Cotswold Way

Cotswold Way

Discover the Cotswold Way

Our newest National Trail is so much more than a beautiful walk through one of Britain’s most stunning landscapes. Whether enjoying a day out, a short break or a longer holiday you can use the Cotswold Way to explore the area’s many attractions...

The CoTswold way NaTioNal Trail

One of 15 National Trails in England and Wales, the Cotswold Way is a well-marked walk between the market town of Chipping Campden in the north to the World Heritage City of Bath in the south. Most of the Trail is in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and passes through quintessentially English countryside, rich in history yet very much a living, working landscape.

Managed by a dedicated team, including a group of hard-working and enthusiastic volunteers, the paths, gates, stiles and signs on the Cotswold Way are kept in prime condition. So the Trail is a marvellous way to start if you are not used to going for walks in the countryside. It follows mainly public footpaths and some minor, quiet roads.

The acorn symbol is used on all of the Cotswold way signs. in most cases, the signs also carry the words ‘Cotswold way’.

Cotswold Way

This brochure is produced by the Cotswolds Conservation Board and the Cotswold Way National Trail office. The Board looks after the Cotswolds AONB. It works to:

conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB, and •

increase understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area. •

CoTswolds area of ouTsTaNdiNg NaTural beauTy 1

2 The CoTswold way NaTioNal Trail

Coaley Peak, topograph


Known and loved by people across the world, the Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful areas of England. It offers something for everyone – visitors and those who live in the area – to enjoy.

There are charming villages, historic towns, distinctive stone buildings and inspiring countryside. and wherever you are, you will find interesting things to do and a warm welcome.

The Cotswold way is an ideal way for you to find your way around and explore this beautiful part of the country. it passes through or very near to many of the area’s wide variety of interesting features and attractions. and much of it is easily accessible by bus and train.

so although many people choose to walk the Trail as one continuous journey, you can enjoy it in short sections, for a few hours or as part of a day out in the Cotswolds.

Welcome to the Cotswolds

People come from all over the world to visit the Cotswolds. whether you are a visitor or someone who has lived here all your life there is always something new to discover.


In the Cotswolds you will find welcoming pubs with cosy log fires, specialist shops selling local products, tea rooms, restaurants and country house hotels.

There is accommodation to suit every pocket – from camping, caravanning and youth hostels, to luxury hotels and spas – maintained to high standards and with delightful service. you might well have come just for the day, but will wish you had come for longer!

Chipping CampdenThe Cotswold way starts in this picturesque village.

Altitude: 297m

CirCular Walk 1CirCular Walk 2

A warm welcome...

FIND OUT MORE:The ‘Cotswold way National Trail • Companion’ provides comprehensive information on accommodation and local services along the Trail.

accommodation details and other • useful information can also be found on www.nationaltrail.co.uk.

Broadway

CirCular Walk 3

Stanton

Altitude: 110m

© y

ha

look out for these circular walks, which are easy to follow and can be accessed from the Cotswold way (see page 13 for more information).

CirCular Walks to1 10


There is a long tradition of good food – whether abundant seasonal produce or specialist producers of food and drink. Why not come to some of the food events and festivals or visit the farm shops along the Cotswold Way?

FABULOUS FOR FOODIES:enjoy an organic ice cream from the • Cotswold ice Cream Company.

gloucestershire old spots are one of • the most popular rare breeds - and are used to make delicious sausages!

Visit the world famous Pudding Club • at Three ways house hotel, just 3 miles north of Chipping Campden.

StanwayThe Jacobean stanway house has the tallest fountain in britain – the gravity-fed water jet rises to over 300 feet.

Belas Knap

a Neolithic long barrow, dating from around 2500 bC.

Altitude: 296m

Hailes Abbey

Altitude: 104m

WinchcombeNearby is sudeley Castle, once home to Catherine Parr, wife of henry Viii.

CirCular Walk 4

Many of our restaurants, pubs and cafes use local produce, or you can visit the many farm shops, delicatessens and farmers’ markets.

To give just a flavour, local producers include specialist breed meat producers, trout farmers, ice cream and cheese makers, local brewers and fruit juice producers.

imagine the best of all of these things and you’ll find them along the Cotswold way!


From picturesque cottages to magnificent manor houses, churches and towers, the traditional Cotswold building stone gives a unique sense of warmth and wholeness to buildings, walls and other features in the area.

