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Walk the Cotswolds

Walk the Cotswolds

From $ 2,430 AUD

Description

The Cotswolds, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are filled with rustic English charm with more thatched cottages, historic churches, stately mansions and vibrant market towns than you can point a camera at. Along with the famous university town of Oxford, you’ll explore Blenheim Palace, scale the heights of Broadway Tower, and ramble through towns like Stow-on-the-Wold and the quaint, yet lively, town of Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds on this walking trip. With scenic views and what seems like a pub on every corner, you’ll be captivated by this genteel part of England.

Trip Name
Walk the Cotswolds
Last Updated
2022-07-25
Days
6
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Explore some of the world’s prettiest and most charming villages like Stow-on-the-Wold with its stunning townhouses, quaint shops, and art galleries.
  • Explore the magnificent gardens at Blenheim Palace and take a virtual trip back in time as your guide takes you indoors and brings 300 years of history to life.
  • Drop into Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm shop for lunch, a place serving local, seasonal, no-nonsense food in the heart of the Cotswolds.
  • Walk to Bourton-on-the-Water which is known as The Little Venice of the Cotswolds due to its rich culture and graceful bridges.
  • Hike up to Dover’s Hill, a natural amphitheatre 229 metres (754 feet) high, and enjoy beautiful views and the chance to see Cotswold Lions (native sheep).

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. MUSEUM VISITS & OPENING TIMES Please note that many sights, attractions and museums are closed on Mondays (and sometimes even Tuesdays). We recommend you carefully consider which sites and museums you are going to want to visit and that you do some research and make your reservations in advance where required/possible.

Day 1 - Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh
Meet your leader at Oxford Railway Station and start your morning with a walking tour of the Oxford University Colleges where 28 UK Prime Ministers and 69 Nobel laureates were educated. Following lunch in Oxford, we will loop around Port Meadow following the River Thames, before getting out on the water with an afternoon of punting from the Cherwell boathouse to the Victoria Arms pub for Pimm’s or a pint. Tonight we’ll stay in the thriving market town of Moreton-in-Marsh.
Day 2 - Chipping Campden to Broadway
After breakfast, we will transfer to the charming town of Chipping Campden for an amble up the high street to admire the fabulous architecture and picturesque shops before learning about the famous history of this medieval wool trading centre from the Market Hall in the centre of town. Joining the Cotswolds Way, we will hike up to Dover’s Hill, a natural amphitheatre 229 metres (754 feet) high, with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside where you might spot a couple of Cotswold Lions (native sheep). We will then travel on to Broadway Tower for lunch, before walking into town for afternoon tea at a Broadway deli. 
Day 3 - Moreton-in-Marsh to Blenheim
After breakfast, catch the train from Moreton-in-Marsh to Long Hanborough for a walk to the famous site of Blenheim Palace. Blenheim is home to the Duke of Marlborough and his family and also where Sir Winston Churchill was born (somewhat unexpectedly thanks to a last-minute visit by his father and heavily pregnant mother). After exploring the magnificent gardens set within this 2000 acre estate, we will head indoors to see the palace’s architectural splendour and take a virtual trip back in time as your guide brings 300 years of history to life.
Day 4 - Stow-on-the-Wold – Bourton-on-the-Water
Today we will visit some of the world’s prettiest and most charming villages. After breakfast, we will take a transfer to Stow-on-the-Wold to explore stunning townhouses, quaint shops, and art galleries before walking on to Bourton-on-the-Water, nicknamed The Little Venice of the Cotswolds due to its rich culture and graceful bridges. From here, we will track towards Upper and Lower Slaughter, traditional twin towns just off the Fosse Way. The Slaughters get their name from the olde English word for wetland, however today these villages are far from the ‘muddy place’ you’d expect if you took their name literally.
Day 5 - Charlbury – Chadlington - Kingham
After breakfast, we will catch the train to Charlbury and make our way towards Chadlington, chatting to locals and learning about what it’s like to live and work in this region as we travel. Along the way, we will stop at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm shop for lunch – a place serving local, seasonal, no-nonsense food - before continuing our countryside adventure to The Chequers for an afternoon pint, tea, and cake. Then we will jump on the train at Kingham and travel back to Moreton-in-Marsh where we will spend the night. 
Day 6 - Moreton-in-Marsh
Your Cotswolds adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you would like to spend more time in the Cotswolds, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
31-07-202205-08-2022AUD $ 2,430-

Accommodation

Bed & Breakfast (5 nights)

Transport

Walking,train,private vehicle

Map