Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SECTION 12
Tormarton to Cold Ashton
Distance
6 miles (9½km)
Maps
Harvey's Cotswold Way 1:40,000
OS Landranger 172 Bristol, Bath & Surrounding
Area 1:50,000
OS Explorer 155 Bristol & Bath 1:25,000
Accommodation
Pennsylvania and Cold Ashton
Refreshments
Pennsylvania and Cold Ashton
This very short penultimate stage of the long walk from Chipping Campden is included
in order to allow for overnight accommodation before tackling the final 10-mile stretch
to Bath. It is an easy stage, with few hills to wander across, but there's more road
walking to contend with than on almost any other section. This is not to suggest it is
without interest, for the middle part of the walk has Dyrham (and a journey round the
perimeter of the 246 acres (100 hectares) of Dyrham Park) as a highlight, and it is
near here that a return is made once more to the Cotswold scarp line.
Between Tormarton and Cold Ashton the way goes over the deep cut of the M4 mo-
torway and crosses the A46 yet again. A belt of woodland, followed by a skirting of
several large fields, restores the countryside aspect of the walk. Then a country lane
takes you to the edge of an extensive deer park surrounding Dyrham House. Ancient
field systems (strip lynchets) are seen on the slopes of Hinton Hill, and you gaze across
a folding landscape towards Bristol sprawling out to the west. The footpath leads to the
edge of lovely, mellow Dyrham, past the gates of Dyrham House, and into fields again
on the cross-country route to Cold Ashton, a small village with a marvellous southerly
aspect.
Having turned left at the T-junction near the Portcullis Inn, walk out of
Tormarton heading south on the grass verge beside the road, and cross
the M4 motorway. (Pause for a moment on the bridge and compare your
experience of the countryside gained while walking 2½-3 miles per hour
(4-5 kph), against that of the 80mph (130kph) madness below - there
has to be a moral in this!) Take the first turning on the right - a farm drive
leading to Lower Lapdown Farm. Turn left in front of a barn, and where the
drive forks take the right branch, then pass to the left of a house onto a
track cutting across almost level fields. Maintain direction along the edge
of successive fields until you come to a waymark post in a field corner.
