Places To Eat On The Cotswold Way

Whether you want to walk circular sections of the Cotswold Way, explore different parts of the Cotswolds with a linear walk, or you’re keen to get in the Cotswold Way Hall of Fame, we have everything you need to know about the Cotswold Way.

The Beckford Inn

If you’re a fan of beer-battered fish and chips, love a classic Sunday roast (with all the trimmings, of course), or you consider yourself a beer connoisseur, stop by The Beckford Inn for a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant and a friendly atmosphere. Ideal for a break after trekking the Cotswold Way, exploring the Gloucestershire countryside, or after a spot of shopping in Cheltenham – go on, you deserve it!

The Prince Of Burford

The Prince Of Burford gastropub is situated right on the edge of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and right on the doorstep of the Cotswold Way walking trail. Treat yourself to their famous Butcombe Original beer-battered fish and chips, Cotswold burger, or decadent vegetarian pumpkin and ricotta tortelloni. Pair any of these delicious meals with a selection of award-winning Butcombe beer behind the bar.

The Crown

From steamed mussels steeped in cider, to Butcombe Original beer-battered fish and chips, you’ll find something you love at The Crown restaurant. Fancy something sweet? Try the decadent warm chocolate brownie with salted caramel ice cream, or a New York-style cheesecake with maple-roasted figs and blackberry sorbet – perfect as a pick-me-up after a tiring day exploring the Cotswold Way.

The Fleet

Overlooking the River Avon, there’s not many views as spectacular as at The Fleet Inn. Enjoy a delicious alfresco classic pub meal in ambience, with the babbling sounds of the river mere metres away, and a pint of award-winning Butcombe beer in your hand – the perfect way to spend an evening after an exhausting day on the Cotswold Way.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WALK THE COTSWOLD WAY?

If you want to tackle the entire 102-mile trail, it can take between 7-10 days, although if you’d prefer to visit a few sites, villages, or towns along the way, it could take longer.

However, if you’d rather walk part of the Cotswold Way, there are a range of circular walks for you to explore.

The routes below cover the entire Cotswold Way and are all within close proximity to our hotels (listed in brackets)

BROADWAY & THE TOWER (BECKFORD INN, COTSWOLD GATEWAY & THE FLEET INN)

This walk is approximately 4 miles long and will take most walkers around 3 hours to complete. You will enjoy the wonderful views towards Wales when at Broadway Tower, though the historic high street of Broadway itself is equally as spectacular.

This isn’t an easy route, encountering some steep and muddy sections along the way, therefore isn’t suitable for novice walkers.

STANTON, SNOWSHILL & THE EDGE (BECKFORD INN, COTSWOLD GATEWAY & THE FLEET INN)

This walk is around 6 miles long and takes most walkers between 4-5 hours to complete. Stanton and Snowshill are both sleepy villages in the Cotswolds and you will walk between them while negotiating hills, valleys, woodlands and steep slopes.

As this can be quite a daunting walk, there is a shortcut that reduces the distance to approximately 3 miles and the duration to between 2-2.5 hours.

After wet weather, you will almost certainly encounter muddy conditions, so make sure you bring appropriate footwear.

WINCHCOMBE & BELAS KNAP (BECKFORD INN, COTSWOLD GATEWAY & THE FLEET INN)

This walk is approximately 5 miles long and will take most walkers around 4 hours to complete. Starting in the picturesque Cotswold town of Winchcombe, you will enjoy the unspoilt beauty before climbing up to Belas Knap and realising for yourself why so much fascination surrounds this ancient monument.

A shortcut exists for this walk, reducing the distance to around 3.5 miles and the duration to 3 hours or so.

THE CLEEVE HILL RING (BECKFORD INN, COTSWOLD GATEWAY & THE FLEET INN)

This walk is around 6 miles long and takes most walkers between 4-5 hours to complete. This walk takes you across Cleeve Common, home to some of the finest limestone grassland in the Cotswolds. You will also pass through woodlands, over (or through) streams and across the hills.

The shortcut for this walk reduces the distance to approximately 4 miles and the duration to about 3 hours.

THE LECKHAMPTON LOOP (BECKFORD INN, COTSWOLD GATEWAY & THE FLEET INN)

This walk is approximately 4.5 miles long and will take most walkers around 3 hours to complete. With ancient remains and Victorian quarries to take in, this particular route offers a Cotswold experience like no other.

There is no shortcut for this walk and it does contain some steep sections, so may not be suitable for novice walkers.

HAWKESBURY UPTON TO TORMARTON (THE CROWN INN)

This walk is approximately 8 miles long and will take most walkers less than 4 hours to complete.

During this walk, you will take in the National Trust property of Horton Court before climbing up to Horton Fort to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Severn Vale.

The final stages of the walk includes passing through Dodington Park and into the beautiful village of Tormarton.

TORMARTON TO COLD ASHTON (THE CROWN INN)

This walk is situated nearest to The Crown and passes around the perimeter wall of the nearby Dyrham Park.

From Dyrham, the trail takes you through Dyrham Woods and through unspoilt farmland into the village of Cold Ashton.

This route is around 7 miles long, and most walkers should complete it within 3 hours.

COLD ASHTON TO BATH (THE CROWN INN)

One of the most beautiful parts of the entire Cotswold Way walk, this walk takes you through charming villages and past historic battlegrounds, before giving you the first glimpses of the Roman city of Bath.

You will pass through Lower Hamswell, past Bath Racecourse and onto Bath Abbey, which marks the end of the Cotswold Way walk.

At approximately 10 miles in length, most walkers should complete this route in around 4 hours.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO WALK THE COTSWOLD WAY?

If you’re planning to walk the entirety of the Cotswold Way, it’s best to bring a backpack with:

A first aid kit
A refillable water bottle (there are places to stop along the way to fill it up)
Light snacks (although you can stop at one of our friendly pubs in the Cotswolds)
Comfortable walking boots that can withstand some mud
Spare pairs of thick socks (in case your feet get wet)
A waterproof jacket to suit the weather
Sun cream, whether it’s warm or cold
Your smartphone – most of the Cotswolds has good phone signal, but not necessarily 4G, although you can stop by one of our pubs with WiFi in the Cotswolds if you want to stay connected
A tent and camping equipment, or, if you’d rather pack light and sleep on a comfy bed, why not stay at one of our Cotswold hotels?