Comments or questions? Post on our Slow Europe Facebook Page.Maps and Guidebooks for the Cotswolds and England
TrekTools is our recommended provider for the maps you need for your trip to the Cotswolds. I have listed my favorite maps for driving and walking. Many of these maps are from Ordnance Survey (OS) or Geographer's A-Z Map Company (A-Z).
Driving and Touring Maps
There are two good touring maps for the Cotswolds. The A-Z map is easiest to use as a driving map, covers more area, and is a bit more durable. The Goldeneye map has more detail but covers less area to the south. It also has the equivalent of a guidebook on the back. Hard to choose between the two! (I have both.)
Ordnance Survey also put out a larger scale driving map, called Travel Maps with a scale of 1:100,000.
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Cotswolds & Chilterns Visitors' Map (A-Z)Scale - 1:158,400 (2.5 miles to the inch) Perfect driving map from Ross-on-Wye (Herefordshire) in the west to the outskirts of London in the east, from Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa in the north to Bath in the south. Historic sights (including Prehistoric) and tourist sites marked. Easy to read with a large scale for showing small villages. |
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Cotswolds Touring Map (Goldeneye)Scale - 1:126,720 (2 miles to the inch) This is an excellent map for learning about the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean. It covers all of the Cotswolds and west to Ross-on-Wye (Herefordshire), east to Oxford, north to Stratford-upon-Avon and south to Malmsbury. Tourist and historic sights are shown (in a bit more detail than the A-Z map, for example pubs are marked). On the back of the map is a good tourist guide to the area, giving information about towns and villages, churches, tourist sites, B&Bs, pubs, etc. |
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Tour 8, The Cotswolds and Gloucestershire (OS Travel Map)Scale: 1:100,000 (1.6 miles to the inch) Larger scale than the above maps, with tourist information, town plans, scenic areas. |
Hiking/Walking Maps - OS Explorer
The OS Explorer maps are scale 1:25,000. Use these maps for walking/hiking on the public footpaths. I always take these maps when walking, even when using a walking guidebook. If I am doing several walks in one area, I cut out that section from the map to make it easier to deal with (less folding and unfolding - these maps are large and usually printed on one side only).
The three maps listed below cover the whole Cotswolds area.
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OL45 - The CotswoldsBurford, Chipping Campden, Cirencester & Stow-on-the-Wold This map covers the central and northern Cotswolds - from Winchcombe in the east, to Burford and Lechlade in the west, from Chipping Campden in the north to Cirencester in the south. This does not cover the southern Cotswolds west of Cirencester. This map is printed on both sides to cover more area. |
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179 - Gloucester, Cheltenham & StroudThis map covers the western Cotswolds - north of Stroud to Cheltenham. Use this map for hiking near Painswick, the Slad Valley or any other areas between Stroud and Chelteham. |
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168 - Stroud, Tetbury & MalmesburyThis map covers the southern Cotswolds - from Stroud south to Malmesbury. Use this for hiking in the Golden Valley east of Stroud, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Uley, Ozleworth, Tetbury and Malmesbury. |
Topographical Maps - OS Landranger
The OS Landranger maps are scale 1:50,000. These can be used for walking, but I prefer the OS Explorer maps for that. I use the Landranger maps as a backup driving map, to give me more detail for an area. The three maps below (162, 163 and 164) cover the Cotswolds.
162 Gloucester & Forest of Dean |
163 Cheltenham & Cirencester |
164 Oxford |
Waterways Maps - GEOprojects British Waterways
I love the canals in England. We don't go out on canal boats, instead we walk on the paths alongside the canals. These are flat, easy hikes, in beautiful areas and you can watch all the canal boat action. The only canal in the Cotswolds is not a working canal, so there is no waterways map (Cotswold Canal), but the canal/waterways below are in the surrounding area.
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Thamesthe river and the path The Thames Path follows the River Thames from the source in the Cotswolds, south of Cirencester, to the Thames Barrier in London. |
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Kennet & Avon CanalThe Kennet & Avon Canal starts in Bath, connecting the River Avon with the River Thames. It runs east through Wiltshire to Reading where it joins the Thames. The paths along the canal from Bath to Bradford-on-Avon are very nices. In parts of Wiltshire you walk in the White Horses area. |
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Oxford CanalThe Oxford Canal runs north from Oxford to Banbury to Coventry and the Coventry Canal. |
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Cycling Maps
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Cotswolds Cycling Map (Goldeneye)The main roads in the Cotswolds can be busy with not much of a shoulder for bikes, but there are many good sideroads that are great for walking or biking. |
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City Maps
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City Map of Bath (A-Z)Scale: 1:15,840 (1 mile to 4 inches) Map covers all of Bath and surrounding areas. Large scale inset for city center. Index of streets. |
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City Map of Cheltenham (A-Z)Scale: 1:14,080 (1 mile to 4.5 inches) Map covers all of Cheltenham and surrounding areas. Large scale inset for city center. Index of streets. Other City Maps for the Cotswolds AreaCity Map of Bristol Premier (A-Z) City Map of Oxford (A-Z) |
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Resources
Ordnance Survey: Look up the details of the OS Landranger and Explorer maps.
GEOprojects: Look up the details for the waterways and canal maps.
