Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SECTION 4
Cleeve Hill to Dowdeswell (A40)
Distance
6 miles (9½km)
Maps
Harvey's Cotswold Way 1:40,000
OS Landranger 163 Cheltenham & Cirencester Area 1:50,000
OS Explorer 179 Gloucester, Cheltenham & Stroud 1:25,000
Accommodation
Dowdeswell
Refreshments
Dowdeswell
This is another short but splendid stage with a number of outstanding views. There
will be a small amount of road walking, but this is limited to a country lane with little,
if any, traffic to spoil the peace of the countryside. Mostly the way follows the western
edge of the Cotswold escarpment high above Cheltenham. Some of it goes through a
butterfly reserve, some is in woodland, some goes through an agricultural landscape
and part of the route is on ragged heath. It begins by heading south along the scarp
edge of Cleeve Common, but when at last this has been deserted you cross a seem-
ingly remote patch of farmland before descending along a line of woods to Dowdeswell
Reservoir and the A40 Cheltenham-to-Oxford road. At the time of writing accommod-
ation was available at the end of this stage.
If coming from Cleeve Hill village, return to the golf course on Cleeve Com-
mon and follow signs (right) south-west of the clubhouse on a traverse of
the hillside. A good track with Cotswold Way marker posts is your guide,
from which there are views down to the sprawl of Bishop's Cleeve at the
foot of the slope. Before long waymarks direct you away from the track,
and up to a trig point vantage point at 1040ft (317m) where there's also
a topograph showing points of interest in the long views which stretch to
the Brecon Beacons and Malvern Hills. Bear right away from the trig point
following more waymarked posts across the golf course, now heading due
south along the western edge of the common.
It is almost impossible to give
precise directions because of the number of paths and golf course trails, but Cotswold
Way marker posts are maintained in good order and are your best guide.
