📷 Sarah Stierch from Sonoma, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0

Cotswold villages: Bath to Chipping Campden

From Georgian Bath through honey-stone villages along the Roman Fosse Way to the wool town of Chipping Campden.

Distance: approx. 118 km (74 mi)
Driving: 1 h 38 min
Suggested days: 3
Stops: 8
Countries: United Kingdom
Best time to go: June–September
Tolls and vignettes: None expected
Updated: July 6, 2026

At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 118 km (74 mi) with 8 stops, from Bath to Chipping Campden. About 1 h 38 min of driving in total. Best time to go: June–September. No motorway tolls or vignettes expected for a car.

More road trips in United Kingdom · More road trips from Cardiff

Photos along the route

Cirencester – a row of houses with ivy growing on them — **Cirencester**Photo by Josh Smith on Unsplash

Bourton-on-the-Water – a bridge over a body of water in front of a house — **Bourton-on-the-Water**Photo by BEN ELLIOTT on Unsplash

Chipping Campden – Thatched cottage with a lamppost and autumn trees — **Chipping Campden**Photo by Andrea Pasquali on Unsplash

Route description

Spend a morning in Bath for the Roman Baths, the abbey and the Royal Crescent, leaving the car at a park and ride. Then head north-east on minor roads to Castle Combe, a stone village in a wooded valley that is best explored on foot from the car park above it.

Cross to Cirencester, the old wool capital, with a huge parish church on its market place. From here the A429 follows the Roman Fosse Way north. Make a short detour east to Bibury to see the cottages of Arlington Row beside the river Coln.

Bourton-on-the-Water spreads along a shallow river crossed by low stone bridges; it is lovely but busy, so arrive early or late. Stow-on-the-Wold, a few kilometres on, sits on a hilltop around a wide market square lined with antique shops and inns.

The last stretch climbs to the Cotswold edge at Broadway Tower, with a view far across the Vale of Evesham. Finish in Chipping Campden, whose curving high street of golden stone houses is one of the finest in England. Village lanes are narrow and parking is limited, so a small camper is easier than a large motorhome.

Which stops are on Cotswold villages?

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Bath
United Kingdom
Start
2

Castle Combe
HistoryCastle Combe, United Kingdom
A stone village of weavers’ cottages around a market cross and a packhorse bridge. Cars are not welcome in the street: use the car park at the top and walk down.
19 km
3

Cirencester
United Kingdom
39 km
4

Arlington Row
HistoryBibury, United Kingdom
A row of steep-roofed weavers’ cottages beside a water meadow, one of the most photographed scenes in England. Parking in Bibury is tight, so come early.
13 km
5

Bourton-on-the-Water
United Kingdom
19 km
6

Stow-on-the-Wold
United Kingdom
7 km
7

Broadway Tower
ViewsBroadway, United Kingdom
An 18th-century folly on one of the highest points of the Cotswold edge, looking far out over the Vale of Evesham. Deer graze in the park around it.
16 km
8

Chipping Campden
United Kingdom
6 km

How do you drive Cotswold villages in 3 days?

3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Bath → Cirencester · 58 km · 0 h 48 minOn the way: Castle Combe.Overnight nearby, for example: Cirencester Park Club Campsite (1 km); Green Field Family Campsite (3 km).
Day 2: Cirencester → Arlington Row · 13 km · 0 h 11 minOvernight nearby, for example: Green Field Family Campsite (7 km); Cirencester Park Club Campsite (12 km).
Day 3: Arlington Row → Chipping Campden · 48 km · 0 h 39 minOn the way: Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadway Tower.Overnight nearby, for example: Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan & Motorhome Club (8 km); Cotswold Carp Farm (19 km).

When is the best time for Cotswold villages?

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons

What should you know before driving Cotswold villages?

No motorway tolls or vignettes expected for a car.

United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.

Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.

More routes for the best months

June July August September

Practical guides for this route

How-To

By motorhome to Britain and Ireland: entry, driving on the left, tolls and overnighting

By Camping Spirit Editorial Team · 7 min read

Themes

Short trips: 1 to 3 days

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FAQs

How long is Cotswold villages: Bath to Chipping Campden?

3-day road trip of about 118 km (74 mi) with 8 stops, from Bath to Chipping Campden. About 1 h 38 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for Cotswold villages: Bath to Chipping Campden?

We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 38 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does Cotswold villages: Bath to Chipping Campden start and end?

It starts in Bath and ends in Chipping Campden.

Which countries does Cotswold villages: Bath to Chipping Campden pass through?

United Kingdom.

Where can you camp along Cotswold villages: Bath to Chipping Campden?

OpenStreetMap lists 127 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Cirencester Park Club Campsite, Green Field Family Campsite and The T Barn.

Cotswold villages: Bath to Chipping Campden

Photos along the route

Route description

Which stops are on Cotswold villages?

Bath

Castle Combe

Cirencester

Arlington Row

Bourton-on-the-Water

Stow-on-the-Wold

Broadway Tower

Chipping Campden