4-Night Cotswold Gentle Tread Lightly Guided Walking
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4-Night Cotswold Gentle Tread Lightly Guided Walking Tour Style: Tread Lightly Destinations: Cotswolds & England Trip code: BNSEW-4 Trip Walking Grade: 1 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW We are all well-versed in ‘leaving no trace’ but now we invite you to join us in taking it to the next level with our new Tread Lightly walks. We have pulled together a series of spectacular walks which do not use transport, reducing our carbon footprint while still exploring the best landscapes that The Cotswolds have to offer. Gentle hills, picture-postcard villages and tempting tea shops make this quintessentially English countryside perfect for walking. On our Guided Walking holidays you'll discover glorious golden stone villages with thatched cottages, mansion houses, pastoral countryside and quiet country lanes. WHAT'S INCLUDED • High quality en-suite accommodation in our country house • Full board from dinner upon arrival to breakfast on departure day • 3 days guided walking • Use of our comprehensive Discovery Point • Choice of up to three guided walks each walking day www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 • The services of HF Holidays Walking Leaders HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Enjoy breathtaking walks from the doors of our country house • Admire the gentle hills, picture-postcard villages and tempting tea shops make this quintessentially English countryside perfect for walking • Keep a lookout for herons on the River Windrush • Wander through the bustling market square at Stow-on-the-Wold • In the evenings relax in our country house where you can share a drink and re-live the days adventures TRIP SUITABILITY This trip is graded Activity Level 1, This easier variation of our best-selling Guided Walking holidays is the perfect way to enjoy a gentle exploration of the Cotswolds. The choice of three guided walks of 3 or 4 miles. ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: Bourton To Cold Ashton Option 1 - Little Aston Mill Distance: 2.9 miles (4.7km) Total Ascent: 160 feet (50m) In Summary: This is a short circular walk from Harrington House to Little Aston Mill. Then we follow the Macmillan Way and parts of the Monarch’s Way back into Bourton with its Iron Age relics and interesting St Lawrence’s Church Option 2 - Bourton To Cold Aston Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5km) Ascent: 550 feet (160m) In Summary: This walk leaves Bourton-on-the-Water on the Windrush and Gloucestershire Ways to arrive in Cold Aston. A lovely village arranged around a green and a sycamore tree. The Plough Inn is an ideal place for some refreshment. The walk continues across fields and around farms on the Sabrina Way and Monarch’s Way back to Bourton-on-the-water. Highlight: Do look around at various times for some super views towards Little Rissington. Option 3 - Cold Aston And Clapton Distance: 8.5 miles (13.5km) Ascent: 600 feet (180m) www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 In Summary: This walk leaves Bourton-on-the-Water on the Windrush and Gloucestershire Ways to arrive in Cold Aston. A lovely village arranged around a green and a sycamore tree. The Plough Inn is an ideal place for some refreshment. The walk continues across fields and around farms on the Sabrina Way. The route then goes to Clapton on the Hill, before descending down through Marshmouth Farm and back into Bourton. Highlight: The lovely church at Clapton on the Hill. Day 3: Quarry Lakes And The Slaughters Option 1 - Bourton, Quarry Lakes & Salmonsbury Distance: 4½ miles (7km) Ascent: 120 feet (40m) In Summary: Today we will walk South through Bourton and across the fresh Cotswold countryside. In the afternoon, we follow the Diamond Way back to Bourton. Highlight: Walk across the scenic countryside. Option 2 - The Quarry Lakes And Salmonsbury Camp Distance: 6½ miles (10.5km) Ascent: 400 feet (120m) In Summary: A circular walk starts out along the Monarch’s Way reaching the village of Clapton-on-the-Hill. We return along the Windrush valley back to Bourton. Highlight: At the end of the walk there's plenty of time to enjoy Bourton-on-the-Water. Visit the speciality shops, relax in one of the pubs or tea-rooms, or just sit beside the river and watch the world go by. Option 3 - Around The Slaughters And Lower Harford Distance: 7 miles (11½km) Ascent: 550 feet (180m) In Summary: Visit both Upper and Lower Slaughter and the medieval village of Lower Harford, before a riverside walk beside the Windrush takes us back to Bourton-on-the-Water. Highlight: The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are just a couple of miles' walk from Bourton-on-the- Water. The River Eye flows through these most picturesque of villages, creating a picture-postcard scene. Day 4: The Rissingtons Plus Option 1 - Bourton To Clapton Hill Distance: 4 miles (6.5km) Ascent: 320 feet (100m) In Summary: Our walk today follows the Monarch's Way south to the beautiful village of Clapton-on-the-Hill. After enjoying the village, we return via a different route to Bourton. Highlight: The views across the Cotswolds from Clapton-on-the-Hill. