The people behind the path: How volunteers keep the Cotswold Way National Trail thriving

Volunteers are at the heart of every National Trail, helping to keep routes welcoming, accessible and cared for. Yet successful volunteer programmes don't happen by accident – they rely on dedicated people, strong relationships and the right support behind the scenes.

In this guest blog, Nicole Daw, Access and Volunteers Officer at Cotswolds National Landscape, shares her experience of leading the volunteer programme for the Cotswold Way National Trail. Through the stories of some of the Trail's volunteer wardens, she reflects on the many ways they contribute, what motivates them to give their time, and why investing in volunteer coordination is just as important as investing in the Trail itself.

Every month, dozens of volunteers head out along the 102-mile Cotswold Way. Some replace waymarkers or cut back vegetation around gates. Others repair handrails, clear fallen trees, rebuild dry stone walls or help conserve the wildlife-rich landscapes that make this National Trail so special. Many stop to chat with walkers from around the UK and around the world, offering encouragement and sharing local knowledge

Their contribution often goes unseen, but it’s impossible to imagine the Cotswold Way without them.

Stretching from Bath to Chipping Campden, the Cotswold Way passes through beautiful limestone grasslands, beech woodlands, historic villages and landscapes rich in archaeology, geology and history. Every year, thousands of people enjoy this remarkable National Trail. Behind every positive experience is a huge amount of work to keep the route welcoming, accessible and enjoyable.

Affectionately known simply as "The Way" by those who know and love it best, the Cotswold Way is the result of many hands and hearts, all working together to care for this special place.

With National Trail budgets under increasing pressure, our volunteers have never been more important.

The many roles of Cotswold Way volunteers

The Cotswold Way is supported by more than 400 Cotswold Voluntary Wardens, each bringing different skills, experience and motivations. Each year over 58,000 hours of voluntary work is carried out across the Cotswolds.  

Over 17,000 of these hours were delivered by our Cotswold Way Patrollers, who are the volunteers who are actually out on the National Trail. In total 973 miles were walked by patrollers and 204 minor works carried out.

They walk their allocated sections every month, checking for any issues along the route. Small jobs can often be dealt with there and then, whether that's replacing a waymark disc, clearing nettles from around a gate or picking up litter.

Larger issues are passed on to our volunteer work parties, who head out each week with tools and equipment to tackle more substantial repairs. They repair gates, install handrails and help protect paths from erosion), clear fallen trees and brambles, rebuild dry stone walls and carry out important conservation work both on and around the Trail.

Together, these volunteers help keep the Cotswold Way accessible for people while also protecting the habitats that make it such an important place for wildlife.

Their work allows Becky, my fellow Trail Officer, and me to focus our time where it is needed most. Often, volunteers have already identified – and sometimes resolved – issues before we even become aware of them.

Why people volunteer on the Cotswold Way

One of the things I enjoy most about working with our volunteers is discovering the different paths that brought them to the Cotswold Way.

Some arrive with decades of professional experience that they continue to share in retirement. Others simply want to give something back to a landscape they love. Whatever their motivation, once people become involved with the Cotswold Way, they often stay for many years.

Sheila Talbot is one of those people.

"I've been a patroller for many years and worked on National Trails for Natural England before that. The Cotswold Way is a golden thread that runs through my home town, attracting thousands of people from around the world. When I'm out patrolling and doing maintenance jobs I love chatting to them, finding out where they are from and what brought them here. When they tell me how well signed and maintained the trail is, it makes me proud to be a part of it."

Volunteers like Sheila bring a huge amount of professional knowledge and practical experience. Across our network there is an incredible breadth of expertise, enabling us to achieve far more than would otherwise be possible.

For Graham Britten, however, volunteering grew from a lifelong enjoyment of walking rather than a professional background.

"I first encountered the Cotswold Way in a second-hand bookshop in Bath in the early 1980s. Intrigued by the Wainwright-style maps and illustrations, I began walking it in sections at weekends.

"I then forgot about it until years later, while on a Ramblers holiday in America, I met a Cotswold Way Trail Warden. Hearing him talk so enthusiastically about the role, brought back memories of the trail and I decided it would be the perfect way to give something back once I retired. Retirement duly came in 2005 and I joined the Wardens. My section covers around seven miles with an interesting mix of open ‘big sky’ country, woodland and views across the Severn Valley to Wales. Seasonal change, wildlife and the people I meet mean it's never boring."

Stories like Graham's remind me that volunteering is about much more than maintenance. It's about connection: to the landscape, to local communities and to the people who walk the Trail.

More than the eyes and ears of the Trail

As the Trail covers such a long distance, it’s split into sections – Avon Valley, South, Central and North – each supported by a volunteer coordinator who works closely with both the patrollers and the National Trail team.

These coordinators play a vital role in helping the volunteer network function effectively, so that we can ‘get things done’ on the Trail. Richard Darke recently became co-ordinator for Avon Valley District.

"The Cotswold Way is a National Trail, so it has to be maintained to a higher standard than less-used public rights of way. As a result, it has to be patrolled more regularly - at least monthly. I particularly enjoy meeting the public while out on patrol, especially the many long distance walkers who are doing the whole 102 mile/160km trail. Many are from overseas, which leads to some really interesting conversations. I really look forward to doing my job, and it’s a joy to get out there on patrol, helping the section patrollers do their task."

Caring for the Cotswold Way’s stories

Our volunteers don’t simply report problems. They often bring decades of local knowledge, support larger scale improvement work, act as ambassadors for both the Way and the wider Cotswolds National Landscape, and help us understand the places they’ve cared for over many years. There are so many fabulous Warden led initiatives along the Cotswold Way. One of my favourites is the message box looked after by Graham.

"I have the privilege of being custodian of the message box and book which is located in Dyrham Wood. The books date back to 1997 and are an invaluable source of feedback as well as being a good and uplifting read."

These small but thoughtful touches help make the Cotswold Way such a memorable experience for walkers and demonstrate the pride our volunteers take in looking after it.

Supporting the people who support the Trail

Each year, we bring our Cotswold Way Patrollers together for a volunteer conference. It's an opportunity to hear from guest speakers, share updates, celebrate achievements and, most importantly, spend time together over lunch and a walk along the Trail.

These gatherings are always a highlight of my year. Seeing so many people come together, united by a shared commitment to caring for the Cotswold Way, is a powerful reminder of what our volunteer community achieves.

We also provide volunteers with tools, equipment and first aid training every three years, ensuring they feel confident, supported and safe in their roles. Considering the many hours our volunteers contribute each year, this represents excellent value for money.

Why volunteers matter

What becomes clear when you spend time with our volunteers is that every person has their own reason for giving their time. Peter Clements, who has proudly been patrolling Section 1 of the Cotswold Way since 2012, sums it up perfectly:

"I am a Cotswold Voluntary Warden, maintaining the Cotswold Way is part of our remit. I am retired, I hate being idle, I live near the Way. The Way and I need each other."

Those few words capture the relationship so many of our volunteers have with the Trail. The Cotswold Way is cared for by many hands, but it is sustained by something more important: the generosity, commitment and pride of the people who volunteer their time to look after it.

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