Honey-Stone Villages, Coastal Trails, and Medieval Castles
Treasures of Wales & the Cotswold Way
Overview
The idyllic stone cottages of the Cotswolds and Wales’ wild seascapes grace this spectacular journey. On the Cotswold Way, a long-distance footpath, we’ll step back in time as we hike between towns built during the 17th century wool trade, tucked amid ancient beech woodlands and emerald-green meadows, and ending in Jane Austen’s beloved city of Bath. Hiking across the border takes us into Wales to reach romantic Tintern Abbey, and later along the banks of the lush River Wye and across the cliff trails of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Overnights are in historic manor houses, a Georgian townhouse, and traditional inns, with culinary delights ranging from local Cotswold lamb to Welsh mussels straight from the sea.
Arrive: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Depart: Cardiff, Wales
Highlights
- Hike the most scenic stretches of the Cotswold Way, passing through unspoiled hamlets, market towns, and shaded woodlands
- Follow spectacular trails along the towering cliffs and golden beaches of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
- Meet with farmers, storytellers, and historians
- Discover the World Heritage city of Bath, with its Roman spa and Georgian architecture
- Stay in historic manor houses and traditional inns
Itinerary
Meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, our introduction to the Cotswolds is a hike on the Cotswold Way through Chipping Campden, with its golden limestone buildings dating to the 16th century. We’ll explore the town on foot, then walk through the 17th century Market Hall, the “official” start of the Cotswold Way walking trail.
We follow trails through magical English forests to a farm where rare Old Gloucester breeds of cows are raised, visit a prize-winning cheesemaker here, then hike to the wool village of Wotton-under-Edge. Our hotel is in Painswick, a center of the wool trade since the Middle Ages. On Day 5, we head to the World Heritage city of Bath. With its monumental Georgian architecture and original Roman baths, it’s easy to see why this city inspired Jane Austen.
A hike across the Anglo-Welsh border brings us to the tranquil Wye Valley and then to magnificent Tintern Abbey. In Brecon Beacons, we hike through heather-cloaked hills, then explore the book-lover’s mecca of Hay-on-Wye.
We’ll stop in at the poet Dylan Thomas’ home at Laugharne, then hike the dramatic Pembrokeshire Coast Path, keeping watch for basking seals. Our final hike circles Carreg Cennen, one of Wales’ most spectacular castles. Depart from Cardiff on Day 11.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 7 hours a day. You will need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
- 7 miles
- 4-5 hours
- 1,000 feet gain and 700 feet loss
Challenge Day
- Day 2: 8 miles, 4-5 hours, 1,340 feet ascent/890 feet descent
The trails along the Cotswold Way are generally well-marked and wide, and they include earthy tracks, grassy paths through fields, wide tractor routes through woodlands, and some short sections on quiet roads. With the exception of the hike in Brecon Beacon National Park where there is a continuous 2,000 foot climb (trip members can elect to be driven halfway up), most days have gentle elevation change throughout the hike. There are sections on some of our hikes that are rocky and rugged, but we will not get too close to the cliff edge. With rainfall, some areas can be muddy.
Even in the summer, the weather in England and Wales can change quickly due to their maritime climate. However, summers are generally mild and fresh with average daytime temperatures around 70°F. Wales tends to be wetter than England, with slightly less sunshine. Showers are usually short lived, but as the weather is unpredictable, it is necessary to bring raingear on every hike.
Our accommodations are in small, quaint hotels that have been selected for their local history and charm. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. There are no elevators and many buildings have low beams. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunches will either be at local cafes and pubs or picnic-style during one of our hikes. Dinners will be at a local restaurant or at the hotel. We will have a chance to experience a range of local cuisines, and one of our hotels includes a restaurant with locally-sourced products. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"The organization and itinerary were excellent and I know I never could have covered the same ground with such depth on my own. The guides and the other travelers made this a wonderful experience."
Alexandra D.
Evanston, IL
"Along with the wonderful hikes we met interesting locals almost everyday: a falconer, storyteller, Dylan Thomas raconteur, forager, farmer/cheesemaker. The food was excellent and we had great weather!"
Carrie B.
Homer, AK
"This was really one of the nicest group trips I've ever taken. The hotels, food, exposure to local guides/storytellers, and beautiful countryside combined to make a really nice exploration of the Cotswolds and southern Wales."
Hugh W.
Fort Myers, FL
"A good blend of hiking, history, culture, food, and down-time, all graced with the interpersonal interactions of a hiking group with capable leadership."
Mary K.
Williamsport, PA
"This was our first hike that we had dreamed about for years. It truly filled all of our expectations."
Susan G.
East Aurora, NY
"It was a well-planned, well executed, and full itinerary, giving guests the opportunity to meet and interact with local people throughout the trip. A nice mix of hiking/walking and cultural experiences."
Sylvia B.
Canterbury, NH
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.