My Cotswold Way Itinerary: What I Planned, What Actually Happened, and What I’d Do Differently
One of the hardest parts of planning my Cotswold Way walk wasn’t deciding whether I could hike more than 100 miles.
It was deciding where to stop each night and what my Cotswold Way itinerary would look like.
Unlike some long-distance trails, the Cotswold Way doesn’t have accommodations at perfectly spaced intervals. Instead, your itinerary often ends up being determined by where you can actually find available rooms.
I originally planned my route based on mileage, but it didn’t totally work the way I wanted it to, because I couldn’t find accommodation, so some days became longer than I expected and others became shorter.
One afternoon I even decided an Uber and a pub sounded better than another steep climb.
If you’re trying to plan your own walk, here’s how I structured my trip, what worked well, and what I’d change next time.
Related: For more about my overall journey, check out my Cotswold Way Guide which also gives an inside scoop on some of my unique experiences (like not having luggage my first four days and hiking through an unexpected heat wave).
My Overall Itinerary
| Day | Route | Approximate Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | London | — |
| Movement to Start | London → Chipping Campden | — (Underground, Train, Bus) |
| Day 1 | Chipping Campden → Broadway | ~7 miles |
| Day 2 | Broadway → Winchcombe | ~12 miles |
| Day 3 | Winchcombe → Cheltenham | ~12 miles |
| Day 4 | Cheltenham → Birdlip | ~10 miles |
| Day 5 | Birdlip → Painswick | ~9 miles |
| Day 6 | Rest Day in Painswick | — |
| Day 7 | Painswick → Stonehouse | ~13 miles |
| Day 8 | Stonehouse → Wotton-under-Edge | ~11 miles* + 5 mile Uber ride |
| Day 9 | Wotton-under-Edge → Chipping Sodbury | ~12 miles |
| Day 10 | Chipping Sodbury → Wick | ~10 miles |
| Day 11 | Wick → Bath | ~10 miles |
Related: If you’re looking for information about where I stayed each day, be sure to look at my post about
Cotswold Way Accommodation.
Day 1: Chipping Campden to Broadway
Approximate Distance: 7 miles
If I had to choose one favorite day from the entire walk, this would probably be it.
Everything was exciting.
My legs were fresh.
My luggage was still somewhere between Italy and England, but none of that mattered. I had finally started walking.
The scenery was exactly what I’d imagined the Cotswolds would look like, with rolling green hills, sheep, and charming villages and it was a little misty, but not uncomfortable.
Ending the day in Broadway, which ultimately became my favorite village, made the experience even better and since it was a shorter mileage day, I felt I had plenty of time to explore.
Day 2: Broadway to Winchcombe
Approximate Distance: 12 miles
This felt like my first “real” walking day.
The excitement of starting had worn off just enough that I settled into a rhythm, and I began to understand what the next week would actually feel like.
The scenery remained beautiful, but I also started noticing something else:
Those “rolling hills” everyone talks about?
This was the day I realized that everyone has a very different definition of “rolling.” They’re steeper than they sound.
Day 3: Winchcombe to Cheltenham
Approximate Distance: 12 miles
By Day 3, my body started reminding me that I had been walking for several days in a row.
One thing I experienced on both the Camino and the Cotswold Way is that the third day can be surprisingly difficult.
I remember thinking, “How can my legs already be this tired when I’m not even halfway?”
The novelty wears off, the miles start to accumulate, and you suddenly realize you’re nowhere near finished.
Fortunately, it also gets better from here.
Day 4: Cheltenham to Birdlip
Approximate Distance: 10 miles
By now I had settled into the rhythm of the trail.
Wake up.
Walk.
Eat.
Recover.
Repeat.
This was also when I started appreciating just how important recovery became.
Good accommodations, comfortable shoes, stretching, and recovery sandals all made a noticeable difference.
When my suitcase finally arrived that evening, I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see my own socks.
Day 5: Birdlip to Painswick
Approximate Distance: 9 miles
By the time I reached Painswick, I had a feeling this village was going to be special. I just didn’t know it would end up becoming one of my favorites of the entire trip.
The village itself was beautiful, and I had intentionally planned a rest day here.
Looking back, I think that was one of the smartest decisions I made.
Day 6: Rest Day in Painswick
I know some walkers prefer completing the trail as quickly as possible.
I am not one of those people.
Taking a rest day gave me time to:
- recover physically
- enjoy the village
- do laundry
- eat good food
- simply slow down
If your schedule allows, I’d strongly recommend considering a rest day somewhere along the route.
