Hike Like A Local Brit: Walking Public Footpaths in England

Want to take advantage of the English countryside views and also traipse through fields and picturesque villages? Check out this fun recap of my experience walking public footpaths in England.

I think having a car is a must if you want to fully explore the area, especially if you plan to visit several villages. But honestly, the best experience of my entire year was walking through the English countryside on a public footpath. Hiking like a local.

I find the concept of these public footpaths so amazing and wish America had more of them. Essentially, they are paths through public and private land where pedestrians have the right of way, no matter who owns the property. They are everywhere, and I know I would walk so much more if we had something similar here.

My whole goal in returning to England was to do a public footpath hike. Since there are so many options, finding the right one for my needs was important. I considered walking parts of the Cotswold Way, the 164 km route connecting villages throughout the region, but I didn’t want to overextend myself on my first attempt. I’m pretty active, but I wasn’t sure I could handle walking 7 to 10 miles a day for nearly a week straight.

I did stumble upon the Bourton-on-the-Water/Slaughters circular path, though, after seeing a TikTok video. Proof that the algorithm works in your favor. I found that having the same starting and ending place was so convenient, plus I would get to see some of the loveliest villages in the region.

Honestly, if you take nothing else from this trip, doing this walk is a MUST. I cannot emphasize how incredible it was with the most gorgeous weather, the best tea/lunch stop midway, the sheep, the hills, and the villages. I could gush on and on.

Grabbing a spot of tea and lunch in Upper Slaughter at the Lords of the Manor Hotel was a true highlight. The whole place was incredible, but their menu and their blend of Earl Grey tea was perfection.

And when we made it to Lower Slaughter, we grabbed a salted caramel ice cream. Those little treats somehow made the day even sweeter.

All in all, this was our final walking distance, and honestly, I could do this every single week. There was something so peaceful about spending the day wandering through fields, climbing over stiles, crossing tiny stone bridges, watching sheep graze in the distance, and stumbling into villages that looked straight out of a storybook.

It reminded me how special it is to slow down while traveling instead of constantly rushing from one landmark to the next. Some of my favorite moments from this trip were not the “big” attractions at all, but the simple ones: walking along a countryside path, sipping tea in a quiet village, and taking in scenery that almost didn’t feel real.

The Cotswolds completely lived up to every expectation I had and somehow still exceeded them. If you ever find yourself in England, make time for a public footpath walk. It ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of my life, and without question my favorite day of the entire trip.

Shop the essentials for your UK Walk!