England’s top walking destination has been announced, surpassing the renowned Lake District and Peak District. While the Lake District boasts glacial waters and dramatic mountain scenery, and the Peak District offers heather moorlands and rugged rocks, a new region has taken the spotlight.
The Cotswolds has been crowned the ‘best place for walking in England’ by Responsible Travel. Spanning 800 square miles, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty showcases ancient woodlands, tranquil river valleys, rolling hills, and picturesque honey-colored cottages. With a length of approximately 90 miles and a width of 25 miles, the Cotswolds provides a plethora of walking trails for enthusiasts.
Responsible Travel describes the Cotswolds as a serene and captivating destination that has inspired renowned writers. Walking through historic towns like Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water evokes a sense of nostalgia. The region’s reputation for slow food ensures walkers are well catered for in charming inns and eateries along their journey.
The Cotswolds spans six counties, offering visitors a diverse range of towns and villages to explore. The Cotswolds Way, a prominent walking route stretching 102 miles from Chipping Campden to Bath, showcases the region’s beauty, passing by grand manor homes, historic sites, and picturesque villages.
Notable villages in the Cotswolds include Bibury, famed for its Arlington Row, and Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ for its scenic river and stone bridges. Castle Combe charms visitors with its medieval cottages frozen in time, creating a fairy tale-like atmosphere.
For walkers seeking a quintessentially English experience, the Cotswolds stands out as a must-visit destination.