Welcome to the bloggiest of all the adventure-related posts… A packing list! In this article I’m sharing everything I took on my Cotswold Way hike.
Unlike my equivalent Coast to Coast kit list, this shouldn’t take you too long to read. I continue to adjust my packing list each time I go on a hiking adventure, and as we were staying in B&Bs and eating out each night, quite a lot of the camping and eating related paraphernalia stayed at home.
Even without all that backpacking gear, I still thought it worth sharing what I wore, what I carried, and what I now think about those choices, in the hope that you might find it both useful when planning a similar hike yourself.
As usual, I’ll not be going into loads of detail of individual items – although I’ll link out to reviews where I’ve written them. Of course, where I have a potentially useful comment to make on a particular bit of gear, then I’ll be sure to include it. And if you have a question about anything here, drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you.
That Disclaimer Again
Given that I’m putting this list out on the internet for all to read, I felt the need to include my usual disclaimer. This is a list of what I took on the hike, along with a few notes on what I think about that as I look back over my kit list six months later. This isn’t necessarily a kit list for your hike – it might be useful research but I’m not telling you what you do or don’t need.
I’m also not publishing this in order to receive your (critical) judgement on whether I should have packed any differently… you know, in case that’s why you came here today. Please just see this for what it is – a hopefully interesting nosey into what I took with me to help me hike the Cotswold Way in late Spring 2023 as comfortably as possible.
My Cotswold Way Story
If you want the full story of my Cotswold Way hike, and I really hope you do, I’ve written my adventure story in a chapter-a-day style – worth finding the time to make a cup of tea and spending an hour on your sofa to read when you get chance. Start here for day zero.
My Cotswold Way Guide
It’s no secret that I am a planner. I like to know what to expect, what to look out for, and understand a bit about what an adventure might feel like before I head out of my front door. I know for some that leaving it all to the hiking gods and allowing for plenty of spontaneity is part of the fun. But while I’m not against a last minute change, and am happy to go with the flow most of the time, I find that plotting and planning and preparing is a positive addition to the adventure excitement.
That, of course, means that a Cotswold Way guidebook was an absolute must, something for me to read and take in during the weeks leading up to the hike, to both help me to plan the logistics and, more importantly, to mentally prepare for the hike.
Cicerone Guidebook
My friends at Cicerone were kind enough to send me a copy of Walking the Cotswold Way, which came with their OS Maps booklet. An incredibly detailed walking guide, which had the route described in both directions, heaps of planning information, notes on sights and places of interest along the way, and to-scale OS Maps.
This guidebook was my Sunday evening reading in the run up to the Cotswold Way, especially when Fiona and I were working out the logistics. And there is nothing better than a guidebook to help me get in the mood for this famous hike. I mean, thanks to having it, I at least knew wasn’t going to fall foul of those ‘surprise ascents’ many Cotswold Way walkers speak of!
This time around, I chose not to carry my guidebook with me on the hike itself, in order to save weight – this is quite a weighty tome. But my copy of the guidebook is very well read and proved invaluable in getting me fully ready to do this long-distance walk. If you’re planning to hike the Cotswold Way, I would highly recommend a guidebook like this one; although if you’re doing this hike next year then I’d hold out and order the new edition which will be released in February.
Navigation
Regarding finding our way, the route was very easy to follow. Apart from making regular use of the OS Maps app and the very handy map book Fiona was carrying with her, to see what features we were looking at or how far we were away from places, I think we needed to check the map for routing purposes maybe two or three times along the whole 108-miles. And two of those times were due to diversions – one road closed on the edge of Stroud, and then the official diversion on day six.
Signage is quite simply excellent; the Cotswold Way trail is managed very well. Even (and in fact, especially) in the woodland sections where the number of little trails crossing the main path might have been confusing, the little acorns were spot on.
The place that springs to mind as being most difficult was the market town of Dursley on day four, when we had no choice but to follow the route on OS Maps to get us in and through. Bath also required paying attention – the signs were there, but they were not the same as the ones we’d been looking at the rest of the way, and were not in obvious places, so we had to be especially observant.
What I Wore to Hike the Cotswold Way
Given that the primary activity on the Cotswold Way is walking (well, obviously), I’ll start my kit list proper by talking about what I wore to hike in. You have to be completely comfortable when walking, or the main event is going to be pretty rubbish. And for me, that comfort came in a selection of tried and tested clothing that I was very used to wearing when out on the trail. I didn’t have any new clothing with me, in fact, some of it was really quite old and worn out, which is pretty typical for me.
I went through two complete hiking outfits during the week. Given that this hike was split into two consecutive day hikes on days one and two, followed by four days following a more traditional multi-day hike scenario, I wore one set of clothes on the Saturday and Sunday, and then a second set on the Monday through to Thursday.
My Hiking Outfits
My walking trousers of choice were two pairs of the ever-popular Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch, which have been my go-to trousers for years (and years). I even wrote an ode to them here on Splodz Blogz, I think they are great, and highly recommend them.
