Independent Trails: Fact File.COTVT
Trail Facts
Total
distance: 66 miles (105.5km)
Duration: 7 nights, 6 days walking
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 10 miles (16km)/13 miles (21km)
Season: All year
Starting point of holiday: Moreton-in-Marsh
End of holiday: Moreton-in-Marsh
Code: COTVT
Itinerary
Day
1: Travel to Moreton-in-Marsh
Day 2: Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water. 12 miles
(19km)
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. The route then descends
through the picturesque villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter to Bourton-on-the-Water.
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 3: Bourton-on-the-Water to Northleach. 10 miles (16km)
From Bourton-on-the-Water the route climbs up to Clapton-on-the-Hill, a peaceful
little village with a fine manor house and a tiny but historic church some 6
paces wide and 8 from door to altar, and then crosses the high wolds to Farmington,
before descending through Eastingham to the old 'wool' town of Northleach. Built
as a market town in the 13th century, at a strategic point midway between Cirencester
and Stow-on-the-Wold on the old Roman road, the Fosse Way, Northleach is a fascinating
place. Buildings of interest include the Church of St Peter and St Paul, the
'cathedral of the Cotswolds', the house of correction, the workhouse and the
almshouses.
Day 4: Northleach to Guiting Power. 11 miles (17.5km)
After Northleach, the Cotswold Village Trail follows the River Leach to the
village of Hampnett. After exploring the intriguing church which was decorated
in Victorian times as it would have been in the Middle Ages, the route climbs
onto the wolds and meanders through Turkdean, Notgrove and Aylworth to the picturesque
village of Naunton in the idyllic Windrush valley. From here the route heads
up the valley to Guiting Power, a lovely old village of sturdy cottages surrounding
a small village green with an inn at each end.
Day 5: Guiting Power to Stanton. 13 miles (21km)
From Guiting Power the route climbs through Guiting Wood and then crosses the
old Salt Way before descending past Sudeley Castle, the last resting place of
Katherine Parr the sixth and surviving wife of Henry VIII, to Winchecombe. The
trail enters the town along Vineyard Street, once called Duck Street because
of the ducking stool down by the river. Winchecombe is an attractive small town
with two or three inns, 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. 45 grotesque gargoyles, each representing a local character
from the 1460's adorns its outer walls. 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 6: Stanton to Chipping Campden. 10 miles (16km)
The day begins by climbing 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. 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 7: Chipping Campden to Moreton-in-Marsh. 10 miles (16km)
From Chipping Campden the route passes through Broad Campden, with its rare
17th century Friends Meeting House, to the charming village of Blockley, an
important centre for the silk industry that thrived in the 18th and 19th centuries
and then descends to Moreton-in-Marsh past Batsford Park Arboretum.
Day 8: Depart from Moreton-in-Marsh after breakfast.
Extra nights/rest days
An extra
night gives you a chance to explore some of the villages and old market towns
along the trail, catch up with writing postcards or just relaxing and giving
those weary legs a rest.
Moreton-in-Marsh is a popular choice - the historic city of Oxford is only 30
minutes away by train. If you prefer somewhere quieter, try Guiting Power in
the upper reaches of the beautiful Windrush valley. There is plenty to see and
do in the old market town of Northleach. It was wool that made Northleach famous
and its wealthy merchants built grand 'wool houses' and the magnificent church
of St Peter and St Paul, the 'cathedral of the Cotswolds'. The church is a fine
example of 15th century Cotswold Perpendicular, with some of the best wool merchants
brasses in the country. There is a fascinating museum of rural life in the 'house
of correction', an 18th century country prison. Elsewhere in the town are the
Dutton Almshouses “for women” built in 1616, a workhouse and a museum of self-playing
musical instruments.
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: Short
walk or taxi to Moreton-in-Marsh railway station. Train to London Paddington
(1 hour 40 minutes).