The holiday we just had with Cotswold Walks was fantastic. If asked to pick one favorite item about our 6 day tour I could not, because it was all super. At the end of each day we found ourselves saying "Wow, what a great day that was!" Walking the countryside and villages, taking loads of pictures, and visiting some beautiful estates made this the best holiday I ever had. From the time I started planning our trip, months prior, Andrew was very responsive and helpful to all of my email enquires (and there were plenty). The accommodations Andrew helped us select in each destination were really high quality without breaking our budget. The B&Bs felt as clean and comfortable as our own home. We hated to have to leave them. I can only imagine how tough it must be to book everything for multiple people, but it went smoothly all week long. The overall pace of each day of our holiday was just right. Having all breakfasts included and starting at a decent time (9:15) was just perfect. The days were full and fun, yet did not leave us wiped out and tired for the next. The itinerary Andrew put together was fantastic. One of my favorite parts was visiting multiple Manor houses. We were even served lunch on the Lawn of one! When not walking, the transfers from one destination to the next were comfortable and quick. Among the best parts of each days walk - aside from the beautiful scenery - was our guide Robert Talbot. What a pleasure it was to meet him and spend time walking and talking with him. Very patient guy, funny, informative, and engaging. Robert pointed out and discussed all kinds of interesting things during our walks that we would have missed had we been on our own. Finally, the size of our group was perfect in my opinion. There were eight people total, including my wife and I. Because of people spreading out along parts of some walks, each of us got a chance to interact with Robert one-on-one, which made it feel all that much more special. Everyone got along so well that even on the nights we were not scheduled to have dinner together, we met up and ate together anyway. We all exchanged emails at the ed of the trip and my wife and I found ourselves missing everyone the day after departing. I would highly recommend Cotswold Walks to anyone interested in an active, engaging, and memorable holiday. read more

I am writing this review rather late - the dates of my trip took place in mid-September of last year (2018). My brother & I wanted to do something special for my mom's 70th birthday, and given her love of nature and hiking, we decided to do a self-guided walking tour. I came across the Cotswold Walks website after reviewing some options with a colleague from the UK and with her approval I contacted CW. Given all three of our busy schedules, I had to ask multiple times for help revising and modifying the itinerary - and they help I received from Andrew and Adam was nothing less than completely accommodating, patient, and gracious every step of the way. We settled on a 4-day/4-nights adventure and had the best time! We lucked out with the weather being perfect....I think it only rained once on one morning. The walk itself was beautiful, and the landscape always varied which was very cool - we did get lost (luckily a few locals gave us a ride to put us back on track!) with the map.....but we downloaded the recommended app after Day 1 and that was fine. The accommodations were stellar - beautiful and clean with warm, hospitable hosts. The planning was flawless - transitions to new hotels or BNBs was seamless and easy. Communication was prompt if I had any questions or concerns. Really, the fact that I didn't have to think about anything other than showing up at the right time makes this company so recommendable. My family & I decided to spend the rest of the week exploring London, but my only regret is that I didn't ask CW to plan that part of our trip as well (not sure if they venture outside of the Cotswolds). Overall, we would do this again! read more

This outfit was magnificent! I have always wanted to go on a walking tour in England, self guided. Our travel agent, Village Travel in Massachusetts, did the research to find us this local UK outfit. The cost was a fraction of what we would have paid as opposed to an outfit here in the states. Though not all of the B&B's were great, the tour itself was magnificent. We were provided with local, specific maps and guides as to where we would be going. As it was not a group led by a guide, we had to follow the precise detail of the instructions. They were great and very specific. We met other American's on the tour using different tour outfits and they were getting lost and frustrated. Many ended up taking local buses to the next village to prevent getting lost. Some joined us during part of their journey so we could guide them to the next destination, which was nice for added company. We never got lost and this is coming from one who is just moderately good, not great at directions. We told the folks at this tour company how many miles (roughly) we wanted to walk and they provided us with the most wonderful routes, through wheat fields, gorgeous villages, lawns behind manor houses, paths lined with moss covered stone walls...you get the picture. I would recommend Cotswold Walks and would use them again. I only wish they were in other countries guiding us on our next journey. read more

