Gloucestershire

The physical geography of Gloucestershire consists of three main features, one of which, the Severn Vale, divides the county on a roughly north east south west line. West of the Vale lies the high ground of the ancient Forest of Dean. To the east, rising dramatically in a beautiful wooded escarpment, are the famous Cotswold Hills. Three very different regions, but each with it's own attractions and unique landscape interests for the walker to enjoy. Forest trails, riverside walks, open rolling hills and picturesque golden villages are all on offer in glorious Gloucestershire. Much of the Cotswold Hills are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and many of the towns are exceptionally attractive. The elegant Regency Cheltenham Spa and lovely Cirencester with it's rich history as an important Roman and wealthy wool town should not be missed by the visitor; and many great walks can be planned from both towns. In comparison the towns of the Forest of Dean are rather drab, but the woodlands of this ancient Royal Forest provide a superb walking environment, with plenty of interest and a rich wildlife habitat. The area is also relatively quiet, so you may have some of the many trails all to yourself.

The majority of the Cotswold Hills area lies within the county of Gloucestershire. In the east, where the land falls gently away with rolling wolds and river valleys the landscape extends into Warwickshire. The elevation of the Hills rises towards the west, culminating in a spectacular escarpment, where the limestone plateau plunges into the Severn Vale. Stunning views and glorious beechwoods are a treat for the walker following the escarpment along the Cotswold Way. The mellow limestone of the Cotswolds gives the area a unique and distinctive character. Broad open views of fields and woodland alternate with peaceful villages tucked away in hidden valleys and scenes of pasture and water meadow. The area deserves its AONB status.

Long Distance Paths Traversing Gloucestershire
Celtic Way; Cotswold Canal Walk; Cotswold Way; Donnington Way; Gloucestershire Way; Heart of England Way; Monarch's Way; North Cotswold Diamond Way; Offa's Dyke National Trail; Thames Path; Three Choirs Way; Wye Valley Walk; Wysis Way

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Cotswold Walks compiled by: John Brooks and Brian Conduit This Jarrold-Ordnance Survey Pathfinder Guide makes the ideal companion for country walks throughout the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and beyond. Clear and easy to follow directions are accompanied by detailed 1:25,000 scale maps from Ordnance Survey and specially commissioned photographs. With 28 colour-coded routes to choose from, all tried and tested by seasoned walkers and varying from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes, there is a walk to suit all situations.
	100 Walks in Gloucestershire by: various contributors. The book is ideal for family outings and as a valuable reference book for residents wanting to explore their county on foot. It is, of course, equally valuable for visitors to the region. The wide choice of routes are spread very evenly across the county, so no matter where you find yourself, a walk in this book will not be far away. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. They are listed in the contents by length, making it easy to find routes that suit your circumstances. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Walks Through History - Gloucestershire by: John Wilks. Each walk in this book has been chosen because it goes past sites which reveal the rich and varied history of the county. The walks are arranged chronologically, each having a major historical theme, and together they take the walker through 5,000 years of Gloucestershire history. There are twenty-four walks varying in distance between 3.5miles and 6.5 miles and they cover the whole of the county including the Forest of Dean, Severn Vale and the Cotswolds. For each walk there is an introduction providing the historical context, followed by comprehensive route directions and a sketch map. Further explanations of the specific sites visited are included in italics to distinguish them from the route instructions.
	50 Walks in Gloucestershire by: Christopher Knowles. 50 themed walks of between 2 and 10 miles. The walk locations include: Adlestrop and Daylesford; Ditchfords; Windrush; Sherbourne; Lechlade; Eastleaches; Sezincote and Bourton-on-the-Hill; Bourton-on-the-Water; Bourton and Little Rissington; Fairford; Blockley and Batsford; Mickleton; Chipping Campden; Condicote; Northleach; Guiting Power; Bibury; Coln Rogers; Hazleton and Salperton; Down Ampney; Cutsdean and Ford; Snowshill; Laverton and Buckland; Chedworth; Cotswold Water Park; Hailes Abbey; Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle; Belas Knap; Whittington and Brockhampton; Prestbury; Brimpsfield; Sapperton; Bisley; Tewkesbury; Painswick; Slad; Stroud; Toadsmoor Valley; Tetbury; Deerhurst; Ashleworth; Uley; Owlpen Manor; Little Sodbury; Arlingham; Dymock; Brockweir; Tintern Abbey; Staunton.
