England  ·  Walking + Reading

The Cotswolds Walking & Reading Retreat

Storybook villages, winding trails, and bookish evenings on a small-group walk along England’s Cotswold Way. See all dates

Book Your Spot Talk to Our Team
Dates

Jun 1-8, 2027

Length

7 Nights

Group Size

18-22

From

$4,000/pp

Activity Level

Moderate

Let’s Walk Together

Inside the Cotswolds Walking Retreat

This Cotswolds walking retreat pairs relaxed days on England’s Cotswold Way with bookish evenings, historic pubs, and storybook villages. The name Cotswolds comes from the Old English for “sheep hills,” and you’ll see why as we cross open farmland and rolling hills that have looked much the same for centuries.
We begin in Bath, famous for its natural hot springs, Roman origins, Georgian architecture, and literary ties to Jane Austen and Mary Shelley. Then we head into the countryside to walk from Chipping Campden through Broadway, Stanton, and Winchcombe to the hilltop village of Painswick, with luggage transfers so you only carry a day pack.
Walks are intentionally relaxed, usually 4 to 7 miles, leaving plenty of time for bookshops, cafés, and pubs. Love walking but don’t want to do a trip like this solo? We’ll bring together a diverse and interesting group, so you’ll have great company on the trail and around the table.

Retreat at a Glance

Is this retreat right for you?

How active, how pampered, and how social this trip feels, so you can pick the one that fits.

Activity

Active

GentleChallenging

Comfort

Elevated

RusticLuxe

Your Time

Balanced

Mostly togetherLots of time alone

Food

Pub lunchesVillage cafésSeasonal British
  • Ornate church tower rising above golden stone houses in Chipping Campden
  • Thatched roof cottage with a pheasant sculpture on the roof and a flowering cottage garden
  • Ewe and two lambs standing in a sunny meadow under a large oak tree
  • Stone cottage behind a wooden gate at the end of a leafy gravel lane
  • Single red poppy blooming in a green barley field
  • Broadway Tower on a hilltop above white hawthorn blossom and a dry stone wall
  • Smiling hiker with arms outstretched beside the round Cotswold Way stone marker under a stone market hall arch
  • Eight Bells pub sign hanging among golden stone chimneys and flowering shrubs
  • Shaved asparagus and greens salad topped with cheese on a white plate
Meet Your Hosts

The people behind your week.

Your week is led by Amy Heinemann, leading our Cotswold Way retreat for the second time, along with a second Away host we’ll announce soon. One of them always walks the full day, so whether you go further or stop early, you’re never on your own.

Amy Heinemann, retreat host, smiling with her chin resting on her hand

Amy Heinemann

Away Host

Amy grew up on long family road trips through the national parks of the US and Canada, and she has carried that love of wide open spaces into adulthood. After careers in the environmental field and finance, she has visited 142 countries, discovering each one through its food, markets, and landscapes. This is her second time leading our Cotswold Way retreat!

Read Amy’s Story

Welcome to Away Retreats

Let us handle it all.

“We made new friends and experienced a new place by land, foot and sea. We will be taking another Away Retreat!”
– Ellen B., Portugal 2026

Itinerary

The Day-to-Day of the Cotswolds

Everything is optional on all of our experiences. This is your retreat. You choose what you’d like to do each day.

  • Walking days: breakfast at the hotel, then a relaxed 4 to 7 mile walk on well-kept footpaths, with your larger bag sent ahead so you only carry a day pack.
  • Afternoons: after lunch at a village pub, keep walking with one of our hosts for a 10 to 12 mile day, or transfer ahead for an afternoon of reading and exploring. You can skip any walking day entirely.
  • Evenings: dinner at historic, farm-to-table pubs, and several times during the week, a book club discussion about the books shared before the trip.

Arrive in Bath, get settled, and enjoy a free afternoon before our group welcome dinner.

A free morning to explore Bath, join a walking tour, and browse the independent bookshops and cafés. In the afternoon, a private session at one of the city’s nicest thermal baths, followed by our first book club discussion. Lunch and dinner are on your own, and we’re happy to share our favorite spots.