My husband and I did the 5 night/4 day self-guided walk called the Cotswold in August from Moreton-in-Marsh to Chipping Campden via Lower Slaughter, Winchcombe and Broadway. What a fantastic experience and a wonderful way to see the very lovely Cotswold towns and countryside! Andrew and his team at Cotswold Walks were very professional and helpful in planning our trip. Our accommodations, recommended by Andrew, were excellent, the walking materials were clear and easy to follow so we never got lost, and our luggage (and a well-deserved pint!) were always there at the end of the day's walk. We have only good things to say about our accommodations (The Manor House Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, Slaughters Country Inn in Lower Slaughter, The Lion Inn in Winchcombe, and The Noel Arms Hotel in Chipping Campden). We had dinner in the restaurants and drinks in the pubs at each, and everything was excellent. And our stay at the 16th century Dove Cottage in Broadway was wonderful. The walk took us through fields, forests, country towns, country estates, wheat fields and fields full of sheep and cows. For lunch, there was always a village or town with a welcoming country pub. Thank you Cotswold Walks for a memorable experience! read more

I echo the comments of many others here - I am back two weeks now from one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life - a 60 mile+ hike in the Cotswolds to celebrate my birthday. I hiked by myself, and can recommend Cotswold Walks without qualification if a self-guided walking holiday is what you're looking for. Andrew customized a Cotswold Ring tour for me to coincide with a private garden exposition in Chipping Campden and time at Hidcote, and the whole experience was well-planned, well-communicated, and well-excuted. The inns were cozy, clean, and charming and the breakfasts the perfect start for the day. To have a hot shower, bags waiting, and another charming village to explore at the end of the walking day was delightful. I had to backtrack a few times to find my way, but the well-written directions were easy enough to get reoriented to. Walkers are congenial people; while I didn't meet many folks when I was on the trail, we spot each other pretty easily in the villages in the evening. Restaurant recommendations Andrew includes in his materials are spot on - and British cuisine, at least in this part of Britain is much more than bangers and mash! read more

My daughters and I just completed a 4 night 3 day self-guided walking tour from Winchcombe to Morton-on-Marsh. This was our first time doing this type of vacation, and it was wonderful. Andrew was prompt and responsive to all of my questions pre-trip. I am usually organized and research before setting off; but this time I let some things slip by. A major issue was transportation from Gatwick to Wincombe. I knew we could take the train, but had not looked into the details. A day before my arrival, when I realized that was not a great idea, I emailed Andrew and he arranged private car transportation. Our drivers were prompt and very nice. All of our B&B/Inn accommodations were lovely, including the full English breakfasts. Each of the towns were different and beautiful. The booklets were very detailed and helpful, although we did find ourselves in a field, not well marked, for an hour, not sure how to find our way out! It definitely gave us something to laugh about! Thanks for all of the help and materials. We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation. read more

Andrew of Cotswolds Walks was recommended by 2 separate American friends who'd greatly enjoyed their own walking vacations a couple of years prior. My husband and I agree heartily! This was an exceptionally enjoyable and invigorating experience for us (mid-sixties couple in pretty good shape). Andrew perfectly customized our 8 day tour to our requests. We loved every minute of the adventure, even the few times we got confused and had to retrace steps. The countryside is gorgeous, the villages charming, the people friendly and helpful, and the accommodations top-notch. We felt confident and excited each day to set out on our own, eager to discover the next section of trails with clearly spelled out route notes in hand. Each day was unique, and luckily, the weather ideal, allowing us to ooh and aah at the beauty of the Cotswolds. We've just returned home and have already raved about this vacation to many friends, so Andrew, be prepared for an influx of interest from future Cotswolds Walks customers! read more

