Explore ten easy-paced, family-friendly short walks across the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Originating from a Saxon term meaning ‘wooded hollows, amid gentle hills’, the AONB straddles six counties, and is best known for its honey-coloured stone cottages, lush rolling hills, and deeply-cut wooded valleys. Walks explore quieter corners of the region, covering fine gardens, rivers, parkland, and charming villages.
What to expect from Cotswolds Short Walks Made Easy:
• For quintessential Cotswold views, follow the trail from Broadway, escaping the crowds up a gently sloping hill to a sleepy hamlet and tempting tearooms
• Take a stroll down the magnificent Broad Ride in Cirencester Park, briefly enjoying the beautiful Roman town of Cirencester
• Have your camera ready to snap the country’s most photographed cottages at Arlington Row, whilst on an outing from Bibury
• Admiring formal gardens at the stately homes of Sudeley Castle and Blenheim Palace, you can relax in the Arts and Crafts-inspired planting at Hidcote
• The beautifully wooded valley of Woodchester Park and the ancient deer parkland at Cornbury offer away-from-it-all rambles
• Don’t miss the waterside wildlife-spotting opportunities along the Thames and Severn canal from Chalford
OS Short Walks Made Easy:
• 10 accessible walks suitable for the whole family – no walking experience needed!
• All routes are between 1½ to 4½ miles and can be completed all year round
• Know what to expect before you go: Information on locations of cafes/pubs and toilets, terrain, hilliness and accessibility for pushchairs and wheelchairs
• Large-scale Ordnance Survey maps for ultra-easy navigation and route-finding, featuring intuitive pictorial symbols
• Numbered points and route photographs which tie maps to route descriptions and walk profiles
• Enhance your adventure with stories behind each walk and nature notes
• Get active outside and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits