Cotswold Way Circular Walks 9. Hills and Hillforts - Cam Long Down and Uley The incredible variety of the y Cotswold Way is once again Ashmead a Green W explored by this stunning little d walk. From woodland tracks to Cam Long Down 3 l o open hilltops, it leads you around w s B4066 the intriguing ancient history of t Hodgecombe o N C Uley Bury to the more recent Farm remains of a pestilent past. 2 Even the few hillside climbs are 4 rewarded by compass-wide views Crawley Peaked that spread out all around you Hydehill Down back into the heart of the 6 Uley Cotswolds and across the Uleyfield Bury Severn Estuary into Wales... 5 1 Distance: Hydegate 4 miles or 6.5km Cotswold Way Duration: Chipping Downham Start 2½ - 3½ hours Campden Hill Uley Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, some stiles, Optional detour steps and steep sections. Uley 0 Miles 0.5 Public transport: No. 20 bus from Stroud. (See the 0 Kms 0.5 B4066 ‘Explore the Cotswolds’ public Bath transport guide or visit www. 11/17 traveline.info side of the hill until you meet the Start/Finish: the test of time two and a half perfect spot to look back around six-way fingerpost in the shaded Grid reference SO 792/986 millennia later. Ignoring the path to the high points of your walk. the left, head straight on up onto dell at the bottom. (OS Explorer sheet 167) the ramparts, and continue round Known locally as ‘Smallpox Hill’ Postcode GL11 5SN until you pass through a gate at the 4 For a very short detour to it was also once the site of an Refreshments: end. another breathtaking all-round view, isolation hospital, the eerie remains The Old Crown, Uley - parking follow the path marked viewpoint’ of which can still be seen. After available for customers only. 2 Take the larger path to the straight ahead to the top of Cam retracing your steps to point 5, right down towards the road and Peak and then retrace your steps continue along the road until you Parking turn left at the lay-by to pick up the to rejoin the trail. Carry on down reach the kennels at the T-junction. Parking is available at The Old Cotswold Way, turning left again to along the Cotswold Way, turning Crown, Uley for customers only. head down the path through the left through a kissing gate to head Take the path straight ahead, forking trees. After 250 metres, emerge down along the edge of a field until right after a short distance, and 1 The walk begins next to the out into the farmyard and follow you meet the road. then take the steep steps up to Old Crown pub on the main road the track straight ahead until you the left. Carry on up this steep through Uley. Watching for traffic, meet the road. Turn right, and at Leaving the Cotswold Way and narrow path, over a number of cross the road and take the narrow the next bend in the road follow behind, turn left along the road stiles, until you reach the hillfort at footpath to the right of the church. the Cotswold Way over the stile and ignoring the private drive, the top. Fork right in front of the first house and up towards the hill. immediately left again up an access and follow the path up towards the track. At the four-way junction at 6 Turn right, and follow the path kissing gate. Enter into the fields 3 Towards the top, cross over the end, turn right up a narrow path all the way around the ramparts and head for the lone fir tree on a stile into the woods and take and continue on until you meet until you reach the point where you the edge of the woods to pick up the path straight ahead, continuing the road. If this path is too muddy or entered the Bury nearly four miles the path towards the gate at the up the switch-back path until you overgrown, retrace your steps and take before. Retrace your steps back top. emerge out onto the top of Cam the road on to point 5. downhill to the Old Crown where Long Down. Take a few minutes to rest and reward await the weary Head into the woods and continue catch your breath and spin slowly 5 For another half-mile (0.8km) walker. straight up hill along the higher round to soak up the stunning 360° detour, turn right back down the path, eventually emerging out at views, one of the finest in all the road and through the first kissing the foot of Uley Bury, an Iron Age Cotswolds. Continue on along the gate on your left up the steep path hillfort with ramparts still standing top, and follow the path down the to the top of Downham Hill - the Cotswold Way National Trail • Tel: 01451 862000 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.nationaltrail.co.uk .