Having recently relocated to Bath, on the edge of the Cotswolds, I have been enjoying getting out into the countryside and discovering the area. So I was happy to review Walking in the Cotswolds, a book of thirty different walks across the region. This is one of a large range of walkers’ guides from Cicerone covering locations around the world.
Cotswold Walks
The walks in this book are all circular and are graded according to length and difficulty. In some cases shorter alternative routes are suggested. Some of the walks are close to towns, while others are in more remote locations.
Each walk includes directions based on OS maps. There is also practical information, including public transport, parking and food and drink. And there are snippets of information about the places you are walking through. These are mostly historical, but we get bits about the inspiration for Thomas the Tank Engine, and about Peter Gabriel’s song “Solsbury Hill”. The book also includes an introductory guide to the history, landscape and flora and fauna of the Cotswolds.
Using Walking in the Cotswolds
I found this a nice practical guide. The directions are clear and the book is small enough to carry with you. (You can also buy it in e-book format.)
A particular feature I enjoyed was that several of the walks include sections of the Cotswold Way, a long distance trail between Bath and Chipping Camden. I am looking forward to incorporating some of these into my walks along the Cotswold Way next year.
For me, some of the walks are closer to home. I’ve already done the Bath Skyline Walk, and I hope to do the Little Solsbury Hill route very soon. I anticipate that this book will get a lot of use!
Walking in the Cotswolds, Damian Hall, Cicerone, 2016, 9781852848330
