Cotswold Way Circular Walks

5. Cleeve Hill Common ring

This breathtaking walk Woodmancote 1 Chipping leads you over open hilltops, 2 Campden across streams and through Elder B4632 woodlands, immersing you Start Grove Cleeve in one of the country’s most Common Cotsw fascinating and precious old Wa habitats – limestone y grassland. Over half of this wildflower and butterfly rich 3 Bath natural resource is within the Cotswolds and some of the finest examples are on Cleeve Cleeve Common Postlip Woodpeckers Common. The unsurpassed Warren 7 views along this route therefore, are the perfect Breakheart backdrop8 for getting even Southam CP Plantation closer to the outstanding natural beauty of the Cotswold Way.

Distance: 6 miles (Shorter route 4 miles) 4 2 Duration: Circular Walk 3½ - 4½ hrs (Shorter: 2 - 3 hrs) Cotswold Way 5 Wontley Difficulty: Woodland Farm Moderate, no stiles but some Cleeve Common 1000 Metres steep sections (Shorter: Easy, no stiles and mostly level) Cotswold Way down through two on your left, turning right downhill 4 Leaving the Cotswold Way Public transport: metal field gates. towards the stream at the bottom. behind for the time being, turn No. 606 bus from Cheltenham/ right and follow the unmade road Winchcombe – ask for Golf 2 For a shorter route that avoids 3 At any time of the year, the down towards the deserted farm Course junction (See Cotswold the steep climbs but doesn’t miss shade of the woodlands and the buildings. Immediately afterwards, Way public transport leaflet, or out on the views, turn right calming sound of peacefully flowing turn right through the gateway call Traveline on 0871 200 2233) immediately after the second gate water make this little bridge the and follow the path slowly uphill Start/Finish: to leave the Cotswold Way and follow ideal spot to stop and rest awhile through the fields towards the Grid reference SO989272 the track around the bottom of the before the climbs ahead. When radio masts in the distance. (OS Explorer sheet 179) hill. Continue all the way along the you are ready, cross over the bridge Pass through a gate back onto the Postcode GL52 3PW side of the gully, eventually turning and follow the trail up to the right. common and take the path on the Refreshments: left onto the wider track at the top. At the top, pass through the gate right towards the waymarker post, Bar café/restaurant at Golf Club. Head straight across the common and across the paddock, turning and continue to head for the masts. Toilets and extra parking for and make directly for the radio masts right when you meet the road. customers. at the end to rejoin the route Carry on past the stable, and 5 At the masts, turn right to at point 5. continue to follow the signs follow the fenceline until you meet 1 Start at the quarry car park Follow the Cotswold Way down through the woods. After the steep the Cotswold Way. Continue right across the track from golf towards the trees and through climb snaking up the wooded along the edge of the escarpment, clubhouse. Leave the car park and the gate at the bottom, past farm hillside, a kissing gate is well placed past some of the finest views in turn right to follow the track down buildings and through a few more on which to lean and catch your England, over the golf course, around the bottom of the hill. As gates. Once you meet the road breath. Keep on following the and down towards the reward a wonderful view of Winchcombe at the end, turn right and continue Cotswold Way to the end of the awaiting you at the clubhouse. nestled in its valley opens up to uphill, past the houses on your left. woods and along the edge of an A rest at the end of your walk your left, carry on following the Continue through to the end of open field, until you reach a kissing is a chance to plan the next... the farmyard, and take the gate gate and finger post at the far side.

Cotswold Way National Trail • Tel: 01451 862000 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.nationaltrail.co.uk Gloucestershire Rights of Way • Tel: 01452 425577 • Email: [email protected]