Cotswolds Overtakes Lake District and Peak District as Top Walking Destination
The Cotswolds has been named the best place for a walking holiday in England, according to Responsible Travel, dethroning the traditionally popular Lake District and Peak District. The region, spanning 800 square miles across six counties, offers ancient woodlands, tranquil river valleys, rolling hills, and honey-coloured cottages.
Responsible Travel praised the Cotswolds for its serene atmosphere, stating: "It is not surprising that great writers from Shelley to Waugh have been inspired by the Cotswolds. Like their literary worlds, walking here transports you to a serene and soothing place." The guide highlights towns such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, where even the names evoke a bygone era, and notes the region's slow food ethos with fine inns and local cuisine.
The Cotswolds Way: A 102-Mile Trail Through Iconic Scenery
A major walking route is the Cotswolds Way, stretching 102 miles from Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire to Bath in Somerset. Following the western edge of the Cotswold Hills, the trail passes grand manor homes, historic battle sites, Neolithic burial barrows, and honey-hued villages. The Cotswolds is England's largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), measuring roughly 90 miles in length and 25 miles in width.
Popular villages along the route include Bibury, home to the iconic Arlington Row cottages, which artist and writer William Morris called "the most beautiful village in England." Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the "Venice of the Cotswolds," features a crystal-clear meandering river and quaint stone bridges. Castle Combe offers preserved medieval cottages from 1600, with no TV aerials and hidden underground wires to maintain its historic charm.
Responsible Travel's Top 12 Walking Destinations in England
Responsible Travel also ranked other top walking destinations: Dorset, Lake District, Peak District, Pilgrims Way, Shakespeares Way, South West Coast Path, Suffolk coast, Sussex and the South Downs, Thames Path, White Cliffs of Dover and Kent coast, and Yorkshire. The Cotswolds stands out for its combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and walker-friendly amenities.
