A Cotswold Christmas market - Day Walk
11 people attending
9 places left
Experience a magical world of Cotswold fairy-tale villages and a Christmas market! An idyllic start to the Christmas season.
This event is a day walk including a visit to the market. The walk starts and ends in the small town of Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, close to the border with Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. The town is full of historic yellow-stone buildings, some dating to the 1200s when a market became established. The Christmas market is open on this day only, with 60 little stalls selling hand-made wares and tasty treats. We will call by at the start and end of the walk. In the afternoon, music is planned led by the Cotswold Choir, and there is a light switch on.
Leaving Moreton, we follow Monarch’s Way crossing farmland to the sleepy village of Longborough. This will be our lunch stop. You might be tempted in the little café at the village store, awarded best Village Shop in the South West 2025. The centuries-old Coach and horses pub also provides food and there is a bench on the corner here, and another by the churchyard, if you bring a packed lunch.
After Longborough, the walk takes the Heart of England Way passing Sezincote House. This extraordinary Cotswold stone mansion was built by the Cockerell family, some of whom had been to India with the British East India Company in the late 1700s. The house resembles an Indian Mughal palace, and you can clearly see the domes from the path just outside.
The next village we walk through is Bourton-on-the-Hill. This is a picture-postcard Cotswold village with listed cottages and church. Just outside the village the way skirts around Batsford Arboretum, an estate including Japanese maples, magnolias and pines.
The walk then returns to Moreton-in-Marsh where you can choose how long you wish to enjoy the flavours of the market and hear the music, before your return train or drive home. A most pleasurable Cotswold experience to prepare for Christmas!
Well behaved dogs are welcome on this walk.
Want to Get Out More?
Why not check our our South Wales and South West Calendar
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
Photo Credits: All photos taken by FrankieB and permission is granted to OutdoorLads for further use.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking. If the weather has been good then you may get away with good quality trainers but walking boots/shoes are recommended.
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring something to pay for your lunch, or a packed lunch
Food & drink
Please bring water and sufficient drinks and either a packed lunch or money to buy lunch.