Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION Cotswold Way History 8 - Geology 10 - How difficult is the path? 12 How long do you need? 13 - When to go 13 PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK Practical information for the walker Route finding 17 - Accommodation 18 - Food and drink 23 Money 24 - Other services 24 - Taking dogs along the path 24 Walking companies 25 - Information for foreign visitors 26 Budgeting 28 Itineraries Which direction? 30 - Suggested itineraries 30 - Side trips 30 Village and town facilities 32 - The best day and weekend walks 36 What to take Keep it light 37 - How to carry it 37 - Footwear 37 Clothes 38 - Toiletries 39 - First-aid kit 39 - General items 39 Camping gear 40 - Money 40 - Travel insurance 40 - Maps 40 Sources of further information 41 - Recommended reading 42 Getting to and from the Cotswold Way Getting to Britain 43 - National transport 44 Public transport map 46 - Local transport 47 PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT & OUTDOOR SAFETY Minimum-impact walking Economic impact 49 - Environmental impact 50 - Access 51 Health and outdoor safety Health 53 - Outdoor safety 55 - Weather information 56 Walking alone 56 PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT & NATURE Conserving the Cotswolds Government agencies and schemes 58 Campaigning and conservation organisations 59 Beyond conservation 60 Flora and fauna Trees and shrubs 61 - Wild flowers 62 - Butterflies 65 - Birds 65 Mammals 69 - Reptiles 72 PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS Using this guide Trail maps 73 Chipping Campden 74 Chipping Campden to Broadway 80 (Broadway 83) Broadway to Winchcombe 88 (Buckland 88, Snowshill 90, Stanton 90, Stanway 92, Wood Stanway 92, North Farmcote 92, Hailes 94, Winchcombe 97) Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill 100 (Postlip 101, Cleeve Hill 101) Cleeve Hill to Leckhampton Hill 103 (Cheltenham 106, Ham Hill 110, Charlton Kings 110, Upper Coberley 114, Seven Springs 114, Coberley 114, Leckhampton 114) Leckhampton Hill to Birdlip 114 (Little Shurdington 117, Around Crickley Hill 117, Birdlip 117) Birdlip to Painswick 117 (Little Witcombe 119, Cranham Corner 120, Painswick 121) Painswick to Stonehouse/Ebley 126 (Edge 127, Randwick/Westrip 127, Stonehouse/Ebley 130) Stonehouse/Ebley to Pen Wood 130 (King's Stanley 133, Middleyard 133, Selsley 133) Pen Wood to Dursley 134 (Nympsfield 134, Uley 136, Dursley 136) Dursley to Wotton-under-Edge 141 (North Nibley 141, Wotton-under-Edge 144) Wotton-under-Edge to Old Sodbury 149 (Alderley 149, Hillesley 149, Lower Kilcott 149, Hawkesbury Upton 151, Horton 152, Little Sodbury 152, Old Sodbury 156) Old Sodbury to Cold Ashton 156 (Coomb's End 156, Tormarton 156, Pennsylvania 161, Cold Ashton 161) Cold Ashton to Bath 163 Bath 165 APPENDICES GPS waypoints 184 Map key 185 Distance chart 186 INDEX OVERVIEW MAPS & TRAIL PROFILES

About the Author

Tricia and Bob Hayneare hikers of considerable experience, having trekked in many parts of theworld. For many years Tricia was editorial director of Bradt Travel Guides.

Reviews

A polished guide to the Cotswold Way National Trail, with detailed maps, GPS waypoints and masses of practical information including a section on 'minimum impact walking.' Walk Magazine, The Ramblers Maintains the hallmarks of these popular Trailblazer LDP guides. Strider, Journal of the Long Distance Walkers Association The Trailblazer series stands head, shoulders, waist and ankles above the rest. They are particularly strong on mapping... The Sunday Times (UK)