102 miles is the length of the Cotswold Way, and 7 days keeps daily miles at 12 to 17. The route looks gentle on paper but climbs 150 to 300 meters most days. Fiona MacLeod in our studio sets splits so the steep Painswick and Bath climbs fall early in the day.
102 Miles Fits 7 Days Without a 20-Miler
102 miles over 7 days averages 14.5 miles per day, with the longest at 17 miles. Day 1 Campden to Broadway is 12 miles, day 5 to Painswick is 15 miles. You avoid any 20-mile grind that ruins the second half of the week.
17 miles is the ceiling we set, placed on the flatter Winchcombe to Cheltenham stretch. You walk it in 6.5 to 8 hours with a pub stop. We book that overnight within 0.5 miles of the path so no extra road miles pile on.
4 Climbs Hold Most of the Route Ascent
4 climbs do the heavy work: Broadway Tower, Cleeve Hill, Painswick Beacon and the Bath approach. Cleeve Hill rises 250 meters in 2 miles, the longest pull. You climb 300 to 450 meters of total ascent on each of the 3 hardest days.
250 meters is the number to respect, not the altitude, because the repeats add up. You take these at a steady 2 mph rather than racing. We mark water points because 6-mile dry gaps appear twice.
6 Overnights Cost 950 to 1,250 GBP in 2026
950 to 1,250 GBP per person is the 2026 range for 7 nights with luggage moves in the Cotswolds. Honeypot villages charge 20 to 40 GBP more per room than market towns. Single supplements run 320 to 450 GBP for the week.
- Day 1: Campden to Broadway, 12 miles, tower views
- Day 3: Winchcombe to Cheltenham, 14 miles, Cleeve climb
- Day 5: Painswick to Dursley, 15 miles, beacon and woods
- Day 7: Tormarton to Bath, 12 miles, city finish
12 miles is the shortest bookend day, which helps with train timing at both ends. You reach Bath by 15:00 with time for the baths. We hold Bath rooms with 48-hour cancellation where possible.
10 GBP per Bag per Stage Is the Transfer Norm
10 to 13 GBP per bag per stage is the 2026 Cotswold transfer rate. every stage has road access, so moves rarely fail. Bags travel by 14:00 and wait at reception under your name.
18 kg is the bag limit that keeps drivers on schedule across 7 drops. You leave town clothes in the bag and walk with 5 to 7 kg. We tag bags with the house name, not just the village, because Broadway has 4 inns on one street.
90 Minutes Connects Both Ends to London
90 to 120 minutes is the rail time from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh or Bath Spa. Taxis to Campden cost 25 to 40 GBP from the station. You start walking the next morning rather than the same afternoon.
2 business days is our time to send a day-split draft with named inns. Fiona MacLeod checks hill-fort diversion notices before sign-off. You get GPX, a pub lunch sheet and a short-day shortcut for 2 stages.