The Cotswolds Way (#12)

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What the heck is "The Cotswold Way"?  I had never heard this term until last year.  Someone I follow on Instagram (@heleneinbetween) walked The Cotswold Way...that was the first I ever heard of it.  It is a 102 mile walking trail between Bath and Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds (duh!). Thousands of people make this trek each year.  There are actually sherpa companies that pick up your luggage each morning when you head off, and they deliver it to the next town.  When you arrive at your inn each afternoon, ready for a shower and dinner, your bag is already waiting for you.  It sounds like a beautiful thing - hiking without having to carry a heavy backpack!  And eating breakfast and dinner each day in a quaint English inn...Brilliant!  (@heleneinbetween offers a free guide to hiking the Cotswold Way on her IG page).  (note to my friend Lori, you need to get the Rossmoor Trail Club to organize a trip to do this!!) The entire route is clearly marked, the paths are all in great condition, and it sounds like something I would have maybe enjoyed doing several years ago prior to my torn meniscus (of course I would have taken 14-16 days to to this!).  But there are plenty of lovely walking trails in this area that are "circular loops"...walk an hour and a half, have lunch, and head on in a circle to where you began. That's more our style!


We are staying in Chipping Campden (which is either the beginning or the end of the CW, depending on which direction you choose to walk).  The Cotswold Way goes right up our little street (called Hoo Lane), so this morning, we decided to head out on a little walk after breakfast.  We encountered quite a few very friendly hikers/walkers, and about 3 times as many dogs (all SO well behaved!). I think it must be illegal to walk in this area without at least one dog!!   Each house we passed was cuter than the one before...we quickly got to a beautiful pasture filled with sheep, then continued on a path lined on both sides with Queen Anne's lace growing, across a road, and into an open pasture. England is interesting because they have a "right to roam" law which allows public access to just about any open land.  There are "kissing gates" that you must close after passing through (so any livestock can't wander away.  I think Gary probably got tired of me saying "oh my God, look...it's SO beautiful!"...over and over again.  But really, it IS that beautiful!  The grass is green, the wild flowers are in bloom, the song birds are singing like I have never heard before, and the sky was blue - what's not to love?!  It was about this time when I announced to Gary that I am never going to leave this place!  So it's been nice knowing all of you....you know where to find me...feel free to come and visit!


The blue plaque designates a historical site.  This was Graham Greene's home (the 20th century novelist, not the Canadian First Nation's actor who was in Dances With Wolves and The Green Mile...same name/different guy!) 

This thatched roof, just 3 houses up from our cottage is so fancy...look at the detail at the top of the roofline!  Somehow the thatch is laid, then it must be hand-carved into the scallop pattern!  

These markers clearly keep you on track!

These guys live right up the road from us!



I mean, seriously, could this be any more lovely?!


There are different types of "kissing gates"...this is the first one we came upon today.  The gate can be unlatched and sun open, re-latching on either side.  There is enough room for people to walk through, but not sheep or horses.

We were rewarded with beautiful vistas at every turn.



A great example of a beautiful dry rock wall!
Someone had stacked these branches around the trunk of this tree, making cozy little fort.  I thought my grandkids would love hiding and playing in there!

Back in town, we were intoxicated by the fragrance of lilac a we walked around.

This is the original old market stall - now open only on Wednesdays.  We can't wait to see what is offered for sale this coming Wednesday!  And that is the hight street in Chipping Campden on the right.

Closing out for the day with more lilac...can YOU smell it?!?!












Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 9, 2026 at 5:38 PM

    The scenery is beautiful. I would loved to have done the walk, if my knees were younger. 102 miles is a bit more than I can manage. LOL. BTW, the Trails Club does taking hiking safaris, but usually no more than a week in length. The whole area just seems so peaceful!!!!!- LMK

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