Group of people standing in front of a stone wall with a scenic countryside view and blue sky
Stone cottages surrounded by a field of dandelions and lush greenery under a cloudy sky.
A group of hikers standing on a paved road near a meadow with dandelions and large trees, with stone houses visible in the background.
Countryside manor house with large lawn, a horse grazing, surrounded by bare trees and wooden fences under a clear blue sky.
Person holding an ice cream cone outside The Croft Ice Cream Parlour, with a stone building and cobblestone path visible.
Group of people hiking on a grassy trail with flowering bushes and trees under a blue sky.

Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton-on-the-Water Day Walk – Cotswolds

A wonderfully sociable 11 mile walk exploring two of the most picturesque towns in the Cotswolds and the beautiful scenery in between.

Experience Type: Day Experience
Distance: Approx. 11.3 miles (18.1km)
Duration: Most groups complete this walk in 6-7 hours.
Level: Active
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

In a Nutshell:

  • An Active walk which will certainly stretch the legs, whilst offering fantastic Cotswold countryside views.

  • Walk in the company of a lovely group and friendly, knowledgeable guide.

 

How do we grade our walks?

Discover magical Cotswolds towns on this sociable day walk…

An undulating countryside walk offering far-reaching views and towns with oodles of Cotswold charm. This guided day walk provides an opportunity to enjoy some fresh air, make new friends and explore a couple of the Cotswolds top stops and fabulous scenery the area is famous for.

This Active walk (learn how we grade our walks) is just over 11 miles long (11.3 miles, 18.1km), with approximately 320m of ascent, which will be led by a friendly and experienced member of the Large Outdoors crew. Most groups complete this walk in 6-7 hours, depending on the pace of participants and time taken for stops.

Suggested Itinerary

Your Large Outdoors guide will meet you in Stow-on-the-Wold, where there’s time for introductions and a safety briefing. Once we’re all ready to set off, we will follow the Monarch’s Way south and through the village of Lower Slaughter. Arriving in Bourton-on-the-Water - without doubt the most-photographed villages in the Cotswolds - we will have time to wander around and perhaps grab a brew.

After Bourton, we join the Diamond Way, wandering through Greystones Farm Nature Reserve (keep your eyes peeled for Otters and Water Voles), and on to Icomb. Then, heading north, we will make our way back to Stow-on-the-Wold, admiring more Cotswold views along the way. We’ll also pass an historic site - Salmonsbury Camp Hillfort - where an Iron Age fort and town once stood.

Stow-on-the-Wold is a wonderful location to grab a drink or a bite to eat, so there’s the perfect opportunity to relax post-walk with your fellow participants and enjoy some refreshments, before heading home.

Good to Know

  • Meeting Time: The exact time to meet will depend on what month the walk is taking place.

    Walks between March and October please meet your guide at 9:45am for a prompt 10am start.

    Walks between November and February please meet your guide at 8:45am for a prompt 9am start.

    Meeting Location:
    Fosseway Long Stay Car Park (Next to Tesco)
    Stow-on-the-Wold
    GL54 1BX

    what3words///crumple.pitch.staring

    Parking: The meeting location is a large long-stay car park, where parking is free. Please do not park in the Tesco car park as this is for Tesco customers only.

    Public Transport: There are local bus services to/from the likes of Cheltenham and Moreton-in-Marsh, but please check service timetables before booking.

    Finish Time: The exact finish time will depend on the group dynamic, number of rest stops, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or meal together during/after, etc. Most groups complete this walk in 6-7 hours. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

  • Included:

    • A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your Cotswold walk.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

  • Please see our General (Walking) Kit List.

    The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

  • • What level of fitness is needed?
    This experience is rated as Active. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

    • Will the walk be cancelled if there is poor weather or it’s raining?
    No, this walk will go ahead regardless of the weather forecast, as long as the weather conditions are assessed as safe. Please make sure you have all the items from the Compulsory Kit List (see section above).

    • Can I attend on my own?
    Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

    • What transport is provided during this trip?
    We do not provide any transport for this experience.

    • Can I bring my dog?
    Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

 Book your Stow-on-the-Wold to Burton-on-the-Water Day Walk - Cotswolds