Walking the Cotswold Way Solo: My Experience as a Solo Female Traveler

Sneak Peak at What's in This Post

A photo of a woman walking the Cotswold Way solo through a field of yellow flowers with her back to the camera, carrying a daypack and wearing a sun hat.

One of the questions I received most often about my trip was: “Were you nervous about walking the Cotswold Way alone?”

The answer is yes…a little.

Not because I thought England was dangerous and not because I expected anything bad to happen, but because I knew that spending eleven days walking through the countryside by yourself feels different from a solo city break.

But I was actually *excited* about the opportunity to walk it solo. To listen to the audiobook I wanted to. To stop for a break when I needed to. To take a long hot shower and not worry about leaving hot water for someone else.

Once I started walking, however, I discovered something surprising: The Cotswold Way was one of the easiest solo travel experiences I’ve ever had…and even though I often walked alone, I rarely felt lonely.

Why I Chose to Walk Alone

It’s pretty simple: I wanted to.

I enjoy solo travel and some of my favorite trips have been taken alone because I enjoy the freedom to:

Set my own schedule
Change plans when I want
Spend extra time somewhere interesting
Skip things that don’t interest me
Just sit and read my book when I want to

The Cotswold Way felt like the perfect opportunity to create exactly the experience I wanted.

I also wanted to challenge myself to do it on my own—I’d done the Camino with two friends, but I wanted the extra challenge of having to figure out a long walk like this all on my own and see how it changed my experience.

Did I Feel Safe?

Rolling green hills and a village nestled in the valley during Day Three of the Cotswold Way from Winchcombe to Charlton. Sunlight breaks through dark clouds, highlighting fields and trees across the landscape.

Yes.

Throughout the entire trip; I never had a moment where I felt genuinely unsafe.

What surprised me was how often I encountered:

Other walkers
Friendly locals
Pub staff
Hotel owners
Residents out walking dogs

Even in more remote sections of the trail, I rarely felt completely isolated.

What About Cell Service?

This was one of my biggest concerns before the trip.

Fortunately, I had cell service much more often than I expected. I used Verizon Wireless’s international plan and while I won’t claim it was perfect everywhere, I never felt disconnected for long.

That gave me a lot of confidence while walking alone.

The Best Part of Walking Solo

Dessert and an espresso martini served on a wooden table at The Falcon Steakhouse in Wotton Under Edge. An e-reader, water glass, and pub patrons in the background create a relaxed post-hike dining atmosphere.

Freedom.

One of my favorite examples happened on Day 7 (and I mentioned in this in my post about Cotswold Way Difficulty): I stopped in Dursley for lunch. It was hot. I was tired. And I realized I still had several miles and two significant climbs ahead.

When I stopped and let myself think about it, I realized: I didn’t want to do it.

And, so I didn’t. I spent more time in the pub, talked with locals, and eventually called an Uber to my hotel.

If I had been walking with a group, that decision might have been more complicated.

Walking solo meant I could simply choose the experience I wanted.

The Hardest Part

Decision fatigue.

When you’re traveling alone, every decision belongs to you: Where to eat. When to start. Whether to stop. Whether to keep going.

Most of the time I enjoy that independence.

But by the end of some long walking days, even choosing dinner felt like more effort than I wanted to expend.

The Unexpected Benefit

Smiling hiker stands at the top of Cleeve Hill with one arm raised as wind blows her hair across her face. Dark clouds hang overhead while views of the countryside stretch out below on Day Three of the Cotswold Way.

Confidence.

There is something incredibly satisfying about solving problems yourself.

Each small problem I solved made the next one feel less intimidating.

By the end of the trip, I wasn’t just proud that I had walked more than 100 miles. I was proud that I had figured things out along the way. Missed turns, delayed luggage, unexpected weather—none of it had stopped me.

Confidence is a good life lesson for both on and off the trail.

Did I Meet Other People?

One of the other things that surprised me most about walking the Cotswold Way solo was how naturally conversations seemed to happen.

Some started while walking.

I’d pass another hiker on the trail, exchange a quick hello or look at each other to help figure out the next turn, and before long we’d be talking about where we started that morning, where we were staying that night, or whether the next hill was really as steep as everyone claimed.

Other conversations happened over breakfast.

Because many walkers stay in the same villages (and the same hotels), I often recognized familiar faces from previous days. We’d compare notes on the route, talk about sore legs, weather forecasts, favorite accommodations, or where to find the best cream tea.

One of my favorite evenings was dinner with two other women who were also walking the trail solo. We came from different places and had completely different lives, but within minutes we were swapping stories and laughing about the same things—the hills, the mud, the weather, and how surprisingly safe we all felt walking alone. (This is also where I learned my tip on how to deal with stinging nettles!)

I spent many hours walking by myself, but I never felt isolated. The trail has a wonderful rhythm where you can enjoy long stretches of peaceful solitude while still finding plenty of opportunities to connect with other people if that’s what you want.

And, of course, there were the wonderful messages and notes of encouragement I would receive from friends, family, and followers throughout the day…they really did keep me going sometimes.

Tips for Solo Female Walkers

Hiking shoes stretched out in the foreground during a rest stop on Day Four of the Cotswold Way between Charlton and Birdlip. The view overlooks green fields, hills, and a valley below, illustrating a well-earned trail break.

Since I am a frequent solo traveler, there are a few specific tips I would keep in mind:

Book accommodations early.
Share your itinerary with someone at home.
Carry a portable charger.
Download offline maps.
Trust your instincts.
Don’t be afraid to change your plans.

And perhaps most importantly: Hike Your Own Hike.

Final Thoughts

Would I walk the Cotswold Way solo again?

Absolutely.

The trail felt welcoming, manageable, and surprisingly social despite spending much of it alone.

If you’re considering the walk but feel nervous about doing it solo, my experience was overwhelmingly positive.

You may start the trail on your own.

But somewhere between the fellow walkers, the innkeepers, the pub conversations, and the friendly locals, I think you’ll discover that walking solo doesn’t necessarily mean feeling alone.

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:

Walking the Cotswold Way: My Overall Guide

Planning & Preparation

Itinerary & Logistics

Food, Inspiration & Lessons Learned

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!)