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National Trail AcornCotswold Way National Trail

Bath & NE Somerset, Gloucestershire, S Gloucestershire, Worcestershire

164 km / 102 miles
The Cotswold Way National Trail meanders along the western edge of the Cotswold Hills, mainly following the often-wooded top of this limestone escarpment, from where there are extensive views over the Severn Vale to the Malverns and the distant hills of the Mendips and the Welsh borders. The trail descends from time to time to visit attractive villages nestling under the shelter of the edge. It crosses stone-walled farming countryside, passing villages and country houses built from the local limestone, and many sites of archaeological interest.

The waymarked Frome Valley Walkway (18 miles and on OS mapping) provides a link from Old Sodbury via Frenchay to the confluence with the Avon in Bristol. The waymarked Jubilee Way (South Gloucestershire) (17 miles and on OS mapping) is another link from Old Sodbury but ending at the Severn Bridge.

UPDATE May 2023:
Re-alignment of the 3-mile single-carriageway stretch of the A417 between Air Balloon roundabout (SO 935161) and the Cowley roundabout (SO 949134) is scheduled to begin in the Autumn of 2023. Large parts of the existing road will be 'repurposed' into a multi-user (walkers, cyclists, horse riders) Right of Way. The Cotswold Way will either be incorporated into, or cross, the re-designated route.
https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/cotswold-way/news/
https://nationaltrails.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/A417MissingLinkschememap.jpg

The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.


Strider News - August 2024 (Publication Update)

New Cicerone guidebook


Details:

Waymark: National Trail Acorn
Path Type: National Trails (England & Wales)
Waymark: National Trail Acorn
Attributes: National Trail (England and Wales)
Challenging
Downland/Wolds
Heritage
Start: SP151391 - Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire View on StreetMap
Finish: ST751647 - Bath, Bath & NE Somerset View on StreetMap
Open Date: 2007
Web Sites: National Trails - Cotswold Way Cotswold Way Association - Walking the Cotswold Way Cotswolds National Landscape - Cotswold Way National Trail Walking the Cotswold Way [YouTube video] Annierak - Cotswold Way National Trail [blog] British Walks - Cotswold Way [blog] Brian's Walks - Cotswold Way [blog] Trailplanner - Cotswold Way [blog] Walking the Cotswold Way: an in-depth guide [blog] London Hiker - Walking the Cotswold Way [blog] Camino Adventures - Guide to Walking the Cotswold Way [blog] A walker's journal - The Cotswold Way [blog] Cotswold Way [YouTube video] Chris Stuart's Walks - Cotswold Way [blog] Cotswold Way (five days) [YouTube vodeo] Cotswold Way National Trail [YouTube video]

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook Walking the Cotswold Way National Trail: two-way trail guide: Chipping Campden to Bath  (Cicerone Press  - 2024 )
Guidebook Cotswold Way : National Trail Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2016 )
Guidebook Cotswold Way: Chipping Campden to Bath  (Trailblazer  - 2019 )
Guidebook Cotswold Way : an archaeological walking guide  (History Press  - 2013 )
General Interest Book National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
Guidebook Cotswold Way  (Reardon Publishing  - 1995 )
Guidebook Cotswold Way : the complete walker's guide  (Penguin Books Ltd  - 1984 )
General Interest Book Magic of the Cotswold Way  (Sutton Publishing  - 1996 )
General Interest Book Big walks of Great Britain  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2007 )
General Interest Book Big walks of the south  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
External download Exploring the Cotswold Way National Trail : six walks in South Gloucestershire  (South Gloucestershire Council  - 2007 ) Download
Other BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : Iconic Walks : Cotswold Way  (BBC  - 2007 )
Other BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : the Cotswold Way  (BBC )
Other Cotswold Way video guide  (TV walks )
Certificate Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association )
Certificate Certificate for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Badge Badge for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Badge Cotswold Way embroidered cloth patch  (Cotswold Way Association )
Badge Cotswold Way enamel pin badge  (Cotswold Way Association )
Badge Cotswold Way enamel badge  (Trails Shop )
Other National Trail mug  (Trails Shop )
General Interest Book Tales from the Big Trails  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2021 )

Click to showhide 18 more Publications, Badges and Certificates


Maps:

You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a path or a marker for more info.(interactive map help)

Show Connected Path Outlines
E Routes
Paths Marked on OS mapping
Other Paths

Show Accommodation
Hostel Accommodation

Show Points of Interest
Walkers are Welcome

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
At high zoom levels the route is indicative only.
Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps):
OS Landranger 150, 151, 162, 163, 172
OS Landranger Active 150, 151, 162, 163, 172
OS Explorer 14, 45, 155, 167, 168, 179
OS Explorer Active 14, 45, 155, 167, 168, 179
Other Paper Maps:
Harvey National Trail map
Cotswold Way (Harvey Maps - 2017)
Map (Other)
ZigZag 16 Stripmap
Cotswold Way: Chipping Camden to Devil's Chimney (Yellow Publications - 2016)
ZigZag 16 Stripmap
Cotswold Way: Devil's Chimney to Dursley (Yellow Publications - 2016)
ZigZag 16 Stripmap
Cotswold Way: Dursley to Bath (Yellow Publications - 2016)
Map (Other)
Cotswold Way illustrated map (Reardon Publishing - 1996)

Click to show 3 more Other Paper Maps


Walking Support Providers:

Support Providers
Baggage Handling (Sherpa Van Project)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling and Self Guided Walks (Celtic Trails Walking Holidays)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Great British Walks Limited)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Support Providers
Guided Walking Holidays (Footpath Holidays)
Support Providers
Walking Holidays (Ramble Worldwide)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Contours Holidays)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Instep Walking Holidays)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking holidays (Discovery Travel)
Support Providers
Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Let's Go Walking! Ltd)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Absolute Escapes Ltd)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Support Providers
Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Mickledore Travel Ltd)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Nearwater Walking Holidays)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Walk & Cycle Britain Limited)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Westcountry Walking Holidays)

Click to show 18 more Walking Support Providers


Accommodation within 5 km of this Path:

 
 
From
Path
Along
Path
Walkers are Welcome
< 1 km
29 km
Walkers are Welcome
< 1 km
101 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
164 km
Hostel Accommodation
1 km
164 km

Additional Images:


Connected Paths:


Downloads:

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GPX Route File
Cotswold Way National Trail GPX Exchange Format Route File
Last Updated 12/12/2020 16:22:43 - Includes North Nibley diversion
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(Members Only)
MemoryMap Route File
Cotswold Way National Trail Memory Map Route File
Last Updated 12/12/2020 16:22:43 - Includes North Nibley diversion
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(Members Only)
Tracklogs Route File
Cotswold Way Tracklogs Route file
Last Updated 12/12/2020 16:22:53 - Includes North Nibley diversion
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(Members Only)

Route Profile:

163.7 km (101.7 miles)
4,535 m (14,879 ft) ascent
310 m (1,017 ft)  maximum height

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