Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of common land are speckled with birches and trim with the manicured greens and
fairways of Painswick Hill Golf Club.
Keeping to the waymarked route, views are given off to the left (south
and east) across a green valley with yet more woods on the far side. On
coming to a narrow lane cutting across the golf course, bear left and, a
few paces later, go to the right on a broad track which you soon leave for
a footpath half-left ahead, passing Catsbrain Quarry. The way leads along
the edge of the hill slope, once again in woodland but with more lovely
treeframed views to enjoy.
When you emerge from the woods, cross an open stretch of golf-course
fairway to the right-hand corner of a churchyard wall. Now continue with
the wall to your left, passing the church which serves the hamlet of
Paradise - so-called, it is said, because when he came here during the Civil
War, Charles I thought the little hamlet to be just like the paradise of his
dreams. Cross a further section of golf course towards the left-hand end
of a woodland corner. Here a path accompanies a narrow lane most of the
way to a junction with the B4073, where you turn left and stroll downhill
into Painswick.
Follow Gloucester Road (it's named Gloucester Street at the bottom
end!) towards the centre of town. On coming to a crossroads turn right
into New Street. But for a more interesting detour through the town, cross
over New Street into Bisley Street, then bear right into Friday Street which
leads to St Mary's Street, and on to the gracefully spired St Mary's Church.
Rejoin the main route in New Street on the other side of the church by
wandering through the churchyard and out at the lych gate (grid ref:
866097).
Painswick
has a good choice of accommodation and refreshments.
There's a small supermarket and a post office, and bus links with Chelten-
ham and Stroud.
PAINSWICK
Painswick is a delightful old market town and, like Chipping Campden at the start of
the walk, a small one at that. But unlike the honey-gold of Campden, Painswick's stone
is strangely white, or light grey, in colour. As a result the houses appear a little more
formal than those of Campden, yet Painswick has much of merit and is worthy of more
than a transitory glance. Dating from the 13th century, New Street is one of the town's
oldest, but other streets - notably those that lie north-east of the church - are also
