Circular Walks

6. The Leckhampton Loop

This walk guides you around Sandy Lane one of the most beautiful Leckhampton N and varied stretches of the Road Cotswold Way. From rich grassland to peaceful woodlands, Cirencester Road from Iron Age remains to 5 Victorian quarries, this route Mountains Vineyards offers up a taste of the entire Knoll Farm Cotswold landscape in 4½ Common Wood sheltered and windswept miles. Devil’s Chimney Cot 3 swold Way Distance: 4½ miles or 7.2km Hartley Hill

Duration: 4 2½ - 3 hrs Leckhampton Hill Difficulty: Moderate to easy, no stiles, some Chipping 2 steep sections. Campden Wistley Grove Public transport: A435 No. 51 bus (Cheltenham - Leckhampton Cirencester - Swindon). Ask for y Windmill Seven Springs stop. (See the a W Farm A436 d ‘Explore the Cotswolds’ public l o BUS STOP transport guide or visit www. w s traveline.info t Bath

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Start 1 Start/Finish: 0 Miles 0.5 Grid reference SO 967/170 (OS Explorer sheet 179) 0 Kms 0.5 9/17 Postcode GL53 9NG

Refreshments: the edge of the scarp for just over At this point leave the Cotswold to follow the road after it becomes Pub at Seven Springs. a mile (1.6km), eventually passing Way, head for the marker post and an unmade track for half a mile Parking through ramparts just beyond some follow the steepish path leading (0.8 km) along the bottom of the Lay-by opposite Seven springs pub. pine trees. Enter into this Iron diagonally down across the slope escarpment, eventually forking right Age hillfort, built between 500 and Alternative start points are from into a wooded area. to take the narrow footpath. 100BC, and continue on towards 5 At the end of the path, follow car parks indicated on the map. the viewpoint. 4 At the bottom of the slope the waymarkers left, then right, then continue along the peacefully continue on the wider track all the 1 Start at the lay-by opposite 3 Take a few minutes to breathe enchanting woodland path, keeping way along the bottom of the hill the pub, and take the footpath up in the magnificent views, and then the tumbledown wall on your left. until you rejoin the Cotswold Way towards the busy roundabouts follow the path down to your After approximately a quarter of a at point 2. and follow the Cotswold Way as it left, through a gap. There is an mile (0.4km) you will pass a number leads down the narrow road off to information panel here. For a short of houses on the left hand side; at From here, retrace your steps back the left. At the junction, follow the detour to an iconic Cotswolds this point the Devils Chimney can to the start. This spectacular and track straight on. landmark, the Devil’s Chimney, be clearly seen, up towards the top diverse walk is now at an end, but follow the path down to the right. of the slope on the right. the rest of the Cotswold Way is 2 Continue to follow the waiting to welcome you back for Cotswold Way up to the left, After puzzling over this intriguing Continue along the path until you another splendid stroll. through a wooden gate along the monument to the hill’s quarrying reach the old quarry buildings at edge of the meadow and through past, retrace your steps to the gap the junction of seven paths. Take the trees until you emerge onto in the bushes and then continue the wide path leading straight down grassland at the top of the slope. to follow the Cotswold Way along the hill, an old quarry tramway, This precious nature reserve the top of the hill. After about 400 as indicated by the arrow on the is expertly managed in partnership metres look for a waymarker post stone marker at ground level with volunteers from the Friends down to your right, approximately ‘Public footpath/Leckhampton Hill of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton 15 metres from the path. Walk [no.] 8’. Continue straight Kings Common (FOLK). Keep on There is a bench just across the downhill to the fence and gates at the Cotswold Way as it follows path from the waymarker post. the bottom. Turn right and continue

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