Walking and Cycling in the Cotswold
The Cotswolds is the perfect place to walk and cycle regardless of ability as there are so many cycle routes and public footpaths to choose from.
The Cotswolds national landscape is a designated Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and has been since 1966 and is the largest of the 46 AONB’s in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Cotswolds is also the third largest protected landscape in England, after the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales National Parks. It reaches from Bath to Wiltshire in the south, through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire to Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north.
The Cotswold Hills are the area’s main feature rising from the meadows of the upper Thames to the escarpment above the Severn Valley and Vale of Evesham. The Cotswolds is world famous for its warm limestone Cotswold stone buildings, Cotswold stone walls and Cotswold sheep that graze the rich pastures in the valleys and hills of the beautiful Cotswold landscape.
Walking
The Cotswolds is one of the country’s most beautiful landscapes with almost 800 sq miles of scenery, picturesque villages and towns and endless walking routes to explore the area.
The Cotswolds National Landscape website has a variety of self-guided and guided walking routes you can choose from – https://www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/exploring/ – which include The Cotswold Way, Gloucestershire Way (which runs through the middle of Notgrove) and MacMillian Way public footpaths.
In addition, you have all the permissive foot paths around Notgrove’s 1,500 acre farm that Notgrove Holiday guests are welcome to use whilst staying.
Cycling
If you prefer cycling to walking, then the Cotswolds has plenty of road and off-road cycling to discover and explore. There are 35 routes here for you to take: https://www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/exploring/cotswold-cycle-routes/
Cotswold Stone Villages & Towns
There are so many beautiful Cotswold stone villages and towns you can visit and walk around including Charlbury, Bourton on the Water, Morton in Marsh, Broadway, Stow on the Wold, Bibury, Cirencester, Northleach, Painswick, Winchcombe, Wotton under Edge, Nailsworth, Tetbury and Stroud which are all within each reach of Notgrove.
Cotswold Historical Attractions
There are also many local historical attractions to visit including Sudeley Castle, Berkeley Castle, Yanworth Roman Villa, Broadway Tower, Cirencester Roman Museum, Rollright Stones, Batsford and Westonbirt Arboretum, Northleach Old Prison, Gloucester Cathedral, many long barrows and Norman churches too which are all part of the history of the Cotswolds.
Where to Stay in the Cotswolds?
Notgrove Holidays is perfectly located in the heart of the Cotswolds to easily reach the whole area. With self-catering accommodation in its barns, glamping pods and safari lodges to suit all budgets.
The Barns and Tents as well as four of the pods are all dog friendly and Notgrove has a local bike hire company that deliver bikes for guests, a bike shed and wash off areas for walkers, cyclists and dogs as well as dog welcome packs and secure gardens. Their also a dual EV charging point.
There’s no better place for walkers and cyclists to stay in the Cotswolds and we look forward to seeing you soon.