Day 7: Painswick to Stonehouse Area
Approximate Distance: 13 miles
This ended up being my longest day of walking and even though I had just taken a rest day, it was still one of my hardest.
The combination of:
- heat
- elevation
- cumulative fatigue
- long mileage, especially with an extra mile or two just to get to my hotel
made this a tough day. This was one of those days where every hill felt steeper than the last.
Did I make it?
Yes.
Was it hard?
Also yes.
Day 8: Stonehouse Area to Wotton-under-Edge
Approximate Distance: 11 miles
This was one of the days that didn’t quite go according to plan.
Originally I set out to walk 16 miles.
Instead, when I stopped for lunch in Dursley, I eventually decided that spending more time there and taking an Uber to my accommodation sounded like a much better use of my vacation.
I still think it was the right decision.
One of the best pieces of advice I received during the walk was:
Hike Your Own Hike.
That philosophy completely changed how I approached the rest of the trip.
Day 9: Wotton-under-Edge to Chipping Sodbury
Approximate Distance: 12 miles
By this point I knew the finish line was getting closer.
That brought a mixture of excitement and, even with the rough day before, a little sadness.
One thing I hadn’t expected was how quickly walking all day had become normal. Somewhere around this point, walking all day stopped feeling unusual and simply became my normal routine and it was simple:
Walk.
Eat.
Sleep.
Repeat.
Day 10: Chipping Sodbury to Wick
Approximate Distance: 10 miles
This was another tough day because of the sun, the heat, and where my hotel was (out in the middle of nowhere!).
By this stage I was definitely looking forward to reaching Bath, but I also found myself wanting to enjoy every remaining mile.
It’s funny how that happens. I remember thinking that I was ready to finish—but not quite ready for the journey to end.
Day 11: Wick to Bath
Approximate Distance: 10 miles
Walking into Bath after more than 100 miles felt surprisingly emotional. The moment I saw the finish marker, I felt proud, relieved…and unexpectedly sad that there wasn’t another walking day waiting for me tomorrow.
For eleven days, my life had become wonderfully uncomplicated.
Every morning I knew exactly what I needed to do: keep walking.
Reaching the end felt like accomplishing something I’d been wondering for months whether I could actually do.
What I’d Change About My Itinerary
Looking back, there are only a few things I’d change.
Book Accommodation Earlier
More accommodation options would have allowed me to create a slightly more balanced itinerary.
Train More on Hills
The distances themselves weren’t the biggest challenge.
The elevation was.
Keep the Rest Day
If anything, I became an even bigger fan of rest days after this trip.
My Biggest Itinerary Advice
Don’t obsess over creating the “perfect” itinerary.
There probably isn’t one.
Weather changes.
Your pace changes.
Hotels fill up.
Your body has good days and bad days.
Instead, build flexibility into your schedule whenever possible and remember that this is your adventure—not someone else’s checklist.
Final Thoughts
If I walked the Cotswold Way again tomorrow, my itinerary would look very similar.
I’d probably choose a few different hotels.
I’d definitely bring trekking poles.
And I’d almost certainly still spend a rest day in Painswick.
Because while the trail itself was unforgettable, when I look back now, I don’t remember the itinerary nearly as much as I remember how each day felt.
Related: 16 Cotswold Way Tips I Wish I’d Known Before I Walked.
More Cotswold Way Resources
If you’re planning your own Cotswold Way walk, these guides dive deeper into the topics I only touched on here:
Planning & Preparation
- What is the Real Cotswold Way Difficulty? My Honest Experience After 102 Miles
- How I Trained for the Cotswold Way (And What I Would Do Differently)
- What I Packed for the Cotswold Way
- What the Cotswold Way Cost Me
- The Best Cotswold Way Apps, Maps, and Navigation Tools
Itinerary & Logistics
- My Cotswold Way Itinerary: Day-by-Day Breakdown
- Where I Stayed on the Cotswold Way
- Walking the Cotswold Way Solo
Food, Inspiration & Lessons Learned
- 16 Cotswold Way Tips I Wish I Knew Before Walking
- Food and Drink on the Cotswold Way
- Books and Movies to Read Before Walking the Cotswold Way
No matter where you are in the planning process, I hope these guides help make your own Cotswold Way adventure a little easier—and maybe convince you that those “rolling hills” deserve a healthy amount of respect! (And if I haven’t answered your question in one of the above posts, feel free to drop me a line with your specific question; I’m happy to share my experience!)
