Walking in South Wales and the Cotswolds - Plus London
Energetic pace with more physically demanding activity. Longer walking/hiking tours (more than 3 hours), over uneven and possibly rugged terrain. Expect some longer days. Varying altitudes with some steep ascents/descents. Capable of standing for extended periods of time. Some days may include 5–13 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for London.
We arrive in London and transfer to our country house hotel in the centre of Bourton-on-the Water. On our guided walks over the next few days we’ll discover glorious golden stone villages with thatched cottages, mansions, pastoral countryside and quiet country lanes. This evening is our Welcome Briefing and Dinner.
We’ll follow footpaths from Bourton exploring the area directly to the south, and on our return we follow the Diamond Way. At the end of your walk there’ll be plenty of time to explore Bourton-on-the- Water. Enjoy a pint in one of the pubs, visit the shops, or simply find a bench beside the River Windrush and soak up this charming rural village.
Starting at Fish Hill, we follow the Cotswold Way with time to visit Broadway Tower. Then we descend to spend time exploring Broadway. Broadway Tower was the brainchild of the great 18th Century landscape designer, Capability Brown. His vision was carried out for the Earl of Coventry and was completed in 1798.
A day in Shakespeare country! We start at Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall, where Shakespeare spent his schooldays, discovered theatre and was inspired to become the world's greatest playwright. We will have a walking tour of the town, and end at Judith’s (the home of Shakespeare’s daughter) where we learn about the history and production of gin, ending with a tasting of course!
We start this walk by exploring the beautiful 12th century church of Hampnett, with its astonishingly ornate patterns of mock-medieval stencilling. We then follow the Macmillan Way to the small rural parish of Yanworth, before arriving at the Roman Villa at Chedworth.
We visit Hailes Abbey (dating back to 1246) before our walk to Winchcombe which will include views of the heritage steam railway, before arriving at Sudeley Castle. Steeped in history, the castle was home (and now the burial place) of Queen Catherine Parr - one of Henry VIII’s six wives.
We finish our time in the Cotswolds with a circular walk from Harrington House to the charming village of Lower Slaughter - one of England’s most photographed villages. The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are just a couple of miles' walk from Bourton-on-the-Water.
We depart the Cotswolds and make our way to the Welsh market town of Brecon, arriving at our country house hotel, Nythfa House, for a 3-night stay. The hotel is surrounded by breathtaking scenery and some of the best walks in Wales.
We walk from north of Cwndu to Tretower, famous for its renowned medieval court and castle. Then we follow a contoured path across farmland leading to the wooded Cwmbeth Brook Valley and the lovely town of Crickhowell. Soak up the history of the area and explore Crickhowell with its shops, cafes, and art galleries featuring local artists.
We follow the canal tow path east out of Brecon, then across the countryside to join the River Usk back into the town. We’ll marvel at the sturdy stone aqueduct that traverses the river, and learn much about this region’s canal history.
Enroute to London we stop in Bath for some free time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage City, famous for its classic architecture, Roman Baths and starring role in Bridgerton and Jane Austen. Later we arrive at our central London hotel.
A free day in London to visit or revisit some of the countless attractions. At our Farewell Dinner we will raise a glass to say “Cheers” to this memorable walking tour.
Air Canada takes us home.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