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Option 2 - Couple Of Rissingtons Distance: 5.5 miles (9km) Ascent: 250 feet (80m) In Summary: Crossing Salmonsbury camp we leave the Windrush valley and head up the first of two Rissington villages, Wyck Rissington and then on to Little Rissington with its memorial to the RAF before dropping back down into the valley and back to the house. Highlight: The moving testament to the memory of RAF serviceman who lost lives in World War II in Little Rissington church. Option 3 - Three Of The Rissingtons Distance: 9.5 miles (15km) Ascent: 500 feet (140m) In Summary: Leaving the valley we explore three of the Rissington villages, Wyck Rissington, Little Rissington (and the RAF memorial) and Great Rissington before returning to the house via the Quarry Lakes of the Windrush Valley. Highlight: Beautiful Cotswold villages full of character and great views across the Cotswold countryside. Day 5: Departure Day Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. ACCOMMODATION Harrington House In one of the prettiest spots in the Cotswolds, Harrington House provides a stylish escape in the form of a traditional country retreat, with the trimmings and flourishes you’d expect. All set in a stately Georgian house that mirrors the mellow architectural styles of the Cotswolds and retains many of its original features; the most breathtaking is the sunny walled garden, surrounded by attractive landscaped gardens. As well as 29 bedrooms, two lounges, a cosy bar and pleasant dining room, there are further feathers in this handsome house’s hat. Quintessential English countryside, described by JB Priestly as, ‘the most English and least spoiled of all our countryside’, is just a short stroll away with pretty villages such as Chipping Campden and the Slaughters, rolling landscapes and classic trails from the Cotswold Way to the Gloucestershire Way and Monarch Way waiting for you to discover them. Matchless Country House Accommodation Accommodation Info Need To Know Important Covid-19 Steps We Have Taken For Guest Safety: Please Read Following the relaxation in government guidance on 19 July, we are continuing to take extra steps to keep our www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 4 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 guests leaders, and staff safe in our HF country houses. We ask all our guests to respect the measures put in place. The English, Scottish and Welsh governments are not in sync, so measures in our country houses will vary between the nations. With the relaxation of social distancing in England, from 19 July we will be allowing larger groups to dine and relax in the bar together. However, we will still give guests space e.g. we will seat 6 people at a table where pre-pandemic we may have seated 8. We will ensure our public rooms are well ventilated by opening doors and windows wherever possible. If you have any concerns about distancing, please speak to the House Manager. The government recommendation for England is to wear face coverings in crowded areas. You must wear a face covering by law in public areas in hotels in Scotland. This is mandatory in public spaces; however, face coverings will not be required whilst eating and drinking in the restaurant and bar areas or whilst you are outside our houses. In Wales face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. As a temporary measure, we will not be servicing rooms during a stay. Extra tea, coffee, milk, and toiletries will be made available on request for all guests. It is recommended that guests bring their own toiletries for the duration of their stay. We will though be increasing the frequency of cleaning in our public areas providing particular attention to frequently touched items including door handles and handrails. Menus for the week will be available in your room on arrival. A self-service breakfast will be served from 7.45am – 9am. Picnic lunches will now be pre-ordered the night before from an order form in the room. Evening meals will be table service. A dinner order form will be available in each room for completion. Dinner is served at either 7.15pm or 7.30pm. Please check at the house for details.