	Cotswold Walks - Book 1 North by: Clive Holmes. 20 routes from 1.5 to 9 miles. Locations are: Ilmington; The Combertons, Bredon Hill, Elmley Castle; Mickleton, The Hidcotes, Chipping Campden; Chipping Campden, Dovers Hill; Broadway, Saintbury, Willersley; Broadway, Broadway Tower, Fish Hill; Westmancote, Kemerton, Overbury; Blockley, Norcombe Wood, The Warren; Laverton, Snowshill, Stanton; Long Compton, Great Rollright, the Rollright Stones; Oxenton Hill; Stanway, Wood Stanway, Hailes, Didbrook; Longborough, Donnington; Winchcombe, Belas Knap, Sudeley Castle; Apperley, Haw Bridge, Deerhurst; Cleeve Hill; Chipping Norton, Old Chalford; Aldestrop, Chastleton; Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadwell; Stow-on-the-Wold, Hyde Mill, Maugersbury.
	Cotswold Walks - Book 2 Central by: Clive Holmes. 20 routes varying from 2 to 9 miles. Locations are: Lower Swell, Upper Swell; Guiting Power, Temple Guiting, Kineton; Bledington, Oddington, Maugersbury, Icomb; The Slaughters; Whittington, Brockhampton. Sevenhampton, Syreford; Salperton, Hazelton; Notgrove, Cold Aston, Turkdean; Fifield, Idbury, Bruern Abbey; Charlbury, Wychwood Forest, Finstock; Little Rissington, Bourton-on-the-Water, Great Rissington; Woodstock, Blenheim Palace; Coberley, Leckhampton Hill; Sherborne Park, Sherborne, Windrush; Northleach, Farmington; Minster Lovell, Crawley; Burford, Fulbrook, Widford, Swinbrook, Asthall; Burford, The Barringtons; Chedworth Woods, Withington, Chedworth Roman Villa; Coln St Dennis, Fossebridge, Chedworth; Sheepscombe, Cranham.
	Cotswold Walks - Book 3 South by: Clive Holmes. 20 routes from 2 to 9 miles. Locations are: Painswick, Damsells Mill, Painswick Hill; Bulls Cross, Slad Valley and village; Bisley, Oakridge, Waterlane; Duntisbourne Leer, Duntisbourne Abbots, Misarden Park; Bibury, Ablington, Winson, Arlington; Coln St Aldwyns, Quenington, Bibury; Eastleach Turville, Southrop, Fyfield; Eastleach Martin; Daglingworth, The Duntisbournes; Sapperton, Frampton Mansell, The Ampney villages, Poulton; Lechlade, Kelmscot, River Isis; Minchinghampton, Hyde; Stinchcombe village and Hill; Uley Bury, Uly, Owlpen; Wotton-under-Edge, Tyley Bottom; Cotwold Water Park; Tetbury; Malmesbury; Sherston, Easton Grey; Castle Combe, Long Dean, North Wraxall.
	The Cotswolds - Short Walks by: John Brooks. Ordnance Survey Explorer mapping with the route clearly highlighted. 20 routes to choose from, colour coded by length and difficulty. Walk locations are: Sherborne Park; Cirencester Town and Park; Eastleach Turville and Eastleach Martin; Misarden Park; Chedworth; Cleeve Hill; Leckhampton Hill; Sezincote from Bourton-on-the-Hill; Chastleton from Adlestrop; Haresfield Beacon; Minchinghampton Common; Snowshill; Batsford and Blockley; Lost Village of Widford from Burford; Farmington from Northleach; Woodchester Park; The Slaughters from Bourton-on-the-Water; Winchcombe from Hailes Abbey; Guiting Wood; Bibury and Coln St. Aldwyns.
	More Favourite Walks in the South Cotswolds by: South Cotswold Ramblers. This little guide contains 15 walks which have been devised by knowledegable local ramblers to provide a reliable source of facinating walks in the beautiful Cotswold countryside. As an additional feature, each walk has an illustration drawn by local artist Peter Rooke espeacially for the guide. The walks vary in length from 2 to 14 miles and some have several options of different length. The walk locations are: Painswick Beacon and Cranham; Shortwood; Miserden; Bisley; Eastington; Cowcombe Hill; Minchinghampton; Stinchcombe Hill; Cam Peak; Owlpen; Wotton-under-Edge; Beverston Castle; Wortley.
