5-Night Cotswolds Guided Walking Holiday Tour Style: Guided Walking Destinations: Cotswolds & England Trip code: BNBOB-5 1 & 2 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW 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 • Up to 4 days of guided walking • Choice of up to three guided walks each walking day • The services of HF Holidays Walking Leaders • Any transport to and from the walks www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Explore the beautiful countryside and rich history of the Cotswolds • Gentle hills, picture-postcard villages and tempting tea shops make this quintessentially English countryside perfect for walking • Let your leader bring the picturesque countryside and history of the Cotswolds to life • In the evenings relax and enjoy the period features and historic interest of Harrington House ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: The Cotswold Way To Broadway Option 1 - Snowshill & Broadway Distance: 7 miles (11½km) Ascent: 650 feet (200m) of ascent. In Summary: Walk through rolling Cotswold countryside from Ford to the village of Snowshill, then on through the fields to Broadway. Highlight: Our walk ends in the ever-popular showpiece village of Broadway, with its beautiful cottages of mellow Cotswold stone. Option 2 - Temple Guiting To Broadway Distance: 9 miles (14.5km) Ascent: 750 feet (220m) In Summary: Follow the River Windrush north from Temple Guiting towards its source, then continue on past Snowshill to Broadway. Highlight: Take time to explore delightful Snowshill with its timeless church and National Trust manor house. Option 3 - Over The Hills To Broadway Distance: 11½ miles (18.5 km) Ascent: 1,150 ft (340m) www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 In Summary: Follow a more undulating route over the hills to Cutsdean church and Snowshill, before following the Cotswold Way to Broadway. Highlight: We'll see the site of the medieval village of Pinnock, abandoned in 1348 after its population was wiped out by the Black Death. Day 3: The Rissingtons Plus Option 1 - 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 2 - 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. Option 3 - Bourton To Stow And Back Distance: 10.5 miles (17km) Ascent: 1,000 feet (300m) In Summary: We head north via Greystones nature reserve, taking attractive field paths and tracks to follow the Oxfordshire Way. This takes us to the market town of Stow on the Wold with its 17th and 18th century buildings built around the bustling market square. We leave Stow with views across the Wolds and cross farmland paths to idyllic Lower Slaughter with its fine old houses and cottages sitting beside the picturesque Rive Eye and its attractive bridges. Our walk then follows a track back to Bourton-on-the-Water Highlight: St Edwards Church (rarely it has the war memorial inside) and the bustling market square at Stow-on- the-Wold. Day 4: Through The Cotswolds To Cirencester Option 1 - Coates, Thames Source And Cirencester Distance: 7 miles (11km) Total ascent: 315 feet (96m) www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 In Summary: Today's walk will explore the village of Coates, with its church dating from the Norman period. Moving on to the source of the River Thames we’ll continue alongside a canal and through fields into Cirencester, the 'capital' of the Cotswolds. Don’t miss: Explore Cirencester at the end of the walk. There's much of historical interest in what was Roman Britain’s second largest city. Option 2 - Sapperton And Cirencester Distance: 9 miles (15km) Ascent: 480 feet (140m) In Summary: We start today's walk at the ornate church of Sapperton, before walking across fields and through woodland to the impressive southern entrance of the Sapperton Canal Tunnel. Taking time to visit the source of the River Thames we continue to the village of Coates and onwards to Cirencester. Highlight: In Cirencester you could explore the Abbey grounds, the Corinium museum or the superb 15th century church. Option 3 - Wysis Way And The Source Of The Thames Distance: 11 miles (18.5km) Ascent: 800 feet (240m) In Summary: Starting in the village of Frampton Mansell we follow the Wysis Way along the Severn Thames canal. We have the opportunity to visit both north and south entrances to the Sapperton canal tunnel before following the same route as Option 2 to Cirencester. Highlight: A walk rich in history, including charming Saxon and Norman village churches, rich Roman archaeology and industrial history. Day 6: Along The Gloucestershire Way To Bourton Option 1 - Hampnett To Bourton Distance: 6½ miles (11km) Ascent: 550 feet (160m) In Summary: Follow the Diamond and the Macmillan Way to Cold Aston. A third trail - the Gloucestershire Way takes us back to Bourton-on-the-Water. Highlight: St George's church in Hampnett with it's beautiful Victorian stencilling. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 4 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Option 2 - Hazleton To Bourton Distance: 9 miles (14km) Ascent: 550 feet (160m) In Summary: Follow the Gloucestershire Way and Diamond Way through rolling countryside to the Wold villages of Notgrove and Cold Aston, before arriving back at Bourton-on-the-Water. Highlight: Notgrove Norman Church and nearby manor house, and the Walk through the long avenue of Beech trees. Option 3 - The Gloucestershire Way Distance: 10½ miles (17km) Ascent: 850 feet (260m) In Summary: Follow the Gloucestershire Way through the rolling countryside of the Cotswolds. We'll pass sleepy villages, then make our way back to Bourton-on-the-Water through the Windrush Valley. Highlight: We start near the supposedly haunted Frog Mill Inn; once the staging post for the Oxford to Gloucester mail coach. Day 7: 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. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 5 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 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 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.