With those, I wore either my mustard coloured Isobaa merino tee, yes, the one that’s had a hole in the front for an absolute age, or my old grey Adventure Queens tee. And my mid-layer, when I needed it, was either my bright green Mountain Warehouse half-zip top, or my mustard Terrex top.
Under those, I wore my super comfortable adidas sports bra, and a pair of microfibre bikini briefs from M&S. I’ve still been unable to spend good money on hiking knickers; I just can’t see the need when M&S do decent enough microfibre ones in packs of five. Although I know that for everything else I hike in, getting what you pay can ring true, so maybe pants should be my 2024 experiment?!
On My Feet
On my feet, I wore some decent yet well-worn and trusted hiking socks – either my purple Bridgedale Trekker or green Darn Tough Midweight socks – just as a single layer this time (no liner socks). My footwear of choice was, as you’ll see in my photos, my Meindl Bhutan hiking boots, which do seem to be the only boots I trust for big adventures these days.
To be completely honest, my feet were too hot with this sock and shoe combo, the first time that’s been the case. I therefore bought some lightweight merino socks before hiking the Cumbria Way later in the summer. Maybe I’ll swap to trail shoes for my next long-distance hike… the adidas Free Hikers I was given this year (featured in this One Hour Outside post) might just be the ones to convince me it’s worth a go.
Waterproofing
If you’ve read my Cotswold Way adventure journal series, you’ll know that weather was a bit of an issue on two of the six days we were hiking. I wore my The North Face Vanadium waterproof jacket, a sound and reasonably packable Gore-tex shell which has been getting me through rainy days for ten years. Actually
I paired that with a super cheap but surprisingly decent pair of waterproof over trousers I got from Decathlon a couple of days before we went because my old pair were just a bit too tight for my wider-than-previous frame. Although, as you know, they didn’t get worn as often as they ought to – I made a mistake on day six which I still regret today.
I also wore a buff, which I can’t hike without, and my lightweight baseball cap and/or sunglasses when needed. Honestly, a baseball cap when hiking is an absolute must – good for creating a bit of shade for your face when it’s sunny, and for keeping the rain out of your eyes when it’s wet! Actually, looking at the photos in that jacket review post I linked to above, it seems this hat and coat have made an excellent combo.
My Day Pack – Saturday and Sunday
Saturday and Sunday, as previously mentioned, and with thanks to my willing husband who played taxi driver for us, we were able to treat as two day hikes. I mean, they were still very much part of the week-long hike – but as I could come home to my own house both evenings, I had the luxury of being able to pack very light indeed.
I therefore chose to carry my small day hike pack on these two days, and leave anything that I didn’t really need at home.
My pack of choice was my (still quite new) Osprey Tempest 24l. This was my Christmas present last year, replacing my old green Osprey Tempest 20l that had been my hiking companion for the last nine years and was now more hole than pack.
It’s a really great day pack. It’s lightweight, has an adjustable moulded back with a vented panel, stretchy side pockets for bottles, a couple of hip belt pockets, space for a water bladder (outside the main compartment), a couple of useful zipped pockets for bits and bobs, a stretchy front pocket, and various attachments for walking poles, an ice axe, or whatever else you want to carry. Most importantly, the large main pocket is accessible by a large bucket-style opening, meaning I can stuff it full and yet still somehow find the thing I need at the given moment.
Anyway, you want to know what I put it in…
Day Hike Gear
Other than the waterproofs mentioned above, which I was fully expecting to need (make sure you read my adventure journal series if you want all the weather talk…), I really did just pack my usual day hiking kit. That is, things that would keep me comfortable, keep me fed and watered, and keep me safe whilst out on the trail.
The bulk of the weight on my back, quite rightly so, was food and water. I had a packed lunch in my green SIGG tin, two water bottles and a flask of tea, and a few extra snacks in a little dry bag – including the end piece of Fiona’s homemade banana bread, she treats me right!
The rest of my kit was split across two or three dry bags, to both protect them in case of bad weather, and to keep my pack organised:
I took my small PACMAT patch picnic blanket (honestly, a superb hiking accessory for anyone who enjoys a sit down when out for the day), a spare buff, a spare pair of socks, my little first aid kit (also including pain killers and blister plasters), printed maps relevant to the day, a compass, my small battery bank (will charge my phone once) and short cable, a mini microfibre towel (such a useful bit of kit), Vaseline, tissues, toilet kit (toilet roll, hand sanitiser and a couple of bags to pack out used tissue – I didn’t own my Kula Cloth when I did this trail), waterproof pack cover, my wallet, and my house keys.
Doesn’t sound like much, but it was plenty. When day hiking, especially long distance, having a certain level of kit is important – you need to be both comfortable and safe – but there’s no need to overpack.
My Day Pack – Monday to Friday
On Sunday night, I emptied my small orange day pack, and repacked into my larger Osprey Tempest 40l pack, the same pack I used for the Coast to Coast. The size is perfect for multi-day hikes without camping gear, and the way the pack is structured means it carries the weight very well. I’ve had this for a good few years now, and I would recommend it. I didn’t fill it to the brim or anything like that, but I definitely needed something larger than my orange one!
