Review by Matthew Jones
Where: Cotswold Way (Chipping Campden to Bath
When: July (this review is from the 2025 race)
Distance: approx. 10 miles each leg
Terrain: Mixed, largely undulating light trail
Organiser: Team Bath AC
Cost: See website.Note:Every team must supply one person as a voluntary marshal on race day. These marshalling duties will be in the months before the race.
Website: https://cotswoldwayrelay.co.uk/
What better way to see the beautiful Cotswold Way than to run it with hundreds of others?
The Cotswold Way Relay has just completed its 33rd year. The event is a ten-stage multi-terrain relay stretching 103 miles from Chipping Campden (north of Cheltenham) to Bath.
Runners are treated to fantastic views of some of the West Country’s iconic spots as they traverse this national trail. Panoramic views of Cheltenham, Stroud, Bath are included as well as the infamous Cooper’s Hill, known for cheese rolling!
The relay takes place in July, which is the ideal time to see the trail in all its glory. Scenery ranges from rockier climbs requiring technical ability to shady beech woodlands and grassy meadows, ideal for those who excel on the flat.
Each leg is roughly 10 miles. Each leg brings unique views and terrain. It’s therefore wise for each runner to survey their leg in advance of the relay itself.
Generally, the light trail of the Cotswolds means road shoes are fine. However, the unpredictability of British weather means that trail shoes can be useful for runners in inclement weather. It’s not unheard of for runners to do their reconnaissance run in one pair and end up swapping to another on race day.
Although each leg is marshaled as well as can be expected, and GPX files and maps are available on the website, much of the leg is self-supported. Wrong turns can be costly: runners add to the cumulative time of the team, but the Cotswolds also have a way of surprising unfortunates with a hill.
The organisers themselves recognise this happens and while runners will not be disqualified for accidentally deviating from the route, a time penalty will be added for anyone who has accidentally gained an advantage.
There is another advantage to a pre-race day out too – finding public toilets and cheap parking is a must on an event like this, and spending a bit of time sorting these out ahead of race day can put the mind at ease.
The Relay has a cut off time of roughly 12 minutes per mile (5 miles per hour). A sweeper runs each leg at this pace. If runners fall behind the sweeper, they will be advised to pull out of the race (at a safe location). Any runner who drops out will be awarded the cut off time provided they started the race with the intention of completing the leg. This contrasts with teams who fail to register a runner at the start of a leg. In those circumstances the team will be awarded a penalty time of the cut off plus 15 minutes.
Rather wonderfully, Team Bath AC have ditched the race medals in favour of a print of each leg, awarded to each runner who completes a stage. These lovely prints are designed and specifically created for the event by illustrator and cartographer Roger Ellis. This means everyone can collect prints of the trail we all love so much.
Team Bath AC has also made a unique plaque for those who have completed all ten legs of the relay, awarding them the title of “King or Queen of the Cotswolds”.
Thank you, Team Bath, for putting on such a wonderful event, and I look forward to the next 33 years.
Review by Matthew Jones