Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Passing the tall monument tower built in memory of one of Wellington's
generals, the route now drops into a soft valley to be accompanied for a
while by a clear millstream. Alderley is the first 'real' Cotswold village to
be discovered on a day that ends in the one- time wool town of Wotton-
under-Edge. A steep climb out of town takes you back onto the wolds,
emerging from woodlands to be confronted by another lofty monument,
this one on Nibley Knoll in honour of William Tyndale, who translated the
Bible into English during the 16th century.
Just before reaching Dursley the Cotswold Way makes a tour of Stinch-
combe Hill where huge panoramas are a tease of what is to come further
north. Then out of Dursley another steep climb takes the way over the
outlier of Cam Long Down, and onto the scarp again with opportunities to
visit the Uleybury hill fort and Hetty Pegler's Tump. Past yet another an-
cient site, the route enters woodlands before dropping to Middleyard near
the industrial belt spilling out from Stroud.
The stage that journeys from Middleyard to Painswick is utterly delightful
- huge views over the Severn and the Vale of Gloucester draw the eye
with pleasure, before you drop into a green valley lit by the white-stoned
charm of a small town with fine buildings and a memorable churchyard.
On then to Birdlip, through more charming countryside, woods with view-
points to dream over, and beyond Birdlip by way of yet more historic sites
and photogenic vistas to the literal high point of the walk on Cleeve Com-
mon above Cheltenham.
By now the character of the Cotswolds has become well established, but
in many ways the best is yet to come. The route to Winchcombe shows the
finest Neolithic long barrow actually on the way (Belas Knap), passes the
site of a Roman villa and magnificent Sudeley Castle, then enters an his-
toric little town where the many houses along the main street show what
grace of form can be achieved with the use of local stone.
More history waits to be unravelled between Winchcombe and Stanton,
while Stanton itself is one of the unrivalled gems of the whole walk - a vil-
lage of near perfection set in a warm, honey-coloured stone. From there a
final 10 mile (16km) stage takes in such viewpoints as those from Broad-
way Tower and Dover's Hill, a brief exploration of the overly popular vil-
lage of Broadway, and a wonderful finalé through the streets of elegant
Chipping Campden to complete 102 miles (164km) of splendour.
