Highlights of the Cotswold Way National Trail  7430

Picture postcard England at its best.

The Cotswolds; idyllic and quintessential English villages with honey coloured cottages, ridges, valleys, rolling green plains divided by hedgerows, dry-stone walls and country lanes as well as the remarkable limestone scenery of the Cotswold Escarpment.

The Cotswold Way winds south­westwards for 102 miles from Chipping Campden to the Regency city of Bath, through a real walker's landscape. From our base in Birdlip, we'll cover about half of the route in a series of six walks and include a good variety of its highlights.

From the typical Cotswold market town of Chipping Campden, the first day's walk gives a good feel for what the Cotswolds are all about: taking in the attractive villages of Broadway and Stanton and ascending the Cotswold Escarpment for the first time with panoramic views from the natural amphitheatre of Dover's Hill.

From Winchcombe, a Saxon provincial capital of the Kingdom of Murcia, the route takes us past Sudely Castle up to the Neolithic long barrow of Belas Knap and one of the most breathtaking spots of the route. At Cleeve Common, we reach the highest point in the Cotswolds with views into Wales, before dropping down to the village of Cleeve Hill and The Ring.

Other sections of the route will ascend and descend the escarpment and encounter both natural and man made highlights of this unique corner of Britain.

The final leg of the journey heads from the southern edge of the Cotswolds plateau with a series of magnificent views culminating in the descent into the scenic bowl holding the elegant city of Bath. A stroll past The Crescent and The Circus brings us to the end of the Cotswolds Way at the Roman Baths and the Pump Room.

Meals: Half board with breakfasts and dinners taken at the hotel. Picnic lunches are provided.

Accommodation: The Royal George Hotel, Birdlip, Gloucestershire Set in the hamlet of Birdlip, the Royal George dates from the 18th century. The hotel epitomises a friendly, traditional English country hotel. Birdlip itself is situated on the south west of the Cotswolds, and is surrounded by rivers bubbling through hidden valleys - all in all a wonderful walking location. Number of rooms: 34

Travel: Transportation to and from the trailheads, if necessary, is included. Nearest railway stations: Cheltenham (8 miles), Gloucester (8.5 miles). Nearest bus stations: Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Supplementary Information: Those taking a three or four night break will only complete either the first or second half of the route, check dates for details. 3 and 4 night short breaks commencing on 10 May,18 June, 26 July, and 20 August include a walk on the departure day.