NORTH COTSWOLD DIAMOND WAY

Location: Gloucestershire

OS Maps: Outdoor Leisure 45

This is a circular (or perhaps we should say trapezoidal) route designed to include many of the highlights of the North Cotswolds. The path crosses undulating farmland and woods, dipping into steep valleys and passing through numerous sleepy villages of honey coloured stone. Much of the route explores quiet areas of the Cotswold Hills where you may reflect on their beauty in solitude. In contrast the lovely market towns of Chipping Campden and Northleach are bustling tourist centres in summer, but are nonetheless worth spending time to explore.

The main villages along the route, which is travelled anti-clockwise starting from Moreton in Marsh are as follows. Ebrington, Chipping Campden, Blockley, Ford, Guiting power, Notgrove, Turkdean, Northleach, Farmington, Bourton on the Water, Oddington, and Adlestrop. Many of these villages and others along the way have typical Cotwold inns where you can re-fuel and picturesque cottages, often colourful in the summer months.

This long distance path was devised by the North Cotswold Group of the Ramblers Association to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Association. Their in depth local knowledge and careful route planning is reflected in an interesting and varied route and well written clear instructions in the guide. The sketch maps are also clear and attractively illustrated.

Guide Book: [Click for further information or to purchase]

The North Cotswold Diamond Way by Elizabeth Bell. Broadly, the route is bounded in the north by Ebrington, in the east by Oddington, in the south by Northleach and in the west by Guiting Power. No part of the route is more than 11 miles from Stow-on-the-Wold. The route was devised to go through some of the many delightful small villages, with their golden stone cottages and welcoming country pubs. The terrain is varied and interesting, sometimes across open fields with drystone walls, often through little spinneys or along the banks of streams. The hills are gently undulating and provide very pleasant views. As far as possible lesser known footpaths are used, but all should be in reasonable condition, depending upon the time of year. In a few places the route coincides with other well known walks.