 miles): Circular walk in the northern Cotswolds from Northleach to Chipping Campden, passing through Moreton-in-Marsh, Blockley and Guiting Power.
Gloucestershire Way (100 miles): Almost a circle starting and ending near the River Severn. Chepstow to Glouchester to Stow-on-the-Wold, then back to Winchcombe and Tewkesbury. Guide from Countryside Matters
Heart of England Way (100 miles): Straight path from Bourton-on-the-Water north to Milford, passing through Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Chipping Campden and then north into the West Midlands. https://www.heartofenglandway.org/
Monarch's Way (615 miles): Straight walk from Worcester to Shoreham, passing through Stratford-on-Avon and into the Cotswolds (Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester) to Bristol and then down to Shoreham on the south coast. Following a historical path of Charles II in 1651, fleeing after his defeat in the Battle of Worchester. http://www.monarchsway.50megs.com/
Oxfordshire Way (65 miles): From Bourton-on-the-Water in the central Cotswolds into Oxfordshire, ending at Henley-on-Thames.
Thames Path (184 miles - National Trail): Follows the River Thames from the source near Cirencester, through the Cotswolds Water Park, to Lechlade, then leaving the Cotswolds and ending in London at the Thames Barrier. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path/
Wardens Way (14 miles): In the northern Cotswolds, from Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water, connecting the Cotswold Way with the Oxfordshire Way. Combine with the Windrush Way to make a circular long distance walk.
Windrush Way (14 miles): Following the River Windrush from Winchcombe to Bourton-on-the-Water in the northern Cotswolds. Combine with the Wardens Way to make a circular long distance walk.
Wysis Way (55 miles): A southern Cotswolds walk linking three rivers - Wye, Severn and Thames. Starts west of the Cotswolds in the Forest of Dean, comes into the Cotswolds above Stroud to Bisley, then down into the Frome Valley to the source of the Thames south of Cirencester. Guide from Countryside Matters
Resources
- The Long Distance Walkers Association - details of Long Distance trails in the UK.
- National Trails - National trails in England and Wales.
On the Cotswold Way above Painswick