Walking holiday in the UK (hiking)
Andrew, the owner of Cotswold Walks, says that people living in the Cotswold villages can tell where they are based on the color of the stone.
We are on a hilltop with sheep-speckled pastures below and honey-colored villages in the valley.
The stone in the north is golden, but it’s paler in the south. I am hiking part of the Cotswold Way, which is a 102-mile footpath that goes through the Cotswold Hills from Chipping Campden to Bath.
People have been hiking parts of it for a long time, and in 2007 it became a National Trail, which means it got global recognition, government funding, and a series of signposts with an acorn symbol.
The Cotswold Way can now be explored on Google Street View. It’s an easy walk with gentle hills and good pubs to stop at for lunch.
Experienced hikers can also walk more miles. If you’re feeling up for a challenge, try walking the 56-mile stretch between Painswick and Bath in three days.
You can take a 90-minute train from London’s Paddington Station to Stroud, and then a bus to Painswick.
Cotswold Walks will help you with accommodation and transport your overnight bag between each B&B.
On the first day, you can walk through meadows and woodlands, see cottages and animals, including golden-fleeced sheep, which were once the region’s source of wealth. You can also discover grand churches, such as All Saints in Selsley, with stunning stained glass windows made by William Morris.