Drive from Bath to the historic market town of Chipping Campden, stopping in a few scenic villages along the way, with a leisurely lunch at one of the best farm-to-table gastropubs in the Cotswolds.

Our first day on the Cotswold Way! Walk 6 miles from Chipping Campden to Broadway, stopping for the views and a cup of tea at Broadway Tower before heading down into Broadway, known for its wide streets and central green.

Walk 4.5 miles from Broadway to Stanton, one of the prettiest villages on the trail, for a group lunch at a pub with views over the village. Then take a transfer or keep walking to Winchcombe (up to 12 miles total). Sudeley Castle sits just outside Winchcombe, a lovely free-afternoon visit for castle and garden lovers.

Walk about 6 miles through active farms from Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill, the highest point on the Cotswold Way, with some of the clearest views of the escarpment. Then we transfer to Painswick.

A free morning in Painswick, then an afternoon walk of about 2 miles to the nearby Slad Valley for dinner at a local gastropub.

We organize all airport transfers, so all you have to do is pack and say your goodbyes!

Like the sound of this week?

Take a look at the rooms and hold your spot with a deposit. Questions first? Our team is happy to talk it through.

See Rooms & Pricing Talk to Our Team
Black Cotswold Way footpath sign with an acorn symbol in front of golden stone buildings
Black Cotswold Way footpath sign with an acorn symbol in front of golden stone buildings
Cotswolds

England

What’s Included

  • Pre-trip & logistics support
  • 7 nights in 4 boutique hotels
  • All breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners
  • Roundtrip transportation between London Heathrow (LHR) and the Cotswolds
  • Private thermal spa session in Bath
  • Book clubs & bookish events all week
  • Luggage transfer for 1 bag on walking days
  • Transfers between villages on half-day or no-walking days
  • 2 Away hosts
  • Gift bag
  • Donation to a non-profit in England
  • Roundtrip airfare to London Heathrow (LHR)
  • 1 lunch & 2 dinners (it’s fun to explore, and we’ll help you)
  • Any meals during travel before or after you meet the group
  • Specialty drinks (smoothies or alcoholic beverages)
  • Travel insurance (required, and we have recommendations for you to explore)
  • Additional activities or spa services
  • Transportation to areas outside the scheduled itinerary
The Experience

What your days actually look like.

On this Cotswolds walking retreat, the days revolve around beautiful walking, good books, village charm, and the simple pleasure of letting someone else take care of the details.

The Walking

Guests on a Cotswolds walking retreat following a footpath lined with white wildflowers and hedgerows

Easygoing Miles

Plan on 4 to 7 miles a day on well-maintained grass, dirt, and gravel footpaths. Sneakers or trail runners work well, or wear hiking boots if you prefer.

Walker standing on a grassy escarpment edge above a wide valley and distant hills

Walk Further, or Not

After lunch, keep walking with one of our hosts for a 10 to 12 mile day, or transfer to the village for an afternoon of reading and exploring. Skip any walking day entirely if you like.

Two walkers on a dirt footpath beneath arching beech trees

Only the Best Stretches

Our team has walked the entire Cotswold Way and picked the highlights. We skip the busy road crossings and the stretches with nowhere to stop for food or drink.

The Reading

Woman reading a book in a leather armchair beside a crackling stone fireplace

Book Club Discussions

We gather several times during the week to talk about books shared before the trip, centered on long-distance walking adventures, historical fiction, and stories set in this region.

Cozy bookshop corner with armchairs, a crystal chandelier, a vintage typewriter, and shelves of books

Independent Bookshops

Bath and Broadway are home to incredibly well-curated independent bookshops, and we make time to browse them.

Hand holding a watercolor postcard of Cotswold villages on a golden stone village street

Bookish Surprises

Expect a few book-themed surprises along the way, starting with a gift bag waiting for you.

The Villages

West front of Bath Abbey beside the entrance to the Roman Baths in Bath, England

Beautiful Bath

Georgian architecture, parks, a riverfront, and a private thermal bath session just for our group, in the city where Jane Austen and Mary Shelley both lived.

Thatched cottage and rose-covered stone houses along a quiet Cotswold village lane

Storybook Villages

Golden stone villages like Chipping Campden, Broadway, Stanton, Winchcombe, and Painswick, with fields of grazing sheep and the occasional horse or cow in between.

