Cotswold Way | Thru-Hike | Episode 1

[@richardsoper777]

Love to see the Cotswolds Highlighted. Thank you

[@williamdunlop2862]

What a great day you had for a hike. Peaceful and scenic location.

[@rachelmorris9272]

Glad I came across your channel! I'm off to do the Cotswold Way Challenge again in June - replaced my old boots today and can't wait. Get lockdown out the way and can crack on with some practise trails x

[@andrewmoseley-packer5132]

Absolutely brilliant mate, love the video! I live in the Cotswold area and have walked there for 35 years but have never walked the whole Cotswold Way in one expedition so good on you....... You mention getting water on the trail - the Cotswolds is located on limestone rock and there are loads and loads of natural springs in the hillsides all along the route. Great sources of fresh water although some do dry up a bit in the summer. Don't even really need to filter it, just boil it up and it's better than the stuff that comes out of the taps.

[@mattsadventures3036]

Hi Andrew, yeah a lot of people said the same thing lol I really want to do it again and try harder to look lol

[@linguafranca88]

It's been nearly two years, but thanks for the video! I walked the Cotswold Way as well, seems about the same time you did, in September 2019. Only my second time walking in Britain, and my first thru-hike. It was an incredible experience. Met some really cool people along the way. I started out fully intending to walk the Way on my own. I've always been more of an introvert. I value the quiet and the solitude. But I ended up joining up with a few of them, different people on different days, and it turned out to be one of my favourite parts of the walk. I was supposed to thru-hike the West Highland Way in 2020, but that got cancelled because of COVID. I thought this year might be possible, and it very nearly was, but I had to cancel again. I live in Singapore, which, I don't know if you know, is a country that is also an island that is also almost entirely city. The entire country is 50km across, a third of the Cotswold Way! There's not a lot to walk. It gets a bit depressing sometimes being stuck here. I miss the nature. I miss the sky. Of course, you sort of have to learn to live with it, make peace with your circumstances, find your own simple joy wherever you happen to be. But this video brings back a lot of lovely memories, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to watching the rest.

[@mattsadventures3036]

Hi 😁 it means a lot you enjoyed it. Yes I've also had to cancel some thru hikes I planned but I'm staying positive and I know I'll get back to it at some point. It's really important for your mental health, walking is what helps me, I'm never as happy as I am when I'm hiking in nature all on my own. I will definitely walk Cotswolds Way again in the future it also hold a special place in my heart. Stay safe, stay positive and I hope you come to visit our beautiful country again soon, atb Matt x

[@Cirrus4000]

Hello Matt, your video came up on my recommendations and I'm glad I watched it. I did part of the Cotswold Way this year (Sept 19 to 21) and it looks like the same time you went judging by the glorious weather. It was just like that when I went. It took me half a day to get to Chipping Camden so I camped near Stanton on the first night (at the 9:10 mark on your video - there's a nice spot up the hill on the right). I too was surprised by the tree avenue that you look down on towards Stanton. It was a nice find, but I've no idea of it's history. I ended up stopping for a pub lunch at Winchcome on my second day, though I had something other than cola :) I managed to find quite a few springs on the way and, other than a fill up at the pub, I used my filter kit on local water sources on the route. The one thing I found is that being on an escarpment there were quite a few springs and streams available on the lower slopes. It was good to see the route in your video and remind myself of my own walk. Looking forward to watching the next episode.

[@mattsadventures3036]

Hi Cirrus, thank you so much for watching. I too love watching other peoples hikes especially ones I have done because I get this amazing feeling like I have been there and you feel 'home sick' in a way haha. A lot of people have told me about filtering on the go and it is something I'll definitely be looking into this year, doing so will lower my weight too. The tree avenue was such an intriguing find, my mind goes all over the place when I find things like that. Unfortunately I was in competition with myself to finish and didn't give myself enough time to take in all the sites and venture off path, another learning curve for me to overcome this year. I hope you enjoy the series and look out for more videos this year!

[@adamf2553]

Fantastic, I'm planning to hike this trail as soon as the covid lockdown is lifted! Thanks for sharing

[@mattsadventures3036]

I've been doing some small day hikes during this virus and it's been brilliant with popular areas very quiet. If you are 'wild' camping, now would be a great time to set out, you'd feel nearly completely alone. 👍

[@clairejohnson7809]

Snap!

