Independent Trails: Fact File.COTR2
Total Distance:
51 miles (81.5km)
Duration: 9 nights, 8 walking days
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 5 miles (8km)/8½ miles (13.5km)
Season: All year
Starting point of holiday: Moreton-in-Marsh
End of holiday: Moreton-in-Marsh
Tour code: COTR2
Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh
Day 2:
Moreton-in-Marsh to Stow-on-the-Wold. 6½ miles (10.5km)
From Moreton-in-Marsh the route heads across the Evenlode valley to Sezincote
House, an unusual Indian-inspired mansion with an outstanding oriental garden,
and then passes through the delightful villages of Longborough and Broadwell
to Stow-on-the Wold. Stow is a charming town. Mellow stone houses, shops, inns
and hotels overlook the cross and stocks in the large market square; from the
square narrow alleys or 'tures' lead off invitingly, begging exploration. The
cross was erected as a reminder to medieval traders to deal honestly in a Christian
manner; the village stocks to punish those that didn't.
Day 3: Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton-on-the-Water 5½ miles
(8.5km)
Bourton-on-the-Water
is probably the most beautiful of all the villages in the Cotswolds; the crystal
waters of the River Windrush running through the village beneath several little
bridges creates a charming scene.
Day 4: Bourton-on-the-Water
to Guiting Power. 6 miles (9.5km)
From Bourton-on-the-Water
the route follows the River Windrush through the picturesque villages of Naunton
to Guiting Power, a charming village with a superb 15th - century cross carved
with the Virgin and Child standing on the village green. The fine cruciform
church has an hourglass carved in stone over the doorway to remind all of the
brevity of life. There are also many amusing 'gargoyles' carved on the roof
supports.
Day 5:
Guiting Power to Winchcombe. 7 miles (11km)
On leaving Guiting
Power the trail crosses the wolds to Sudeley Castle, the last resting place
of Katherine Parr, the sixth and surviving wife of Henry VIII, and the historic
little town of Winchcombe. The trail enters the town along Vineyard Street,
once called Duck Street because of the ducking stool down by the river. Winchcombe
is an attractive small town with two or three inns, some fine Tudor houses,
cottages with roses clambering over their porches and a magnificent church containing
an altar cloth worked by Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII first wife. 45 grotesque
gargoyles, each representing a local character from the 1460's adorns its outer
walls.
Day 6:
Winchcombe to Stanton. 7½ miles (12km)
The trail leaves the
town along the old pilgrim's route to Hailes Abbey, and then climbs to Beckbury
Camp, a large Iron Age fort, before descending to the village of Stanway. Stanway
is another village that rewards exploration - buildings of interest include
the Jacobean manor Stanway House with its magnificent renaissance-style gatehouse
and baroque watergarden, an enormous 14th century tithe barn and a thatched
cricket pavilion set upon straddle stones. From here the route cuts across the
fields to the pretty village of Stanton, whose church contains a beautiful 15th
century stained glass window removed from Hailes Abbey at the time of the Dissolution.
Day 7:
Stanton to Broadway. 5 miles (8km)
From Stanton the route
climbs up to Shenbarrow, an Iron Age hillfort and then follows the Cotswold
Edge with some terrific views over the Severn Vale past Snowshill Manor, before
descending to Broadway. The village started life as part of a nearby monastery
and expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries as a staging post for coaches. The
picturesque 'broad way' of the high street is lined with an avenue of red chestnut
trees and shops, inns and houses of golden stone with the typical Cotswold mix
of tiled and thatched roofs.
Day 8:
Broadway to Chipping Campden. 5 miles (8km)
The route then climbs
Beacon Hill to the Broadway Tower, an 18th century folly that provides breathtaking
views over 12 counties before descending to Chipping Campden. Chipping Campden
is the loveliest of all the Cotswold Market towns, it is also the best preserved
and most historically important. Buildings of interest include the open-sided
Jacobean Market Hall, built to shelter stallholders from all weathers; the Town
Hall, the 14th century Woolstaplers Hall, where the fleeces were sold, which
now houses the town's museum; opposite this is Grevel House built in 1380. St
James' Church is one of the best examples of a Cotswold 'wool' church and contains
the largest memorial brass in the county, to William Grevel, 'the flower of
the wool merchants of all England'. Next to the church are the gateway and onion-topped
lodges of the old manor of Campden, the manor itself was destroyed during the
Civil War. Nearby on a raised pavement stands the row of Almshouses built during
the reign of James I in stunning symmetry. The walled dip opposite is an old
cartwheel wash.
Day 9:
Chipping Campden to Moreton-in-Marsh. 8½ miles (13.5km)
From Chipping Campden
the route passes through Broad Campden, with its rare 17th century Friends Meeting
House, to the village of Blockley. Blockley is another charming village that
was built on a series of terraces above the deep valley of the Knee Brook. From
medieval times sheep were brought to Blockley to be sheared before their wool
was washed, spun and woven in the mills lining the valley bottom. When overseas
competition destroyed the wool-processing industry in the 18th century, the
mills were converted to the production of silk. Many of the mills survive, now
converted into houses. From Blockley the trail descends to Moreton-in-Marsh
past Batsford Park, a magnificent arboretum planted by Lord Redesdale in 1886.
Day 10:
Depart Moreton-in-Marsh
Extra nights/rest days
Moreton-in-Marsh is a popular choice - the historic city of Oxford is only 30 minutes away by train. Stow-on-the-Wold is an attractive town with many good antiques shops and art galleries. The lively village of Bouton-on-the-Water with its many shops and attractions is another good choice for a rest day. If you prefer somewhere quieter consider the sleepy village of Guiting Power in the upper reaches of the beautiful Windrush valley. Winchcombe is a popular choice for a rest day. It is a charming small town with two or three inns, many attractive old Tudor houses, cottages with roses clambering over their porches and a fine church containing an altar cloth worked by Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII first wife. Forty-five grotesque gargoyles, each representing a local character from the 1460's adorn its outer walls. Winchcombe is also a good base for exploring Sudeley Castle and its romantic gardens. Broadway is a lovely village with two wonderful churches, a fine old inn and some interesting little shops. Many people chose to have an extra night in Chipping Campden. It is the loveliest, best preserved and most historically important of all the Cotswold towns. Buildings of interest include the open-sided Jacobean Market Hall, built to shelter stallholders from all weathers; the Town Hall, the 14th century Woolstaplers Hall, where the fleeces were sold, which now houses the town's museum; opposite this is the magnificent Grevel House built in 1380. St James' Church is one of the best examples of a Cotswold 'wool' church and contains the largest memorial brass in the county, to William Grevel, 'the flower of the wool merchants of all England'. Next to the church is the gateway and onion-topped lodges of the old manor of Campden. The manor itself was destroyed during the Civil War. Nearby on a raised pavement stands a superb row of Almshouses built during the reign of James I in stunning symmetry.
What's included?
Travel Information
Detailed instructions on how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you on booking. A summary is given below.
Most convenient major city and International airport: London (Gatwick or Heathrow airports) or Birmingham Airport. Train from London Paddington (1 hour 40 minutes) or Birmingham (2 hours 15 minutes).
Outward journey from London to Moreton-in-Marsh: Train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh (I hour 40 minutes). Your first night's accommodation in Moreton-in-Marsh is a short walk or taxi ride from the station.
Return journey to
London at the end of the holiday: Train to London (1 hour 40 minutes).