	A Year of Walks - The Cotswolds by: Roy Woodcock. These 12 circular walks, one for each month of the year, visit a range of exceptional locations in the Cotswolds. You have the option of a full or half-day walk to each spot, whilst the month-by-month approach encourages you to walk in harmony with the changing seasons; dispelling the false perception of walking as an activity sutable only for summer. The walks are from 8 to 13 miles in length, and almost all of them have short cut options. They can all be enjoyed at any time of the year, but there are seasonal notes to add to the enjoyment of completing the walk in a particular month.
	Discovery Walks in the Cotswolds by: Julie Meech. The purpose of 'Discovery Walks' is to offer more than simple walk descriptions. Concentrating on the Cotswold heartland, this book of 20 walks avoids the obvious routes in favour of quieter footpaths; even the keenest local walker will find something new to discover. These are well planned and tested routes with plenty to see along the way: ancient monuments, natural history, landscape features and the architectural gems of the area. There are introductions to the towns or villages from where the walks start, with interesting nuggets of local history and folklore. The walks give equal prominence to the natural landscape and the built environment, reflecting the harmony between the two.
	Pub Walks in the Cotswolds by: Laurence Main. The Cotswolds offer some of the best walking in England. These limestone hills reach up to 1000ft and provide views across the River Severn into Wales. On a clear day from Broadway Tower you can see 12 counties! There are also the intimate views that only the pedestrian tourist can discover by following waymarked and well maintained footpaths. Here are 27 fine walks from pubs which serve real ale and, in some cases, might coax up a ghostly lady should you wish to try one of their beds for the night. These walks are meant to be enjoyed by all ages, including novice ramblers. Varying between 5 and 10 miles, the average distance is around 6 miles.
	Best Tea Shop Walks in the Cotswolds by: Norman and June Buckley. 28varied and attractive walks suitable for all the family, throughout the superb Cotswold countryside. The walks are based on towns and villages and include all the popular favourites, together with some of the stately homes. To add to the pleasure, each walk has a recommended Cotswold tea shop. In addition to the basic information concerning route and tea shop, there are notes on the landscape, local social and industrial history, features met along the way, and facilities available for visitors. Clear instructions, accurate sketch maps and the author's own photographs all add to the enjoyment.
	Literary Strolls in the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean by: Gordon Ottewell. 40 delightful circular strolls, none longer than 3 miles, with each one following in the footsteps of a different literary figure. Includes: Kemerton, Willersley, Broadway, Stanway, Taddington, Ford, Prescott, Upper Ditchford, Sezincote, Upper Slaughter, Adlestrop, Daylesford, Kingham, Idbury, Leckhampton, Crickley Hill, Pinswell, Withington, Asthall, Ducklington, Filkins, Southrop, Kelmscott, Duntisbourne Rouse, Far Oakridge, Sapperton, Ablington, Stockend, Sheepscombe, Slad, Woodchester, Watledge, Leddington, May Hill, Brierley, Green Bottom, Christchurch, Minsterworth.
	Gloucestershire and Forest of Dean Walks by: John Abbott. Ten walks covering an area south west of the M50 and M5, from Tewkesbury to Ruardean. The theme is history; village churches in particular with, where necessary, a description of the main features. Many of the walks include long and short options and range from easy to quite demanding; an easy mile at Ashleworth, up to ten miles around Newent and Upleadon; enough, hopefully, to satisfy most people. The walk locations are: Tewkesbury and Deerhurst; Forthampton and Chaceley; Staunton and Tirley; Pauntley and Redmarley; Ashleworth and Hasfield; Gloucester; Newent and Upleadon; Churcham and Bulley; Mitcheldean and Abenhall; Ruardean.
	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Walks by: Brian Conduit. Clear and easy to follow directions with detailed Explorer maps from Ordnance Survey. 28 routes, colour coded for difficulty, varying from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes. The walk locations include: Newland; White Castle; Newent and Acorn Wood; King's Caple, Sellack and Hoarwithy; New Fancy and Mallards Pike Lake; Wynd Cliff; Chepstow and Lancaut; Mordiford and Haugh Wood; Wench Ford, Danby Lodge and Blackpool Bridge; Ruardean and Astonbridgehill Inclosure; Goodrich Castle; Tidenham Chase and Wintour's Leap; Ross-on-Wye and Penyard Hill; Dymock and Kempley Green; Newnham, Blaize Bailey and Soudley Ponds; Tintern Abbey and the Devil's Pulpit; Speech House, Cannop Ponds and Edge End; Bredwardine, Arthur's Stone and Dorstone; Symonds Yat and Highmeadow Woods.
