Explore Bath & The Cotswolds

A trail that celebrates the country city of Bath with its gorgeous stone and wooded hill tops, and the classic charm of the Cotswolds countryside with its rolling genteel landscape and beautiful cottages.

The city of Bath is on the far south of The Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty (National Landscape), enjoy a day to explore the city, a day to walk the landscape, and maybe a day for museums. 

From the city we’ll take you to the heart of The Cotswolds for a few days classic walking. With character villages in abundance steeped in the history of sheep farming and cosy country inn stays.

Sigrun, Norway
“I’ve tried three different companies for my walking trips in England, and I have to say, Foot Trails truly stands out. Their itineraries are excellent, the accommodations are beautiful, and they were incredibly responsive and helpful as we explored different regions and trail options.”
Andy & Kay, USA
“We had a lovely and challenging time! The views in Dorset were everything we hoped they would be and the adjustment to 10 miles per day worked for us. We would recommend your services to anyone who wanted an active vacation but still wanted someone to arrange everything.”
Molly, USA
“So many of the paths felt like secret passageways into a simpler time. The variety of landscapes we passed through was nothing short of amazing.”
Jacquelyn, USA
“Slam dunk! Home run…out of the park…FABULOUS! This holiday went well beyond our expectations–it was so well organized from start to finish.”
Stacey, USA
“The entire trip was filled with delightful inns, charming towns, and incredible scenery. We enjoyed exploring the churches and other suggested stops along the way. Our routes were peaceful, and each day’s itinerary offered just the right amount of time on the trail.”
Michelle, USA
“Wonderful holiday of rambling through gates, stiles, paths, and magnificent countryside, and beautiful old quaint villages.”
Ann & Mark, USA
“This was our third Foot Trails adventure. We keep returning because it is a great experience. It’s great to walk on the foot paths, experience the different villages and talk to the local people. We love the varied landscapes and natural beauty of the area.”
Beth, USA
“It was a perfect walking holiday for a family of 4… tailored to our desires. It was great. Very informative communication. Adopted the plan to our family. The inns were lovely.”
Stu, USA
“An active and relaxing and supported immersive experience of a way of life different from our own. Unpredictable, in a good way. Unusual opportunity to connect with each other.”
Katy, Australia
“We had a wonderful experience in Wiltshire and on the foot trails walk that was especially designed for us. We also had a great experience with our guide David who had a wealth of historical knowledge.”
Krista, Canada
“It was very clear to us that the routes organized by Foot Trails were significantly more interesting (and significantly less busy) than the “national” trails, and a lot of local knowledge and love of the countryside must have gone into planning them.”
Devrey, USA
"Perfect way to disconnect and see the beauty of England. We saw views, locations, and areas that only locals know. It was truly spectacular to walk along a path and all of the sudden there is a tremendous view or a castle. It really was a tremendous vacation.”
Stephen, Canada
“This family owned company went above and beyond to make our entire trip so worthwhile. We handed them a wish list of exactly what we wanted – small, high quality inns, some with multiple night stays, mile limits/walking day, off the beaten track experiences, diverse trail experiences, worthwhile points of interests, not to mention great pubs and lunch options along the way. And they checked off every box for us.”
Julie, USA
“The inns chosen by Foot Trails are charming, well-appointed and very comfortable. The food at each inn was without exception superb, and the staff were friendly and helpful.”
Mark, USA
“Clear written directions matched with maps for our daily walks, efficient transport of our luggage from inn to inn, excellent overnight accommodation and quality food selections in quintessential English pubs made this trip to southwest England among our very favorites.”
Melanie, Canada
“It was fantastic. Foot Trails is a quality, well-organized, and highly customer-oriented service. I felt taken care of long before I even arrived in the UK! The country inns were beautiful and epitomized everything I think about when I dream of English country hospitality and style.”

Example Itinerary

Here’s a quick overview of the walking tour. To find out more fill out the form below and we’ll send you a Explore Bath & The Cotswolds brochure.

Explore Bath & The Cotswolds in brief

A self-guided independent explore style walking tour. 7 to 10 day tour options available. Choose your preferred arrival day & date.

Day 1
Time to settle in at your hotel, with an optional short walk if you’d like to explore.

Day 2
Explore Bath with a customised trail that showcases the city in all its glory.

Day 3
A day in the countryside around Bath, wandering river valleys, canals and hills and enjoying views of the city.

Day 4
Leave the city for the Cotswolds countryside to explore ancient market towns and the Cathedral of the Cotswolds.

Day 5
Tread in the footsteps of the Romans on an historic hike that takes you 2000 years back in time.

Day 6
Tranquil Cotswolds countryside, a bustling market town, breathtaking views and beautiful meadows.

Day 7
Unspoilt, little-known and crowd-free: A tranquil trail to a grand house and gardens with afternoon tea at a local farm shop.

Day 8
Explore valleys, streams and villages in landscapes shaped by golden Cotswolds stone.

Day 9
An idyllic walk through the quintessential Cotswolds with history, art and beautiful gardens.

Day 10
Time for your onward journey, taking memories of your adventures with you.

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Accommodation
Read about our food & accommodation here.

Itinerary additions

  • Arriving straight to your walking tour from a long-haul flight can leave you feeling a little tired. Many of our guests choose to add an additional night at the start of their trip to adjust before they start walking.
  • Add a unique guided day at Stonehenge & Avebury with one of the Foot Trails team. Find out more here.
  • Fancy a few days to tour further afield? Take a look at our sister company over at ‘Drive & Stroll‘ for private guided tours where we journey by car and take short strolls to admire the landscape & history.

At a glance

  • Explore style tour
  • 7 or 9 night stays suggested
  • Stays in quality country inns
  • Luggage transfers / trail drop off service included
  • Screen-free walk & explore pack

Walks
7 to 9 mile walk program, or 10+ miles walk program. (11 to 15 km or 16+ km)

Prices
You will receive a bespoke itinerary & personalised price quotation. ‘Explore’ tours are typically between £260 – £320 per person, per night, based on 2 sharing a bedroom. Solo’s & groups welcome.

Like to find out more?

Request a full 20 page brochure for this tour, with example daily itinerary, accommodation & pricing. Simply add your details below and we’ll send your brochure directly to your inbox.

Our food & Accommodation

The country inns and pubs of South West England are the perfect partner to your days in the countryside. Each of our trails leads to a warm welcome, a good meal, and a room where you’ll feel at home.

About our food & accommodation →

Self-guided hiking

Self-guided hiking & walking trips offer the perfect balance of achievement, curiosity and relaxation. They’re for individuals, couples, families & friends who enjoy exploring on their own terms.

About Self-guided walking →