Cotswold Walks, and Andrew Guppy in particular, organized a most wonderful, self-guided walking tour for our two friends and the two of us through a beautiful portion of the Cotswolds. Andrew assisted us in deciding which villages to see, what walks to undertake, and provided a wonderful list of accommodations for our six-day Cotswolds walking tour. We found the route (walking) notes, maps, and other information Cotswold Walks provided to be extremely well-prepared and helpful every day we were walking. Our luggage was picked up as planned and was waiting for us at each subsequent village accommodation. With one exception, the hotels and inns we stayed in were outstanding! But Andrew was also very responsive to our dissatisfaction with the one inn. We thoroughly enjoyed our self-guided tour in the Cotswolds and would highly recommend Cotswold Walks and Andrew Guppy to anyone who is planning a similar trip! read more

We had an absolutely wonderful time on our trip. We got lost periodically but eventually found our way. The walk from Guiting Power to Winchcombe was tricky but some lovely French people, Mark and Francoise helped us find our destination. We wandered around a large field at least twice before we found help. The stay in Stanton was particularly nice. You should get the hostess at the Old Post Office to tell you about putting her Soay ram in the car and getting him fixed. Priceless! For us, it would be helpful if we could get into the lodging a bit earlier as we were ready for a shower and a nap! We chose shorter options which worked fine for us. Others told us that they wished they had done the same. We have to investigate other destinations as we would love to do this again and felt you had a good pair of booklets and wonderful places to stay! John and Judy Kordich read more

This was an amazing vacation! Two of my gal pals and I went for a 4 day 5 night hike from Cheltenham to Moreton-on-Marsh. We are in our 50s. The guide book was excellent but not perfect, and that made it even more enjoyable. It added to the sense of adventure! We did get lost a few times, but the views were so amazing and the whole experience was so much fun that we really didn't mind. The tips were spot on too, and that helped (for instance, be careful of bulls). There were also tips for longer/shorter paths so we felt we had some choice. The accommodations were also good. We didn't expect swanky and were pleasantly surprised with most of our rooms. We went end of May and the flowers were all abloom, making us feel like we were walking in a cross between Brigadoon, the Wizard of Oz, the Sound of Music and Shangril-La. Highly recommend Cotswold Walks. read more

Six of us did the Cotswolds Ring at the end of May. All three couples agreed that it was a great trip, the walking was very doable for us all, we loved all the villages we stayed in and marveled at the beautiful countryside we saw along the way. Cotswolds Walks did a flawless job in putting our walk together, booking all our accommodations, and seeing to every detail. The directions in the guidebook were spot on. On very rare occasions we found a FG instead of a S, and traipsed through 5 fields instead of 3, but we were always able to put our heads together and decide that we were on track and move on ahead. Andrew was a delight and easy to work with, I only regret I didn't get a chance to meet him. This was a delightful way to see this part of England. We started each day with purpose and wonder at what adventures we would uncover that day. read more

We did a 4 day/5 night tour in late May/early June from Winchcombe to Moreton-in-Marsh with an extra day in Chipping Campden to visit Hidcote and Kiffgate gardens. The accommodations were lovely, especially the Old Bakehouse in Chipping Campden where Zoe was extremely helpful. The walks were pleasant and not over strenuous, even the 13 miler from Winchcombe to Broadway in some rain (the Mount Inn in Stanton made a nice break). Andrew was always available in helping to set up the trip which made life easier and the guidebook was perfect for finding our way. One side trip to recommend is to walk from Dover's Hill down into Weston-sub-Edge for lunch at the Seagrave Arms. The walk back is a bit of a climb, but the chips (fries) were worth it. All four of us agreed that it was a perfect vacation. read more