[@carolwebb3954]

Hey Matt. 👌 video. Hubby and I are walking the trail May. This is helpful. Cheers

[@mattsadventures3036]

I'm glad it's helpful, you'll have an amazing time, it's such a beautiful trail and the views are stunning. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series

[@Andy-LucyGSD]

Great video. I did the South downs way last week, absolutely loved it. Would definitely recommend it.

[@mattsadventures3036]

Yeah I have my eye on that one 😁 one day soon hopefully. Have fun watching the rest of the episodes and I'm currently hiking Three Choirs Way, check it out

[@Andy-LucyGSD]

@@mattsadventures3036 just had a quick read about that one, I'd never heard of it. Looks good, I'll try and squeeze that in this year. Will you be uploading a video about that one?

[@mattsadventures3036]

@@Andy-LucyGSD yes I've just completed Hereford to Worcester and editing that video now, Gloucester to Hereford is live now, look at my latest videos.

[@DanOutdoorsUK]

Im doing this in a few weeks, great video and looks like you had great weather for it 👍

[@WyeExplorer]

I'm the first and happy to be so Matt. That was an excellent episode 1. You're a man after my own heart bro - I agree get out do a small little section. Start small! Love it mate including bull spotting and sheep talking. As for water I knock on farm doors or cottages/houses. They tend not to mind. It's all down to our tone. Well, that was great. I''ll find out if your feet got sorted or not. All the best. Mark

[@mattsadventures3036]

Thanks for your comment Mark, it really means a lot that you enjoyed it. Can't help but talk to animals on my journeys haha yes I have definitely learned a valuable lesson on carrying water. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series ;)

[@WyeExplorer]

@@mattsadventures3036 Hey Matt, I just finished Part 2. I left a comment. With a part 3 suggesting you went back I'm tempted to carry on watching. I will! Glad to hear you learnt from this one. A pleasure to watch and comment. Peace!

[@buffysawyer1753]

Welcome to thru hiking! I did the CW last May & loved it. Very few people. I like the solitude & peace hiking trails & being in nature can give. Can't wait to do more National trails there. Have a trail name yet?

[@mattsadventures3036]

Will try and do another one this year. I haven't heard of having a trail name, tell me more lol

[@markwhittle7938]

Hi Matt, just watched all your vids. I'm planning on doing the CW this year, hopefully in September. I think that too many people underestimate just how hard the CW is and how many hills there are to climb. I live in Cheltenham and over the years have walked many of the surrounding hills and paths, though I haven't actually done the whole CW. Water can be found at on route, stream as well as pubs, shops etc but as with all distance hiking, proper preparation is key. A lightweight water-filter-system is a must (I use a Sawyer). Check out the hiking videos and you'll find many hikers who, dehydrated, have struggled to get to next stop. Feet blisters, in my opinion, are a lesson we all need to personally experience, (I've cut short walks due to feet bleeding with burst blisters), only then can one really appreciate just how painful it can be to walk with them. Stack up with blister plasters! You are young so should have many years of good walking ahead of you, I'm a little older, have just turned 60 and intend to show that age is just a number. Like you, I too will be filming my walk. Well done for returning to complete the walk and a great effort on the last day.

[@mattsadventures3036]

Hi Mark, thank you so much for your message. Its a great feeling to know people watch my videos and take something away from it. I'm planning a few more trails this year too and have definitely upped my game with water filters etc... I love the CW so much I have returned a few times this year for some shorter hikes and I feel at home. Will definitely have another go in the future. I seriously look forward to watching your videos and to reminisce what a great hike it was.

[@itjeeule1315]

I can't wait to walk this way with my best friend..!! If corona and Brexit will let us in to your lovely countryside! Great video!

[@dollxaxa]

yoo there's actually an entrance to this trail about 10 minutes from where I live, I'm planning to walk the trail for an hour or two tomorrow!!!

[@mattsadventures3036]

Where abouts you talking? It's a great trail even for a couple of hours hiking.

[@dollxaxa]

@@mattsadventures3036 there's an entrance to the trail near stonehouse which is the route I'll be taking

[@mattsadventures3036]

@@dollxaxa yes that's right near King's Stanley, if you go to my Komoot Page and look for completed Tours and find, Stage 4: From Birdlip to King's Stanley - Cotswold Way, you'll find a detailed map and should help you out. www.komoot.com/user/827661119142?ref=amk

[@malcolmtyler2565]

Yeah I work for the landowner it is a tree Avenue where the lake is that is stanway house home of the world's highest gravity fountain you walked right past it all when you were talking about the bull you were at the bottom of the Avenue

[@javiersequeira5038]

his is there water taps along the footpath