Walking

On your visit to the Great West Way you might be surprised to see that for many locals, wet weather rarely puts a dampener on a good ramble. Whatever the weather, Brits love exploring the English countryside on foot, and if it rains? Well, you just wear a raincoat.

There are some spectacular day and multi-day walks to be had throughout the touring route. You could take an afternoon for a gentle stroll above the Cotswolds city of Bath, or an entire week for a long-distance march along The Ridgeway National Trail. You could go on a nature walk through some ancient woods or take a street art stroll through the city of Bristol. Pick your place and your pace and simply put one foot in front of the other!

If you’re travelling solo, or would appreciate some local insight, there are lots of themed walking tours - in towns and villages as well as cities. If you’re around for a while you could also join a local walking club or book a walking holiday where all your food and accommodation at the end of a long day’s adventure will be taken care of.

If you're looking to book a walking tour, click one of the links below or for some walking route ideas head to our top 10 best short walks page.

Walk this way

Activities

Browse all the latest activities available along the Great West Way.
Walkers are Welcome on the Great West Way

Walkers are Welcome is a nationwide initiative that recognises towns, villages and rural areas that have something special to offer walkers. A number of locations along the Great West Way route have been accredited by Walkers are Welcome. That means that if you fancy walking some or all of the Great West Way route, you’re in for a real treat. There are riverbank rambles, woodland walks and hillside hikes to enjoy.
North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The rolling North Wessex Downs encompass some of England’s finest landscapes. The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was created in 1972 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and tranquillity of these landscapes.
Canal & River Trust

The beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal (or K&A as its known) flows along 87 miles of the Great West Way. From Bath to Reading, it winds through quintessential rolling Wiltshire hills, bustling towns and even a World Heritage Site. Since 1810, narrowboats have drifted along at four miles an hour, plying their trade from Bristol to London. Today, you'll find a mixture of holiday and live-aboard boaters, all seeking the calm and tranquillity that comes from life on or by the water.
National Trust

Discover the National Trust Properties along the Great West Way.
Top 10 Long Distance Walking Trails

Take the opportunity to explore the rolling hills and vast landscapes along the Great West Way. With plenty of long walks to choose from, take a look at our top 10 to choose the best one for you.
Vale of Pewsey

Located in the heart of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and between Stonehenge and Avebury, the Vale of Pewsey is ideal for getting off the beaten track and has plenty of friendly and atmospheric places to stay, eat, drink and shop
Wiltshire

Between London and Bristol & Bath, and venturing up into the Cotswolds, you’ll find the county of Wiltshire. Patchwork fields, chalk plateauxs and irresistibly pretty villages. It’s not all rural heartland, of course, there’s market towns and a city to explore too...
Top 10 Best Short Walks

The Top 10 best short walks along the Great West Way.
Things to do in the Cotswolds

In the Cotswolds, home to England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the picture perfect villages and idyllic rolling pastures have to be the main attraction. Although you might be surprised what else there is to discover… like Castle Combe Circuit!
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Arboretum with over 16,000 rare and beautiful trees, all set in 600 glorious, easy-to-stroll Cotswold acres
1. 1 Jan 202231 Dec 2022
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Discover the areas of outstanding natural beauty along the Great West Way.