4-Night Cotswolds Gentle Walking Holiday Tour Style: Gentle Walks Destinations: Cotswolds & England Trip code: BNBEW-4 Trip Walking Grade: 1 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW Gentle hills, picture-postcard villages and tempting tea shops make this quintessentially English countryside perfect for walking. 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 • The services of HF Holidays Walking Leaders www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Admire the gentle hills, picture-postcard villages and tempting tea shops make this quintessentially English countryside perfect for walking • You'll discover glorious golden stone villages with thatched cottages, mansion houses, pastoral countryside and quiet country lanes • Let our leaders bring classic routes and offbeat areas to life • 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 Gentle Walk Version 1 Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: Chedworth Roman Villa Option 1 - Hampnett To Chedworth Distance: 4 miles (6.5km) Ascent: 450 feet (140m) In Summary: We start this walk by exploring the beautiful 12th century church of Hampnett. It has the most astonishing ornate patterns of mock-medieval stencilling all over the inside. We then follow the Macmillan Way to the small rural parish of Yanworth. Finally we arrive at the Roman Villa at Chedworth. Highlight: St George's church in Hampnett with it's beautiful Victorian stencilling. Option 2 - Northleach To Chedworth Distance: 5½ miles (8.5km) Ascent: 600 feet (180m) In Summary: The market town of Northleach is our start. Explore the town and its impressive church of St Peter and St Paul one of the finest examples of the Cotswold perpendicular style. We then head towards Hampnett, and follow the same route as the Gentle Walk to Chedworth Villa. Highlight: Our walk finishes at the Chedworth Roman Villa. Now managed by the National Trust, this is one of England's best preserved Roman sites, with fine mosaics dating from AD120-400. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Option 3 - Farmington To Chedworth Distance: 8 miles (13km) Ascent: 800 feet (260m) In Summary: Starting in the small village of Farmington, we follow the Diamond Way south passing the lake to Upper End, turning west to Northleach. Once there we follow the same route as the Easier Walk. Highlight: Northleach's ancient Market Place and its half-timbered buildings dating from the 15th and 16th Centuries. Day 3: Hailes Abbey & Sudeley Castle Option 1 - Hailes Abbey To Sudeley Castle Distance: 2½ miles (4.5km) Ascent: 200 feet (60m) In Summary: We have time to explore Hailes Abbey and the church before a gentle walk to Winchcombe. Views of the heritage steam railway before arriving at Sudeley Castle. Highlight: Sudeley Castle - steeped in history, the castle was once home and is now the burial place of Queen Catherine Parr, one of Henry VIII’s many wives. Option 2 - Toddington To Sudeley Castle Distance: 6½ miles (10½km) Total ascent: 450 feet (140m) In Summary: Walk through gently rolling countryside, passing a heritage railway, ancient churches, and the ruined Hailes abbey, before ending the day at the interesting Cotswold town of Winchcombe and finishing at Sudeley Castle. Highlight: The ruins of Hailes Abbey. Richard Earl of Cornwall, founded the Abbey in 1246, to thank God after he survived a shipwreck. Option 3 - Winchcombe To Sudeley Castle Distance: 7½ miles (12km) Ascent: 950 feet (300m) In Summary: Enjoy the views over the far reaching Evesham Vale, before passing Hailes Abbey and following the Cotswold Way back to Winchcombe and finishing at Sudeley castle. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Highlight: The little chapel of ease at Farmcote is a hidden gem. Day 4: Around Bourton Option 1 - Lower Slaughter Distance: 2.9 miles (4.7km) Ascent: 160 feet (50m) In Summary: This is a short circular walk from Harrington House to Lower Slaughter, a very attractive village which is one of the most photographed villages in England. Highlight: The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are just a couple of miles' walk from Bourton-on-the- Water. Option 2 - Upper Slaughter And Lower Slaughter Distance: 5.5 miles (9km) Ascent: 300 feet (140m) In Summary: An attraction of this walk is that it includes three villages. We start in bustling Bourton-on-the-Water, crossing farmland to idyllic Lower Slaughter with its fine old houses and cottages sitting beside the picturesque Rive Eye and its attractive bridges. With time to visit the church, look at the Mill, and possibly enjoy the tea room, we then cross meadows to the sleepy and unspoilt village of Upper Slaughter before picking up the River Windrush to return to Harrington House. Highlight: The mill at Lower Slaughter and two unspoilt Cotswold villages Option 3 - Bourton To Icomb Distance: 9.5 miles (15km) Ascent: 850 feet (260m) In Summary: Leaving Bourton via the quarry lakes we ascend to Great Rissington and then across the Cotswold countryside to the idyllic Cotswold stone village of Icomb. With fine views across the Cotswold landscape we return to Harrington House via Greystones nature reserve and the picturesque main street of Bourton-on-the- Water. Highlight: Take your camera – plenty of quintessential Cotswolds photo opportunities. Day 5: Departure Day Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. Gentle Walk Version 2 Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 4 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 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) 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) www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 5 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 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.