Circular Walks in the Cotswolds

Circular Walks in the Cotswolds

A selection of circular walks through the beautiful countryside of the Cotswolds.

3 to 9 nights
27-60 miles
Easy to Demanding / Strenuous

From £365 per person

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About the trail

Strewn with countless pretty villages built by medieval merchants, the Cotswolds fulfils most people's idea of an idyllic English landscape. While walking in the Cotswolds, you will find neat fields, rolling green hills, ancient woodland and clear streams, combined with simple stone cottages and historical landmarks to create a truly unique picture of timeless beauty. Our selection of circular trails explores the scenery, settlements and stories that make the Cotswolds such a wonderfully special place to discover on foot.

Looking for the full Cotswold Way National Trail? Click here.

Choose your route

  • Cotswold Villages Trail
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Cotswold Round
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Cotswold Highlights Trail
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Cotswold Short Break

Dog friendly tours available

Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.

About this route

5 to 7 nights
60 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous
2nd January to 24th December

From £640 per person

Cotswold Villages Trail

The Cotswold Villages Trail passes through twenty seven of the beautiful towns, villages and hamlets that make the Cotswolds so special. It visits the wool town of Stow-on-the-Wold, with its mellow stone houses overlooking the medieval cross and stocks in the market square, as well as Northleach, with its magnificent church and immaculate late-medieval cottages clustered around the central square, and Chipping Campden, arguably the loveliest of all the Cotswold market towns.

Along the way the trail also takes in a number of sites of historic interest, including Iron Age hill forts, a gothic folly, a ruined medieval abbey, Sezincote House and Sudeley Castle.

Exploring the Cotswold Villages with Contours Holidays

Get a glimpse of the quintessentially English villages and countryside you'll encounter on a Cotswold Villages walking holiday.
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Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
COTVT1 A circular trail beginning at Moreton-in-Marsh 5 nights, 4 days walking Demanding / Strenuous £640
COTVT2 A circular trail beginning at Moreton-in-Marsh 6 nights, 5 days walking Moderate / Demanding £770
COTVT3 A circular trail beginning at Moreton-in-Marsh 7 nights, 6 days walking Moderate £895

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
COTSB A circular trail beginning at Bourton-on-the-Water 3 nights, 2 days walking Moderate £365
"Curved path on the way to North Leach" by Fred Woods (2022) "Curved path on the way to North Leach" by Fred Woods (2022)
"Dovecote in Naunton" by Fred Woods (2022) "Dovecote in Naunton" by Fred Woods (2022)

Customer reviews from the Cotswold Villages Trail

“3rd Contours holiday so we must enjoy them - we keep coming back. When we booked on a week that had a special event, you were able to find us a different route”
Dr Rudolph, USA
“I loved this holiday and would recommend this to anyone. I have already recommended this as far as anyone would listen!”
Ms Kleynhans, South Africa
“It was all that I expected and more. Each day was different in terms of scenery and villages.”
Mrs Edamura, Canada
“Thank you for a well-planned break. It was the right distance and terrain for our walkers.”
Mrs Kiln, UK
“Great walks. Good accommodation. Excellent baggage service.”
Ms Thompson, UK
“This has been one of my favourite holidays.”
Mrs Malcharek, Canada
“The holiday was splendid.”
Dr Bentley, UK
“All in all - a very nice walk.”
Mr Haver, Norway
“We had a wonderful time with the distances per day and accommodations being ideal for us. Lovely pubs at each village to provide genuine hospitality and great meals and welcoming hosts at our Bed & Breakfasts. The communication throughout the lead-up to our start was seamless. The printed directions and marked-up map gave us almost step-by-step instructions.”
Mr Bamford, Australia
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