Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SECTION 8
Painswick to Birdlip
Distance
7 miles (11km)
Maps
Harvey's Cotswold Way 1:40,000 OS Landranger 163 Cheltenham
& Cirencester Area, and 162 Gloucester & Forest of Dean Area
1:50,000 OS Explorer 179 Gloucester, Cheltenham & Stroud
1:25,000
Accommodation
Cooper's Hill, Little Witcombe (+ 1½ miles (2½km)), and Birdlip
Refreshments
Prinknash, Cooper's Hill and Birdlip
Much of this stage of the walk goes through woodland, but there are open panoramic
viewpoints too. The hill fort site of Painswick Beacon gives popular views, as does
Cooper's Hill at the head of the famous cheese-rolling slope. Buckholt and Brockworth
woods are nature reserves. There is the site of a Roman villa just off the route and
also Prinknash Abbey just below the scarp slope.
Away from Painswick's dusky-white buildings the route soon climbs once more onto
the wolds near a hamlet charmingly named Paradise. Painswick Beacon tops a trim
golf course and the walk takes you alongside it, into Pope's Wood and, skirting the
scarp edge, passes above Prinknash Abbey. It then goes through more woodlands and
emerges to lovely views on Cooper's Hill. Down then to a string of cottages enjoying
the fine views north, before plunging again among trees on the long unbroken wood-
land stretch to Birdlip.
Please see map,
Southbound, Section 6.
The straightforward route through Painswick simply follows New Street up-
hill to the left as far as Gloucester Street, where it turns left. (There is an
interesting alternative route, however, that adds very little distance and
is worth taking. Go across New Street and through the lych gate into the
churchyard with its magnificent yews and table tombs. Pass the church to
your right and exit the churchyard on the far side to find the town's iron
stocks. Bear left along St Mary's Street, then fork left into Friday Street.
This leads to Bisley Street which takes you left up to New Street again.
Cross this directly into Gloucester Street to resume the official way.)
