Stow on the Wold Circular Walk

The picturesque Cotswolds town of Stow-on-the-Wold has a number of popular long distance trails running through it. You can use these to make a nice circular walk visiting the surrounding countryside and villages.
Walk Report October 25th 2026 By Sarah Collins:
We set off from the market square in Stow-on-the-Wold for this five-mile circular walk through the surrounding Cotswold countryside.... Before leaving town, I had a look at the old market cross and the traditional stone buildings around the square. Stow was once an important medieval wool town, and its broad market square still gives it a proper old-fashioned market-town feel. There are plenty of antique shops and cafés here too, so it's worth leaving a little time to explore when you finish the walk.
Following the Gloucestershire Way towards Upper Swell, we soon found ourselves among rolling fields and quiet country paths. The countryside here is typically Cotswold, with dry-stone walls, hedgerows and gently sloping farmland, but I particularly enjoyed the sense of approaching the little villages tucked away in the valley. Upper Swell is easy to overlook if you're concentrating on the walking, but it's worth taking a little time to appreciate its historic buildings. The small Church of St Mary dates back to Norman times, and its simple stone exterior feels very much at home in this quiet rural setting.
The reservoir near Upper Swell provides another point of interest, with water and surrounding greenery offering a change from the open fields. I stopped to look across the water and see whether there were any birds about. It's a peaceful part of the countryside, and the village itself has a lovely tucked-away feel, with woodland and higher ground helping to screen it from the surrounding landscape. This isn't a walk packed with major attractions, but I enjoyed discovering these smaller places that you might otherwise drive straight past.
From Upper Swell, we headed south towards Lower Swell along the Heart of England Way. Lower Swell was a real highlight for me. The village is clustered around its green and the River Dikler, with handsome old cottages built from the familiar honey-coloured limestone. We paused by the river, enjoying the sound of the water and the attractive little bridge. Some of the village's older houses date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, so there's plenty of history behind those mellow stone walls.
I also found the village's lesser-known history interesting. Lower Swell has an ancient well known as Lady's Well, thought to have originated as a sacred spring, while the unusual Spa Cottages date from 1807 and stand on the site of a mineral spring that has long since dried up. These are the sort of details that make a village walk more interesting than simply admiring the cottages. If you're ready for a break, the Golden Ball is a traditional village pub serving food and local Donnington ales. It's a tempting place to stop, particularly if you fancy turning the walk into a leisurely half-day outing.
Leaving Lower Swell, we continued towards Hyde Mill through more peaceful countryside. The mill and its setting beside the River Dikler provide a particularly attractive feature along this stretch. I enjoyed the change from village streets to open fields, with the river and surrounding greenery adding interest to the walk. There is a lovely unhurried feel to this part of the Cotswolds, although some of the field paths can become muddy after rain, so decent walking shoes are a good idea.
From Hyde Mill, the route turns east along the Macmillan Way towards Maugersbury. This small settlement has traditional Cotswold houses and a quiet rural atmosphere, and the surrounding farmland provides some lovely views back across the rolling countryside. By this stage, I appreciated how the walk links several quite different places together: the busier market town of Stow, the historic church at Upper Swell, the riverside setting of Lower Swell and the quieter hamlet of Maugersbury.
The final section follows country lanes back to Stow-on-the-Wold, where there are plenty of options for a well-earned coffee, cake or pub meal. I thought this was a particularly enjoyable walk because it combines the familiar Cotswold scenery with some less obvious historical details. Lower Swell was my favourite stop, especially the River Dikler and the old cottages around the village, while the Norman church at Upper Swell added a lovely historical touch.
This five-mile circuit is a good choice for anyone wanting to explore the countryside around Stow without committing to a long-distance walk. The Gloucestershire Way, Heart of England Way and Macmillan Way link together a pleasing mix of villages, farmland and riverside scenery. Allow a little extra time to explore Lower Swell or stop at the Golden Ball, and leave some time to enjoy Stow's market square at the end.
If you would like to extend the walk then you can head south west along the Gloucestershire Way at Hyde Mill to The Slaughters. Here you can enjoy a lovely walk between Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter along the River Eye. It's about a 4 mile walk with more details on the Stow on the Wold to the Slaughters Walk page.
Pubs and More Info
The village is home to Britain's oldest pub at the Porch House. The inn has an interesting history dating all the way back to the 10th century when it was thought to have been a hospice built on on land belonging to Evesham Abbey. The interior has bags of old character with wonky ceilings and a very fine 16th century fireplace. They do excellent food and also provide accommodation if you need to stay over. There's also an outdoor area for finer days. You can find the historic inn on Digbeth Street with a postcode of GL54 1BN for your sat navs.
In the village pay a visit to the medieval St Edward's Church. The church is a Grade I listed building and a tourist attraction due to its history, architecture, large stained glass windows, buttresses, old yew trees and neatly kept churchyard. It's well worth a visit if you have time on the walk. You can find the historic building at 2 Crossways House the Square with a postcode of GL54 1AB for your sat navs.
Stow also has a number of nice shops and art galleries to explore as well. This includes the Clarendon Fine Art Gallery on the square where there's a fine selection of artists and genres.
Just a couple of miles to the east you can pick up the Daylesford Walk. This circular trail will take you around the Georgian Daylesford Estate before visiting the neighbouring villages of Adlestrop and Upper and Lower Oddington.
The Donnington Way - Cotswolds Pub Walk passes through the town. The long circular walk visits 15 fine old Donnington Brewery pubs in the Cotswolds.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cotswolds Walks page.

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Nearby Routes

The Slaughters Gloucestershire Way Heart of England Way Macmillan Way Monarch's Way Stow on the Wold to Bourton on the Water Walk Daylesford Walk Bourton on the Hill Stow on the Wold to the Slaughters Walk

Photos

Stow on the Wold. A convoy of well looked after classic and vintage cars arrives in front of the White Hart Inn

Cross and Sundial, Stow-on-the-Wold. Situated in the market place in the town centre.

Lower Swell, a typical Cotswolds Village. Entering the village from the west with the well cared for war memorial and the main street.

St Edward's Well, Stow-on-the-Wold from the western side

The town has the distinction of hosting what is reputedly the oldest pub in Britain, the "Porch House", dating from circa 947 AD. This is a photo of the Grade II listed building in 2008 when it was called the Eagle and Child.

Stocks, Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold

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