Cotswolds Beauty

We stay two nights at Stratton House Hotel, Cirencester. Accommodation is twin or double en suite rooms – no sharing and no single supplement.  The hotel has a welcoming bar, and lounge.  You can see the hotel accommodation by visiting http://www.strattonhousehotel.com/

The Stratton House Hotel upgraded over the pat five years. It is indeed a hotel of great charactor.

The Stratton House Hotel has a large garden area, two lounges and a bar, and a Spa complex – not included in your tariff but you can book treatments – advisable before you arrive though s it is busy most times.

There will be a supplement if you request a double room for sole occupancy – contact us for further details. All other rooms are twins for sole occupancy/or single rooms and do not have a single supplement.

Dinner is at the hotel and is three courses. 

The restaurant serves excellent meals – you will not go hungry.

We have lunch at one of the Cotswolds lovely country pubs, or take a packed lunch.  Walking starts at 9.30 am, and we generally finish for that welcome cuppa at 4.30 pm.  This will give you plenty of time to get ready for dinner. Dress code is smart casual.

Directions

By train – Kemble is the nearest station, some 6 miles away. Taxis are readily available. This is your cost. See www.nationalrail.co.uk

By car –  the post code for your Sat Navs is GL7 2LE . A good way of checking a route is using the AA route finder. www.theaa.com/route-planner

Station pick up or arrangements. We recommend Kemble – we will arrange a taxi pick up for you and return if you let us know. This is at your cost.

Full detailed journey instruction will be sent with your Joining Details prior to the holiday.

Two and half days walking in the lovely countryside of the Cotswolds around Cirencester and Bourton in the Water, staying at the The Stratton House Hotel in Cirencester. The hotel is close to the centre of “The Capital of the Cotswolds”. It has superb grounds, and superb food, with lovely rooms.

Walking is moderate – few major climbs, and we cover 9/10 miles a day.

Our first walk is on Friday afternoon starting at 2.30pm, a two hour “get to know you “walk, with a cuppa at the end.  If you cannot make that walk, then we meet on Friday evenings, at 7.00 pm, for a three course dinner and a discussion on what we are doing during the weekend.  Each weekend’s walking has a different theme, to fit into the time of year, or events going on in the area. 

We then walk full days on Saturday and Sunday. Walking finishes on Sunday afternoon at 4.00pm.

We offer you the opportunity to stay additional nights, and many people extend their weekend as they wish. Just reserve what nights you need.

If you have booked an additional nights accommodation, note there is no walk on the Monday.

Sample Walks

The Churn Valley circular

From hotel, through fields around Stratton to the village of  North Cerney on quiet roads and footpaths  to the lunch stop at the Bathurst Arms.

Then walk down the path beside the River Church- 3 miles – back to Stretton village and across meadows to the hotel

Bourton in the Water, The Slaughters, Naunton and the Windrush Valley

From the centre of Bourton, follow Macmillan Way to Lower and Upper Slaughter. Onto Naunton and the Back Horse Inn for lunch,

We then follow the Windrush river along its meandering course to Bourton and into the centre of this iconic tourist trap for tea.

Painswick and it’s valley, Haresfield Beacon, and its Toposcope

We walk upwards to the Cotswolds Way and onto Haresfield Beacon. Following the Cotswolds Way, we stop at the Edge Arms for lunch. Then meander into Painswick- look round the church grounds with its 99 yew trees, and back along a lovely valley for minibus pick up.

A circular round Cirencester Great park

Cirencester Park is very large and we walk the many ”rides” to the Daneway Arms for lunch. We then walk towards the Stratton valley and back to the hotel on wooded walks and field paths

 Coaley Peak Circular

Taking in the countryside above Stroud and the Cotswolds Way taking in Woodchester park and its pools and Selsey. Lunch t the Bell Selsey, before taking the Cotswolds way through woodland and across open fields back to our transport- a 10 mile circular.

Grade and Difficulty

We walk between 9 and 10 miles per day. We walk at a steady pace, we don’t rush. We want you to enjoy our lovely scenery – these hills and valleys are a walkers paradise with good paths and an ever changing landscape.

There are hills to ascend – we go up to a maximum of 200 metres over two miles of walking, but the climbing is gradual and we won’t rush. What’s the point of huffing and puffing, being exhausted then not being able to enjoy this fabulous land. Descending is not precarious, and is gentle in relationship to many walking areas.

The Cotswolds rolling countryside will enchant you – it is a land of ever changing vista’s. On any walk we get four or five different landscapes to enjoy. Walking boots or shoes are obligatory, and many walkers find a walking pole useful, especially on the downhills. You will also need wet weather gear although generally we have a mild climate, lovely springs and mild autumns, and winter walking too is outstanding in theses secret hills.  A full equipment list will be sent with the Joining Details.

Exclusions

Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.

They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.

We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.

The Cotswolds area is one of England’s favourite destinations; famous for hundreds of honey-colour limestone villages in a beautiful rural setting. In summer time, the Cotswolds offers fantastic walking and cycling, beautiful gardens, bustling farmers’ markets and a delightful cafe culture.

The Cotswolds is great walking country with over 5000km of footpaths and rights of way. For serious walkers, the Cotswold Way and Thames Path are on offer. For recreational walkers, most towns and villages have a choice of shorter circular routes.

The Cotswolds are situated in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with thousands of miles of footpaths and bridleways, a walker’s paradise. Walk through rolling countryside dotted with picturesque villages full of history and follow winding river valleys with some great views.

Cirencester

Cirencester, known as the “Capital Of The Cotswolds”, is an historic Roman town in the heart of the Cotswolds with attractions from a Roman Amphitheatre to the nearby Chedworth Roman Villa. The Corinium Museum in an important source of information on the local history.

Come and experience life in a real country market town full of Roman and medieval history which also boasts an amazing selection of independent shops and restaurants. Cirencester is in a great location to tour the Cotswolds making the perfect base from which to discover this iconic English landscape and its historic buildings. It is full of tastefully restored courtyards, alleyways and lovely old streets and many places to visit and sites to enjoy, including the magnificent Church of St John Baptist, the Abbey Grounds, St. Michael’s Park, Cirencester Park (owned by The Earl Bathurst)