Out & About Guide

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Walks & Nature

Walking in the Cotswolds

The 102-mile Cotswold Way National Trail takes in some of the best scenery the region has to offer. There are thousands of miles of footpaths and the area has a reasonable claim to be a walkers’ paradise. The Oxfordshire Way starts in Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire and takes you to the banks of the River Thames in Henley. The route passes through a variety of contrasting landscapes and settlements including two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; the rolling Cotswold Hills and the Chilterns.

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Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve, Bampton

Located minutes downstream from The Trout, take a walk round the reserve, which is of national importance for its species-rich wetland meadows that support large numbers of now scarce ground-nesting birds, butterflies and plants. A nature lovers paradise.

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Greystones Farm Nature Reserve, Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water is home to Greystones Farm Nature Reserve. Follow one of the two walking routes: Meadow Walks and Archaeology Walk, both including an audio trail marked by arrows. As well as being an important nature area, Greystones Farm is a protected Scheduled Ancient Monument with human habitation dating back almost 6000 years.

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Harcourt Arboretum, Marsh Baldon

Part of the University of Oxford since 1963, Harcourt Arboretum covers 130 acres and features the best collection of trees in the county, as well as some of the oldest redwoods in the UK. Seasonal highlights include wildflower meadows, rhododendrons and bluebell woods.

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Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury

Westonbirt is one of the best-known and most visited sites in the Cotswolds. Located just over three miles to the south of Tetbury, it has one of the largest collections of trees and shrubs in the world.

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Birdwatching, Cotswold Water Park

With over 150 lakes, the Cotswold Water Park, south of Cirencester, is a superb year-round birding destination ranging from 20,000 wintering water birds to 21,000 wintering gulls to vast numbers of breeding warblers.

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Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh

There are now more than a thousand varieties of trees on display at Batsford. The colours are especially striking in spring and autumn. Expect to find cherries, azaleas and rhododendrons among the species.

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North Meadow, Cricklade

North Meadow is an old hay meadow which is now a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is famous for having the largest UK population of rare Snakes Head Fritillaries which flower in the Spring and are usually at their best during the second and third week of April. The meadow is owned by Natural England who arrange weekend guided walks around the meadow when the Fritillaries are in flower.

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Cleeve Hill

Highest point of the Cotswolds at 1083ft (330m) above sea level, with Cheltenham spread below. This airy upland remains one of the most breathtaking viewpoints anywhere in England. Countless footpaths criss-cross its 1,000 acres, including The Cotswold Way National Trail, and fabulous views extend to the Malvern Hills and, on a clear day, to the Black Mountains of Wales.

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Last updated: 12.02.21

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Walks & Nature

Walking in the Cotswolds

Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve, Bampton

Greystones Farm Nature Reserve, Bourton-on-the-Water

Harcourt Arboretum, Marsh Baldon

Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury

Birdwatching, Cotswold Water Park

Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh

North Meadow, Cricklade

Cleeve Hill