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

Cotswold Way Trailblazer Walking Guide 5e