Blue cottage door framed by pink and yellow climbing roses on a golden stone wall

Room to Wander

Stops might be for a bookshop, a bakery, a milk vending machine, a garden, or a scenic bench. Afternoons leave time to read, relax, or have a pint at a local pub.

The Details

Pub lunch of fish and chips with peas, a golden pie with chips, and grilled fish on a wooden table

Gastropub Meals

Meals are a highlight. We eat in historic pubs full of character that take pride in farm-to-table cooking, with a few stops off the trail at some of the region’s best gastropubs.

Two smiling walkers with light day packs on a path through a field of yellow flowers

Luggage Transfer

Nobody carries a heavy pack on this walk. Your larger bag travels ahead each walking day, so you only need water, snacks, sunscreen, and layers.

Stone Cotswold Way marker carved with Bath 100 miles in front of golden stone buildings

We Handle It All

Point-to-point walks can be complex. We take care of hotels, restaurant reservations, and taxi transfers, so you can just show up and enjoy the scenery and company.

Make It Yours

Anna from AllTooWellRead smiling beside a tall stack of colorful books
Before You Go

Pre-Retreat Virtual Book Club with Anna

Reading the same book before we travel gives us a shared starting point and sparks conversation before we even arrive. Join Anna, creator of @alltoo.wellread, and the rest of the group for a virtual book club discussion.

Vote on the book from a curated shortlist. About four months before the retreat, we’ll mail a copy to your door. About two months before departure, we meet online to talk it through. Anna won’t be in England with us, but we love connecting with her before we go.

As with everything, you choose whether to join. Follow Anna on Instagram

Green and gold Painswick signpost pointing to the Cotswold Way north and south

What to Do With Your Free Time

You’ll have plenty of open time on this retreat. Here are a few things we love nearby. None of it is required. Let us know what you’re interested in during your retreat, and we’ll help you plan it.

On walking days, one of our hosts continues on the Cotswold Way after lunch. Join them for a 10 to 12 mile day.

Sudeley Castle sits just outside Winchcombe, a perfect free-afternoon visit for castle and garden enthusiasts.

Use your free morning in Bath to join a walking tour and soak in the history of the city.

Ready When You Are

Save your spot, or just say hello.

Pick your room and hold it with a deposit, or book a quick call first. We’re happy to talk through the details, the group, and whether this trip is the right fit.

Choose Your Room Talk to Our Team
Where You’ll Stay

Choose your room.

Boutique hotels that are welcoming, full of character, and well located in each village. We stay at four hotels over seven nights, with two nights in most places, so you’re not packing up every day. Each hotel is very different. All prices are per person for the full retreat, and a deposit holds your spot.

June 1-8, 2027 | 7 Nights

Shared Rooms

Bright hotel room with a large white bed, wall lamps, and an en-suite bathroom

STANDARD ROOMS

Standard Room, Shared Bed

  • Queen or King Bed
  • Shared with 1 Guest
  • 4 Boutique Hotels
  • Standard Rooms

Share a queen or king bed with a partner or friend in standard rooms at all four hotels.

Per person, shared

$4,000

Reserve with $1,000 Deposit
Deluxe hotel room with a king bed, green pillows, a writing desk, and armchairs

STANDARD + DELUXE

Deluxe Room Mix, Shared Bed

  • King or Double Bed
  • Shared with 1 Guest
  • Deluxe at 3 Hotels
  • Standard at 1 Hotel

Upgrade to deluxe rooms with a king bed at three hotels and a standard room with a double bed at the fourth. Book with a friend or partner.

Per person, shared

$5,000

Reserve with $1,250 Deposit
More Dates

Not the right dates or room?

Same villages, same trail, same bookish evenings. Each date has its own hosts, book club partner, and room options, so pick the week that fits you best.

Smiling walker with trekking poles climbing a buttercup meadow above a wide valley view

HOSTED BY AMY HEINEMANN

June 1-8, 2027

  • 7 Nights
  • Group of 18-22
  • Shared Bed Rooms
  • Book Club with Anna

Guided by Amy Heinemann, back for her second Cotswold Way retreat, plus a second Away guide. Read along before you go with Anna from AllTooWellRead.