Step back in time.. .SOME PLACES TO VISIT:

Picturesque towns along the • Cotswold way, including Chipping Campden, broadway, Painswick and winchcombe.

snowshill Manor, where you can see • Charles wade’s amazing collection of objects from around the world.

The spectacular dyrham Park, set in • the grounds of an ancient deer park.

glorious bath, the only entire city in • the uK to be given world heritage site status.

for generations people have used the local limestone as the building material. This creates an especially strong sense of visual unity, making man-made structures appear to be part of the land itself.

in the late Middle ages the prosperity generated by the wool trade led to the development of magnificent churches, manor houses and market towns.

Cleeve HillThe highest point in the Cotswolds offers some stunning views.

Altitude: 317m

Altitude: 100mCheltenham

for centuries, drystone walls have been used as boundaries in the Cotswolds. There are at least 4,000 miles of them here, as long as the great wall of China!

CirCular Walk 5

Dowdeswellexplore the dowdeswell woods Nature

reserve, all the way down to the reservoir.


Not only is it pleasing to the eye, the Cotswolds can also satisfy the mind. There are visual and performing arts, crafts, literature, museums, festivals and events. Why not combine a walk with a dose of culture?

since the 19th century, artists and crafts people have made their homes here. The connection with the arts and Crafts movement continues to thrive and there is a wealth of local artistic talent.

on a national and international level, renowned performers come, for example, to the bath literature festival, the Cheltenham Music festival and stroud’s Contemporary arts festival.

There are small-scale, more ancient traditions too, such as Mummers plays, well dressing and wool sack races.

A SELECTION OF LOCAL EVENTS:

The olympick games at dover’s hill, • Chipping Campden, established in 1612 and still going strong today.

Painswick’s ancient Clypping • Ceremony, where local people form an unbroken chain around the churchyard’s 99 yew trees.

The annual cheese-rolling festival • at Cooper’s hill, brockworth – where people hurl themselves down the hill after a speeding 7lb double gloucester!

bourton-on-the-water’s annual • football event, played between two bridges in the river windrush itself.

Leckhampton Hillsee the amazing devil’s Chimney and quarry workings.

Crickley HillBirdlip

situated on the ermin way roman road, there are beautiful views from barrow

wake viewpoint near birdlip.

Altitude: 290m Altitude: 273m

Altitude: 250m

Towns and villages along the Cotswold way uphold some of the oldest (and strangest!) traditions in the country.

CirCular Walk 6

Court barn Museum, Chipping Campden, celebrates the history, skill and imagination of local artists and designers, architects and craftspeople. image: silver and glass dish with single loop handle by C. r. ashbee 1903-4.

© Court barn M

useum


Only a stone’s throw from the towns and villages of the Cotswolds are some of the loveliest views anywhere in the world. Take time to surround yourself by the landscape and absorb its tranquillity.

Much of the Cotswold way follows the dramatic scarp made by the oolitic limestone band that arcs across england from dorset to the humber.

This provides fine views across the vales of berkeley, gloucester and evesham to wales, the forest of dean, and the Malvern, shropshire and lickey hills. behind the scarp lie gentler undulating hills and vales, with rolling grasslands and open skies.

The landscape of the Cotswolds is the result of millions of years of natural evolutionary and climatic processes and some 6,000 years of human activity.

STUNNING VIEWPOINTS:The highest point in the Cotswolds, • Cleeve hill, which offers views over the severn Valley and out towards the Malverns.

The 18th century broadway Tower • – reputedly one of england’s finest viewpoints.

haresfield beacon, site of a romano-• british hill fort.

birdlip hill, where you can also • enjoy the spectacular ancient beech woodlands.

Expansive skies & rolling landscapes.. .

Cooper’s Hillstand at the top of the cheese

rolling slope and marvel... or come along for the spring bank holiday and take part!

Altitude: 270m

CirCular Walk 7 PainswickMake sure you visit the rococo gardens, but don’t get lost in the maze.

The Cotswold way offers some of the best, and certainly most dramatic, scenery in the region.

© John hudson www.cheese-rolling.co.uk


As you amble through the meadows and hills, be delighted by the colourful variety of plant and animal life that the Cotswolds supports. You may come across nationally rare plants, including orchids, and butterflies such as the Chalkhill Blue and the Duke of Burgundy.