	Cotswold Hillwalks by: Christopher Knowles. This booklet covers area around Cheltenham. Each of the walks has its own character and its own highlights, but overall the walks contrive to give an insight into many of the charms of the Cheltenham area. The going is not particularly hard, but there are a few reasonably steep slopes. The chapter headings are: The Cotswold Way; Cotswold Quarries; Leckhampton and Devil's Chimney; Upland Walkway to Kilkenny; Cleeve Common and Postlip Hall, Cleeve, Sudeley and Winchcombe; Leckhampton, Cobberley and Seven Springs; Woodland and Pasture from Charlton Kings to Dowdeswell.
	Cotswold Walkabout by: Nicholas Reardon and Peter Reardon. This short guide is designed to give the walker an appreciation of the wealth of historic sites which can be visited in the Cheltenham area. At the same time the routes provide the enjoyment of travelling through delightful Cotswold countryside. The text provides directions and also desribes the places visited and tells a little of their history. Illustrated sketch maps are included. The walk locations are: The Rollright Stones; Nibley Knoll and Brackenbury Ditches; Crickley Hill; Belas Knap; Coopers Hill; Tunnel house and The Round House; Norbury Camp; Coaley Peak; South Cerney; Stumps Cross and Hailes Abbey.
	Walks around Chipping Campden by: John Abbott. Three walks are defined in this booklet: the first explores Campden, a relaxed wander amidst built history. Walk two goes via the Cotswold Way to Dovers Hill. The modest ascent is worth the effort for the views, which are first-rate. Then follows two options, short and long.The former looks at the Kiftsgate Stone before returning to base. The latter treks north to Aston Subedge, passing a Manor House with Dovers Hill connections. Next it strikes west to Weston-sub-Edge and the church of St Lawrence before returning steeply to the western end of Dovers Hill. The third walk describes a circle, level and brief, around Broad Campden.
	Walks Around Stow on the Wold by: Mark Richards. A radial network of eight ancient regional trade routes with varying degrees of present-day importance, stem from the town like the spokes of a wagon wheel. As a result visitors seeking to explore the immediate countryside can, given a modicum of road walking, swiftly discover the peace and joy of a richly rewarding and characteristically Cotswold landscape. This booklet describes a circular route around Stow of eight gently undulating miles, with several link option to provide shorter walks. The walk begins at Stow Square and includes the villages of Broadwell, Upper Swell, Lower Swell and Maugersbury.
	Walks Around the Slaughters by: Mark Richards. For visitors new to the Cotswolds there must be a prosaic charm in discovering on the map the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter, near Bourton-on-the-Water. Throughout England village pairs exist, but few, if any, embody more surely the sense of rural picturesque than the Slaughters. This little guide describes six circular walks all beginning from the door of the Old Mill in Lower Slaughter. The walks are: (1) Upper Slaughter and Hollow Bottom; (2) Slaughter Vale - a casual stroll around the two villages; (3) Upper Slaughter and Buckle Street; (4) Bourton-on-the-Water; (5) Rivers Eye and Dikler; (6) Stow-on-the-Wold.
	Shakespeare Country, Vale of Evesham and Cotswold Walks by: Brian Conduit. 28 routes to choose from, colour coded for difficulty, from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes. Introduction highlights the most scenic walks. Locations include: Tewkesbury; Fairford; Moreton-in-Marsh and Batsford; Wroxton and Drayton; Evesham and the River Avon; Broadway and Buckland; Upton and the River Severn; Wellesbourne, Hampton Lucy and Charlecote Park; Brailes Hill; Edge Hill; Mickleton and the Hidcotes; Bourton-on-the-Water and the Rissingtons; The Barringtons and Windrush; Otmoor; Barnsley Park and the Coln Valley; Bledington, Westcote and Icomb; Elmley Castle and the Combertons; Bretforton and Honeybourne; Cold Aston, Notgrove and Turkdean; Ilmington and Ebrington; Barton and Dorsington; Hay Wood, Burton Dassett Hills and surrounding villages.