Date: 2nd – 4th January 2026
Base Location: Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire
Price: £40
Overview: A weekend of walking and community in January, based in the Cotswolds town of Bourton-on-the Water, pictured above.
Bourton is known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ for its five bridges which cross the River Windrush which runs through its centre.
The weekend takes in all three of the most beautiful and famous villages in the Cotswolds, with a Saturday walk and visit from the large village of Broadway and a Sunday walk and visit from the village of Bibury.
You’ll need to arrange your own accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights.
Friday 2nd January
It doesn’t really matter what time you arrive in Bourton on the Friday night, but if you’re arriving early enough you can rendezvous to dine and socialize with those from the group who have already arrived, should you wish to.
I’ll be around from 6:00 pm until at least 8:30 pm. We’ll use the Lobby Lounge of The Old Manse Hotel, just behind the war memorial, for our Friday evening meetup, where you can also dine by the fireplace, as we did last year.
Saturday 3rd January
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: By the War Memorial, The Green, High Street, Broadway WR12 7AA
Distance: 7.5 miles
Parking: There are two public car parks, both about 700 metres, 7 minutes walk, from our meeting point at the War Memorial:
- Milestone Ground Car Park, Childswickham Road, Broadway, WR12 7HA
- Shear House Car Park, Leamington Road Broadway, WR12 7ET
For both of these, 10 hours = £4, and both are open Mon-Sun 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. I recommend parking at the Shear House Car Park on Leamington Road, as the walk from there takes you down the beautiful High Street, so that can be considered the start of your walk to take in the sights.
The Saturday walk will be from the village of Broadway, 12 miles (26 minute drive) to the North of Bourton-on-the-Water.
Broadway is famous for its attractive main street, the High Street, with its many beautiful buildings constructed in the mellow local stone. The village sits beneath the main ridge of the Cotswold Hills, providing this stunning backdrop.
This walk takes us along the Cotswold Way National Trail as a basis for visiting three villages of Stanton, Laverton and Buckland to the South.
There are a lot of great views on this route and some woodland to enjoy, too.
Stanton:
Laverton:
Buckland:
Afternoon Activities
After the walk, our official tourist activity will be to visit Broadway Tower, a seven minute (4 mile) drive, but this is optional – spend the rest of the day however you wish to.
Broadway Tower is the highest point in the Cotswolds. It has a museum within its three floors and access to a lookout platform at the top. There’s also a nuclear bunker.
It’s also dog-friendly.
If anyone of an unusually high energy would like to, you can walk to Broadway Tower by walking East up the High Street and taking this right-turn footpath (pictured below) to the tower, but you will have to self-navigate. It’s a 1.5 mile walk there from the War Memorial, and the same distance back, of course (though you may be able to arrange a lift back with a friend).
Last admission for Broadway Tower is 4:15pm, and it closes at 4:30pm, so anyone walking there will need to bear time in mind. Adult tickets are £14 excluding the Nuclear Bunker, or £20 including it.
Website: Broadway Tower (opens in a new window)
Sunday 4th January
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: Opposite The Swan Hotel, Bibury, GL7 5NW
Distance: 7 miles
Parking: Parking is relatively easy in Bibury off season. There are two places to park:
- Free parking on ‘The Street’, the main road through the village, which has parking along one side.
- There’s a small free car park opposite Bibury Trout Farm, up Ablington Lane, with an overflow car park further up the lane.
Both of these parking options are very near our meeting point, opposite The Swan Hotel.
Bibury is 12 miles (25 minute drive) to the South of Bourton-on-the-Water.
The Swan Hotel is on the famous bend on the main road, (B4425), the most recognised central focal part of the village, as pictured in the first photograph below.
Bibury is perhaps the most famous of all the Cotswolds villages, and the 14th century row of cottages at Arlington Row are certainly the most photographed.
The Sunday morning walk is a 7 mile route from Bibury to Coln St Aldwyns, where The New Inn provides amenities half way round.
We’ll go via the courtyard of St Mary’s Church and the River Coln, and of course go via Arlington Row (below).
The New Inn and other sights in Coln St Aldwyns.
Afternoon Activities
After the walk, our provisional official tourist activity will be to visit Broughton Castle (pictured below) near Banbury on the drive home, £11 per adult ticket, however, if some wish to you can go for the more expensive Blenheim Palace – tickets from £38 – also on the drive home, North of Oxford.
Oxford does make a natural place to gather prior to the final leg of the drive home.
Of course, these are again all optional and the rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. Here are some other possibilities in Bourton…
Other Attractions in Bourton-on-the-Water
Birdland in Bourton on the Water: £13.95 for adults or £12.95 when booked online. Closes 5:00pm, Last Entry at 4:00pm. Birdland in Bourton has over 500 birds including penguins and flamingos. (Website)
The Model Village: £4.50 for adults. Closes 3:30pm. The Model Village in Bourton on the Water can be found behind the Old New Inn and is a one ninth scale model of Bourton-on-the-Water (Website)
Cotswold Motoring Museum: £8.50 for adults. Open 10:00am to 6:00pm every day. (Website)
Christmas Lights and Atmosphere
As we’ll be visiting in the first weekend of January, the Christmas lights will still be in place in Bourton and the post-Christmas atmosphere will still be there to enjoy. Bourton Parish Council have confirmed the lights won’t be taken down until on or after the 6th January.
Video
This video shows two of our destinations; Bourton-on-the-Water (at 3 mins 42) and Bibury (at 12 mins 15).
“Base Camp Bourton”
For snacks, self-catering and packed lunch filling there’s a Londis/Budgeons in Bourton-on-the-Water, on the High Street, GL54 2AQ, in the main area by the river, 100 yards South of the War Memorial. Click this link to see the exact location in Google Street View.
For catering shopping in Broadway (on the Saturday) there’s a walkway opposite the War Memorial in the High Street that takes you through to a good sized Co-op store, just 100 yards away. It’s open 7am to 9pm on a Saturday. Address: Russell Square, Back Ln, Broadway WR12 7AP.
There are two public toilets in Bourton, both of which charge 40p:
- Church Rooms, GL54 2AX – on the corner of the High Street and Rectory Lane.
- and Rissington Road, GL54 2DR – next to the Rissington Road Long Stay Car Park.
Refunds
Refunds cannot be given except on a first come basis if the full capacity of the event is reached AND someone from the Waitlist pays for the event.
Group Ethos
This is an inclusive, boundaries respecting group. Participants must act in accordance with this at all times. Failure to do so will result in instant removal from the event and group without refund.
What to do next?
Don’t book any accommodation before you’ve confirmed your place with me.
- Speak to me or message me to let me know you’d like to go.
- I’ll let you have bank details to make a payment.
- Then you can set about arranging accommodation.
You can call me on 07758 351 527.
I look forward to seeing you there,
James