The area’s grasslands and farmlands are abundant with flowers and shrubs, providing vital reserves for wildlife and birds. hedgerows provide sanctuary and thoroughfares for wildlife through the landscape, while large areas of ancient woodland are a striking feature of the landscape.

KEY HABITATS AND SPECIES:The ancient beech woodlands that • are such a magnificent feature of the Cotswold way. Their rich golden colours are an especially splendid sight in the autumn.

unimproved limestone grassland, • an extremely valuable habitat that supports nationally important biodiversity. The Cotswolds aoNb is home to more than half of the country’s remaining Jurassic limestone grassland.

look out too for the many species • of wild flowers, such as orchids, and invertebrates including the Chalkhill blue butterfly.

a walk along the Cotswold way at any time of the year will take you through some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes and important habitats.

Haresfield Beacon

Altitude: 232m

CirCular Walk 8

King’s StanleyAltitude: 40m

CirCular Walk 9

Uley BuryThe iron age hill fort

near Cam long down.

Altitude: 195m


The Cotswolds has been shaped by man over many thousands of years. Each generation has left its distinctive mark and exciting evidence of long occupation by people can still be found.

Uncover civilisations.. .

along the Cotswold way you will see – just by looking around – long barrows, stone circles, ditches and ramparts, iron age hill forts and the many architectural remains of the romans’ time here.

Many of these impressive sites were chosen because from them you could see for miles around; this is still true today. There is no entry charge for many of these features.

SIGHTS TO SEE:one of the finest examples of a • Neolithic long barrow, belas Knap, which features a false entrance and side chambers. it dates from around 2500 bC, which makes it more than 4,500 years old.

Nympsfield long barrow – a large • burial mound where there are spectacular views over the severn Valley. The internal burial chambers are uncovered for viewing.

The ruins of Cistercian hailes • abbey, founded in 1246 and once a celebrated pilgrimage site.

Dursley

Tyndale Monument

North NibleyThe birthplace of william Tyndale,

the first person to translate the bible into english.

Wotton-under-Edge

Altitude: 70m

Altitude: 191m

Altitude: 100m

CirCular Walk 10


An aspect of the Cotswolds that should not be overlooked is its surprisingly rich industrial heritage.

The area’s large sheep population, along with its plentiful supply of running water, made it ideal for the manufacture of woollen cloth.

There are fine examples of mills, including at ebley and stanley. Many of these have found new leases of life as housing, offices and restaurants.

There are many other examples of early industrial heritage such as Victorian quarries and canals.

you may see the famous Cotswold lion – an ancient breed prized for its size and fleece – grazing in local fields.

Old Sodbury

Sodbury CampThe best preserved iron age

hill fort on the Cotswold way.

Altitude: 190m

IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE:

historic ebley Mill, which in the 1800s • was one of the largest woollen cloth mills in stroud.

The stroudwater Navigation and • Thames & severn Canal, which is currently being restored.

stanley Mill, on a site where mills • have been recorded since the middle of the 11th century.

The Somerset Monument

The somerset Monument, near hawkesbury, which was built in 1846 to commemorate the achievements

of general lord robert somerset.


The Cotswold Way is well served by public transport. Travelling by bus and train is a great way to see more of the beautiful countryside. And it frees you up to explore the towns and villages – without having to go back for your car!

Leave the car at home.. . . Many people visit the Cotswolds in their cars but it is possible to get here and travel around the area using public transport.

if you are coming from outside the area, you can catch trains and coaches from the main towns such as london, birmingham, bristol and Cardiff. Then there is a good network of bus routes within the area.

FIND OUT MORE:There is a series of five public • transport guides for the Cotswolds, including one specifically for the Cotswold way. This can be downloaded free of charge from www.nationaltrail.co.uk or www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk.

days out and short break information • sheets can be downloaded from www.nationaltrail.co.uk.

it is easy to explore the Cotswolds using public transport.

although the Cotswold way is not promoted for cyclists, the wider Cotswolds is full of excellent cycle routes. you can plan a trip using the national cycle network at www.sustrans.co.uk.

if you don’t own a bike you can hire one. some of the hire outlets are listed on www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk.

TormartonAltitude: 165m

Dyrham ParkMake sure you visit this beautiful National Trust william & Mary mansion.


