The Cotswold Way Handbook and Accommodation List 2003

The Cotswold Way is a walk of 97-1/2 miles along the western side of the Cotswold Hills. By following mostly the top of the steep escarpment, it has many of the characteristics of a coast path but the views are of the Severn Vale and the distant hills rather than of the sea. History of the Cotswold Way; A route along the Cotswold Edge was first suggested by the Gloucestershire District Committee of the Ramblers' Association in 1950. The National Parks Commission noted the plans for a 'Cotswold Edge Way' with interest but by then many other routes had been planned and little more was heard about a Cotswold Way until 1968 when Gloucestershire County Council Planning Department carried out a recreational survey, which prominently featured the Cotswold Way as a future long distance footpath. In 1970 the County Council decided to open the route on existing public paths and highways, including several miles on roads. It was on a short list of proposals for designation as a long distance footpath submitted by the Ramblers' Association to the Commission in 1983 and was finally designated as a national trail in 1998.
Many improvements and minor changes in route have been made since 1970 with 50 percent grant aid by the Countryside Commission, in support of works by the County Councils concerned and voluntary efforts by the Cotswold Warden Service and the Ramblers' Association. In June 1989 the Countryside Commission (now the Countryside Agency) announced that it was to undertake a feasibility study with a view to the Cotswold Way being designated as an official National Trail (the term applying to what were previously known as long distance routes). With designation, it has become subject to a 100 percent grant aid for its creation and enhancement, and up to 75 percent for subsequent maintenance.