We had a terrific experience on our five-day walk from Cheltenham to Morton-in-Marsh. All the arrangements went flawlessly. Each one of the inns was wonderful and the breakfasts superb--good thing we walked off the very generous portions! Our luggage arrived at our new hotel each day without a hitch. Most importantly, the hiking instructions were wonderfully detailed and easy to follow (we had one or two very minor pauses as we figured out small details, but we never got lost or wandered off course). The scenery was terrific--beautiful green rolling hills and pastures full of photogenic sheep. Most of the hike was easy, with just a few short steep pitches--just enough to make you feel you were "hiking" rather than "walking". We recommend Cotswold Hikes without reservation! read more

I've worked closely with Andrew on two trips now, each for groups of sixteen women who arrived in the Cotswolds with high expectations. Andrew not only met their expectations, he exceeded them, arranging exquisite meals, charming accommodations, and beautifully planned daily walks complete with side trips and private tours along the way. I've never encountered a more thoughtful, knowledgeable, helpful planner and can't recommend him and Cotswold Walks highly enough. Our group thoroughly enjoyed our one day spent walking with Andrew and his delightful dog Indie, and we've become friends for life with our guide Robert, who led us to paths and byways not typically traveled by tourists. Two absolutely magical trips have inspired us all to start planning a return. Thank you, Andrew! read more

I'm now hooked on walking holidays and Cotswold Walks was absolutely perfect. I did the 4 day 5 night walk from Cheltenham to Moreton-in-Marsh by myself and had a fantastic time. Being female, I had friends in the US ask if it was safe. Not only was it safe, it was one of the best vacations I've had in a long time. Directions were fantastic. Thank goodness he provides descriptions on the different gate styles as that was all new to me. I met a few other walkers who got lost a bit, but I really don't see how as everything was so detailed. I also carried a small compass and I did refer to it a few times but it wasn't essential. Loved having my bag waiting for me in my room and the B&B hosts & hostesses were fantastic. Don't hesitate! It was wonderful. read more

We went on a three day four night walk through the Cotswolds that was organized for us by Cotswold Walks, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! The information provided by the company, particularly the detailed walking instructions, were just excellent and, with the exception of instructions for crossing one field, they were clear and easy to follow. The beds and breakfasts and small inns where the company made reservations for us were charming and comfortable. The recommendations for sightseeing and restaurants were also excellent. Andrew and Kate were professional, helpful and very responsive before and during our walk. All in all, a wonderful experience through a beautiful part of England and one that I would highly recommend to all. read more

We did the 5 day Cotswold walk in July and loved every moment. We were fortunate enough to have sunny days the whole time which was a tremendous bonus. All of the accommodations were great, from bed to breakfast, and our luggage transfer was perfect. Communicating with Andrew and other staff at the company was always very quick, friendly and helpful. The thorough directions were right on the mark (though in the U.S., "plantation" has a specific meaning that does not correspond to the UK, so it might be helpful to add that to your glossary!) I would not hesitate to recommend this company to anyone interested in visiting the lovely Cotswolds. Thank you for a wonderful holiday, Andrew and company! read more

We highly recommend Cotswold Walks. Andrew Guppy and his staff were outstanding: knowledgeable, professional, efficient; they anticipated our every need. And their price for our five-day adventure in the Cotswolds was very reasonable. In short, first rate, top drawer. As for the walk itself, it was equal parts spectacular, serene, invigorating and fun. The people we met and the villages we passed through on our travels were interesting, the B&Bs and inns where we stayed were comfortable and well run, and the meals at every stop were very good. To anyone of any age who can manage 8-12 miles over a generous eight hours, do it. Zip-lining over the Amazon can wait. read more

My sister-in-law and I did a walking/garden tour in the Cotswolds this summer with the details organized by Hikes and Bikes. The trip was fantastic and we would both highly recommend Andrew and Elizabeth and their great company. The logistics were managed perfectly, and we had the luxury of just enjoying the walks and the gardens without worry of where we would stay that night or if the gardens were open. Knowing our focus was on gardens as well as walking, they created a custom tour that incorporated a driver when the gardens were too far apart. The entire experience was magical, and we are excited to explore more with Hikes and Bikes. read more