The Cotswolds is walking country. Its varied and distinctive landscape is ideal terrain for the keenest of walkers. It is also suitable for those who are less familiar with walking as an activity, and those who wish to enjoy shorter walks with their young families.

detailed route cards containing maps, written directions and other useful information are free to download from www.nationaltrail.co.uk.

Those who are a little more ambitious may be interested to know that if you complete the entire Trail in one visit you can become part of a ‘hall of fame’, to be housed on the Cotswold way website. Potential ‘end-to-enders’ will be given a card to be stamped at the start and end, and at a number of locations in-between. when they finish the walk they are offered a brass pin badge or embroidered patch, and invited to add a photo and brief summary of their journey to a growing list on the dedicated web page.

a series of 15 walks is available for those who find it difficult to get around some traditional walking routes, such as families with buggies or people using wheelchairs. all of the ‘walks on wheels’ walks have been tested for accessibility by mums with buggies and disability organisations. you can download the walks from www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk.

SOME ROUTES THAT LINK WITH THE COTSWOLD WAY:

gloucestershire way •

warden’s way •

windrush way •

diamond way •

Monarch’s way •

limestone link •

Cranham

A46

Cooper’s Hill

Buckholt Wood

Cranham Corner

Brockworth Woods Cooper’s Hill

Woods

Upton Wood

Sanato

rium Road

MonksDitch

Cotswold Way

1

5

2

3

4

Start

BUS STOP

BUS STOP

Bath

Cranham

ChippingCampden

This beautiful little walk shows you around one of England’s most treasured habitats, beech woodlands, and leads you to the site of perhaps the Cotswolds’ most iconic and intriguing tradition, cheese-rolling. Follow these four short miles and discover the cathedral-like calm of Buckholt Wood, richly carpeted by bluebells in May, and wonder at the dizzy heights of Cooper’s hill where for hundreds of years the foolhardy have risked their necks for cheese and glory...

Distance: 4 miles

Duration: 2 - 3 hours

Difficulty:Easy. No stiles, but some moderately

steep sections.

Public transport:No. 46 bus - frequent daily service

between Cheltenham and Stroud

and ½ mile walk to start, or 232

from Cheltenham (Monday only)/256

from Gloucester (Wednesday only)

to Cranham centre. See Cotswold

Way public transport leaflet, or call

Traveline on 0871 200 2233.

Start/Finish:Grid reference SO893131

(OS Explorer sheet 179)

Postcode GL4 8HP

Refreshments:Excellent pub in village centre.

Start out under the ancient

beech tree in the little car park on

the outskirts of the village. Entering

into the majestic woodlands, part

of a national nature reserve expertly

managed by Natural England, take the

middle of the three clear paths ahead

of you. Continue up the path for just

under half a mile until you reach the

small car park next to the road.

Keeping a good ear out for traffic,

cross straight over and continue to

follow the path through the woods on

the other side.

At the top of the hill, veer

right to follow the Cotswold Way as it

comes in from the left and follow the

signs for just over half a mile. At the

top, turn right and pass through the

kissing gate with pasture on either side

and continue to follow the Cotswold

Way off to the left. Stay on the trail as

it snakes up through the woods until

you emerge out into the open.

You are now at the top of

Cooper’s Hill, which for generations

has been home to the annual cheese-

rolling festival. The origins of this

intriguing tradition are lost in the mists

of time, but there are records of the

event dating back to the 1800s when

it was part of a larger event called

a ‘wake’. Nowadays, thousands of

spectators flock from all over the

world on the spring bank holiday to

watch people hurl themselves down

the hill after a speeding 7lb Double

Gloucester. Gazing down this

vertiginous slope, it is hard to believe

that anyone ever walks away – some

don’t!

To start the second half of your walk,

follow the Cotswold Way steeply

downhill to your left and back into the

woods, turning right and emerging out

through a kissing gate at the bottom

of the hill. Continue on to the road,

turning right to head along past the

last few houses. At the end of the

road, pass through a gate onto an

un-made track.

After following this track

along the edge and through the woods

for a mile, you reach a marker post

and a field gate on your left with a

view down to the lakes in the distance.

Leaving the Cotswold Way behind,

take the path up to the right and back

into Buckholt Wood. After a short

while, emerge out onto a drive and

head right up towards the road.

Keeping a good look-out, cross the

road and take the path directly

opposite. As you reach the small car

parking area under the trees, make

for the track at the far side, and head

downhill past the large house.