To start with, I repacked all my usual day hike paraphernalia – pretty much everything I mentioned above was simply moved from one pack to the other, with just a couple of exceptions.
I chose to swap my two water bottles for my 2l hydration bladder (having ordered a new sternum strap magnet on Amazon Prime after being unable to find mine anywhere at the weekend) so I could drink on the go, but I still carried my flask for tea and my SIGG tin for lunches and snacks.
The only other swap was my battery pack – I left my little one-charge battery at home, and took my larger one, so I was confident I would not run out of charge, even if for any reason I couldn’t charge my phone overnight.
I should mention that I upped my snack game, too. We would pass cafes and shops for lunchtime supplies along the way, but I always like to have a bunch of my favourite hiking snacks with me anyway. This time that included a supply of homemade cake (banana bread and Nanaimo bars), chocolate, dried mango and cranberries, Brazil nuts, jelly sweets – you know the kind of thing. Heavy, yes, but that dry bag only got lighter the more we walked!
Overnight Gear
As we were staying in B&Bs and eating in pubs, I didn’t need my tent or sleeping bag, left my Jetboil at home, and didn’t need all the warm layers for the evenings and nights. I mean, I didn’t even take my puffy coat! But I still needed overnight gear, I was going to have to carry a bit more than just my map and food.
I used my large orange dry bag for anything that I only needed when hiking had finished, and stuffed that at the bottom of my hiking pack – clothing for the evenings and to sleep in, a pair of shoes, my wash kit, and anything else that happened to fit into this category.
Clothes-wise, I packed a pair of pyjamas (well, leggings and a baggy tee), an extra hiking tee so I had the option to swap half way, a couple of pairs of hiking socks (not quite enough for one a day but it wasn’t bad), and enough pairs of those M&S microfibre pants for a clean pair every morning – oh the luxury!
We were eating out in pubs and restaurants, and I didn’t feel like I could do that in my (likely smelly and definitely dirty) hiking clothes, I also packed a light pair of trousers, tee, a mid-layer, a comfy bralette and some warm socks to wear in the evenings. I could have hiked in this outfit if needed, but the idea was it was for when I wasn’t hiking, and that worked a treat. It meant that after my shower each evening, I could put on something that made me feel fresh and respectable. Additional weight, yes, but worth it.
‘Tried’ to Be Minimal
I also packed a pair of super lightweight squishy trainers. I nearly didn’t, but I’m very glad I did. Not having to walk around in my hiking boots in the evening certainly aided my recovery, and meant my feet hated me a little less than they might have otherwise.
My wash kit wasn’t quite the bare minimum, but it was pretty close (I think!). I took a toothbrush, toothpaste, face cream (my green stuff), sun cream, deodorant, shampoo (although I didn’t need this, every B&B and hotel had it available), a little brush, and some spare hair bobbles. It was enough to mean I could clean myself and feel refreshed.
And then there were a few miscellaneous bits. I packed my cork ball, which was especially handy after the very long days, a head torch and batteries, just in case we were particularly late in one evening, and a set of headphones (wired, so no batteries to charge) so I could listen to a podcast or some music in the evenings without disturbing Fiona.
I reckon I packed pretty well spot on. My bag felt heavy and awkward for the first morning, but I soon got used to it and didn’t have any problems carrying it. The only things I didn’t use on the Cotswold Way were safety related (compass, head torch), and so I would 100% pack them again next time, no question. And while I could have managed without the extra hiking tee and the shoes, I have no regrets taking those.
What I Didn’t Pack
One question I got asked when I was chatting to a couple of friends about what to pack when hiking a National Trail in this way – using B&B accommodation and relying on restaurants and cafes for food – was whether there were things I wish I’d taken. And while there was nothing I would say I ‘forgot’ in terms of actually needed it on the trail, there are a couple of things which would have made my Cotswold Way experience a little nicer.
The first was the guidebook. I mentioned above that while I used the Cicerone guidebook to plan the hike, I chose to leave it behind instead of carrying it. I do normally take my guidebooks with me on my hikes, they make for a lovely way to prepare each evening for the following day’s section, and make finding out about the random features you see along the route nice and simple. Not having it wasn’t a big deal, but it would have been better with it.
The second item was my hiking poles. I was completely torn over whether I needed them or not (read my day three post), and ended up deciding they would just be a cumbersome extra I didn’t need to carry. I certainly managed without, no disasters, but there were a good handful of sections where I would have been very grateful if I’d have packed them. If I was tackling the hike again in the same way, I would take them.
A Few Final Thoughts
Packing for any kind of hiking adventure is a very personal thing, but I hope that by sharing my Cotswold Way kit list I’ve helped as you plan your own.
Go on then… If you were hiking the Cotswold Way in a similar way to me – staying in B&Bs and relying on other people to prepare your food – how would you pack differently?
If you have any questions about any of the outdoor kit I mention in this post, please do drop me a comment below and I’ll get back to you.