From, per person

$4,000

View June 1-8
Cozy bookshop corner with armchairs, a crystal chandelier, a vintage typewriter, and shelves of books

WITH BOOK CLUB SALIDA

June 3-10, 2027

  • 7 Nights
  • Group of 18-22
  • Shared, Twin, or Single
  • Book Club with Anna

Hosted by Samantha Bahn and Deb Bass O’Brien, co-founders of Book Club Salida and hosts of our New Mexico Reading Retreat. Read along before you go with Anna from AllTooWellRead.

From, per person

$4,400

View June 3-10
Two walkers on a dirt footpath beneath arching beech trees

AUTUMN IN THE COTSWOLDS

September 23-30, 2027

  • 7 Nights
  • Group of 18-22
  • Shared, Twin, or Single
  • Book Club with Daphne

Guided by returning Away guide Brittany Mora, plus a second Away guide, as the Cotswolds cool into autumn. Read along before you go with Daphne from daphsreads.

From, per person

$4,400

View September 23-30
Sheep and lambs resting on a green hillside above a stone manor house and patchwork fields
Sheep and lambs resting on a green hillside above a stone manor house and patchwork fields
England

Give Back

Every trip gives back!

Every Away retreat gives back. As part of this experience, Away Retreats makes a donation to a non-profit in England, so our time walking through these villages leaves something good behind. We’ll share this retreat’s partner here soon.

A few common questions

We are here for Every Question

“If you are someone who plans everything and trusts no one to do it as well as you would, this retreat is for you. If you are someone seeking stillness, strength, connection, or simply a real vacation, this retreat is for you. Away Retreats thought of everything so you don’t have to.”
– Emily M., Bali 2026

Deposits are refundable for 7 days.

More than 120 days before the retreat: 50% refund, less the deposit.
90 to 120 days before: 25% refund, less the deposit.
90 days or fewer: no refund, but we can apply your deposit toward a future Away retreat.

Travel insurance is required and helps protect you if plans change.

A 25% deposit reserves your spot, and the remaining balance is due 120 days before the retreat starts. A payment plan is available on every retreat, as long as everything is paid in full by then.

Yes! It’s your retreat, and you get to choose. Every activity is on the menu, with no pressure to join any or all of them. No one will ask where you were at breakfast.

Yes! There are options for vegetarians, pescatarians, omnivores, and carnivores alike, and gluten-free diets can be accommodated too.

Check the current CDC recommendations for travel to the United Kingdom before you go.

Yes. While it’s nice to unplug, many of us have lives at home that need some communication. There’s WiFi at all of the hotels and good cell service throughout the walk.

As experienced travelers who’ve learned to expect the unexpected, we require travel insurance. It helps protect your investment and covers things like illness, injury, family emergencies, travel delays, lost luggage, or trip interruptions. Since retreat payments follow our cancellation policy, it’s best to buy a policy shortly after booking. We include a recommended provider in your confirmation email.

The English countryside can be a bit moody, so we walk rain or shine. Expect daytime temperatures from the low 60s to mid 70s °F (15 to 25 °C), with cooler mornings and evenings when you’ll want a warm layer. Our packing list will help you stay dry and comfortable.

You’ll receive a full packing list well before the trip, including:
Activewear for walking days
Rain jacket and rain pants
Lightweight fleece
Sun hat
Closed-toe shoes

Plan on walking 4 to 7 miles on walking days, on well-maintained grass, dirt, and gravel footpaths through rolling hills and along the Cotswold escarpment, including the climb to Cleeve Hill, the highest point on the Cotswold Way. If you keep walking after lunch, days run 10 to 12 miles. You can also skip any walking day and meet the group in the next village.

Walkers with trekking poles on a mown grass footpath beside a fence, with a church tower and stone houses behind
Walkers with trekking poles on a mown grass footpath beside a fence, with a church tower and stone houses behind
Cotswolds

England

Have a question before you book?

Let’s explore the world together

We love talking about travel. Send us a note, and someone from our team will be in touch, usually within a day.

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