Continue down the track and straight

onto a footpath with a crumbled old

stone wall on your left, eventually

passing over a trickling stream next

to another ancient beech tree. Carry

on up through the woods until you

emerge out into open common land,

and follow the track past the houses

on the right until you meet the road

opposite the little bus stop.

Take the road down through

Cranham, and should you have a thirst

in need of quenching turn left opposite

the next footpath sign up towards

the inviting Black Horse Inn. After

this most pleasing of detours, continue

to follow the road down through the

village and back up towards the car

park at the start. Another walk has

now come to an end and yet another

side of the wonderful Cotswold Way

has been revealed, but rest well in the

knowledge that it has so much more

to entice you back.

1

2

34

Cotswold Way Circular Walks

7. Cranham, Cooper’s and the Beechwoods

1000 Metres

5

Cotswold Way National Trail

Gloucestershire Rights of Way

There are many ways to get walking the Cotswold way, including hundreds of guided walks and events led by the Cotswold Voluntary wardens. some of these events are run by other organisations, such as the National Trust, gloucestershire County Council and gloucestershire wildlife Trust. There are also many circular walks and other routes that join the Cotswold way itself.

you may want to try one of our new series of short, easy to follow circular walks on and from the Cotswold way. The series has been developed to appeal to those who do not want to walk the entire Trail, but would like to experience some of the best bits. each route is accessible by public transport, is well-marked throughout and includes car parking and refreshment stops.

Grenville Monument

Commemorating sir bevil grenville

who died in the Civil war battle on

lansdown hill.

Bathgeorgian bath is one of britain’s most beautiful cities, with some of the best

shopping alongside the historical buildings.

Bath Race Course

Altitude: 225m


Get involved.. .Why not take the opportunity to help conserve and enhance the Cotswolds by becoming a Cotswold Voluntary Warden? Anyone can join and, today, there are more than 350 members.

The wardens are part of the Cotswolds Conservation board and volunteer their time and skills to help keep the Cotswolds special, as well as helping to encourage others to enjoy it.

They work in the countryside on many projects including repairs to drystone walls, planting trees and installing gates, as well as leading guided walks.

To find out more about becoming a warden, speak to our Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01451 862008.

“As a voluntary warden you have amazing fun with lots of interesting people, while giving something back to this lovely countryside. You can discover the pleasure of being out in all weathers, making friends and helping in whichever way you can – then standing back and seeing the effects!”Jean booth, Chairman of the Cotswold way Voluntary wardens (pictured, right).

The Cotswold wardens work hard to keep an eye on the Cotswold way and make sure that it is kept in tip top shape for visitors to enjoy. some wardens lead guided walks, others plant trees and some give talks to the public.


BRISTOL

LONDON

BIRMINGHAM

OXFORD

COTSWOLDS AONB

COUNTY BOUNDARY

COTSWOLD WAY

Stow-onthe-Wold

Painswick

Northleach

Tetbury

NailsworthCIRENCESTER

STROUD

BATH

Bourtonon-the-Water

ChippingCampden

Fairford

Lechlade

Stratfordupon Avon

GlouCEstErsHirE

Bredon Hill

Dursley

Kemble

WarWiCksHirE

oXForDsHirE

soutHGlouCEstErsHirE

BatH aNDNortH East

soMErsEt

Malmesbury

Burford

Banbury

ChippingNorton

Lower Brailes

CHELTENHAM

WinchcombeCleeve Hill

GLOUCESTER

Wotton- under-Edge

A417

Marshfield

Moreton-in-Marsh

Broadway

WorCEstErsHirE

Evesham

A429

A40

M50

M5

M4

A46

M5

M40

A44

A44

A46

Uley

riVErsEVErN

Bristol Chippenham

WiltsHirE

CoTswolds area of ouTsTaNdiNg NaTural beauTy

Cotswolds Conservation Boardfosse wayNorthleachgloucestershire gl54 3Jhtel: 01451 862000Fax: 01451 862001Website: www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk

Photographs: © Natural england/Nick Turner, and Natural england/Jo ward, unless otherwise indicated.designed by: www.touchmedia.uk.net

The Cotswold way National Trail is funded by Natural england and managed in partnership with the Cotswolds Conservation board and worcestershire County Council, gloucestershire County Council, south gloucestershire Council and bath & North east somerset Council highway authorities.

Cotswold Way

Cotswold Way

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